The first grand slam draw of the year is complete. There are some cracking opening round matches Federer will start off against Igor Andreev a player who took Federer to five sets in the fourth round of the US Open in 08. Federer will have to overcome some tough players if he is to keep his run of consecutive semis in Slams. He is set to play Gilles Simon/Marcos Baghdatis or home favourite Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth round. Regardless of who he meets it will be a tricky test. In the quarters he is likely to face Nikolay Davydenko who has beaten him on the last two times they have meet or Fernando Verdasco a player who came to prominence here last year reaching the semi finals before losing out to Rafa Nadal.
Defending Champion Nadal has been given a kind opening round draw. That is the best that can be said about his draw though. As early as the third round he will come into some difficulty with the prospect of facing the big server John Isner or the unpredictable German Phillip Kohlschrieber who has taken some big scalps in Slams, beating Roddick here in 08 and beating Djokovic last year in the French Open. In the Quarters he is set to meet Andy Murray and after that he will either play Del Potro or Roddick in the Semis. It will be a testament to Nadal if he manages to reach the final after this.
Novak Djokovic has been handed the easiest draw of the top four. He should have no problem in reaching the last 16 where he is likely to face his first big test against either Gasquet or Youzhny who face off in Round One. In the Quarters he is likely to face either Tsonga or Soderling who are set to meet in Round Four. If he gets throught to the semi finals he is likely to face Roger Federer.
Juan Martin Del Potro perhaps the most improved player since this time last year after being hammered by Roger Federer 6-3 6-0 6-0. 12 months later he is the Us Open Champion and had beaten Federer on the last two occasions. He pulled out of the Kooyong Classic (Exhibiton) as a precaution and should be ready for the first slam. In Round One he is set to play American Michael Russell. In Round Two he will have a tricky tie either way playing former top ten player James Blake or a Former Australian Open Finalist Arnaud Clement who has reached the final of Auckland to be played tonight. In Round Four he could face Marin Cilic. He should reach the Quarters without any trouble where he is more then likely going to Face Andy Roddick. In the Semis he will either play Andy Murray or Rafa Nadal.
Round One: Ties of the Round
Roger Federer (1) vs Igor Andreev
Fernando Verdasco (9) vs Carsten Ball
Juan Monaco (30) vs Ernests Gulbis
Mikhail Youzhny (20) vs Richard Gasquet * Match of the Round
Thomas Berdych (21) vs Robin Haase
Marin Cilic (14) vs Fabrice Santoro
Radek Stepanek (13) vs Ivo Karlovic
Projected Fourth Round Draw:
Roger Federer (1) vs Gilles Simon (15) Dangers: Marcos Baghdatis, LleytonHewitt
Fernando Verdasco (9) vs Nikolay Davydenko (6) Dangers: Juan Carlos Ferrero
Novak Djokovic (3) vs Tommy Robredo (16) Dangers: Richard Gasquet, Mikhail Youzhny
Jo Wilfried Tsonga (10) vs Robin Soderling (8) Dangers: Tommy Haas
Andy Roddick (7) vs Fernando Gonzalez (11) Dangers: Sam Querrey, Thomas Berdych
Marin Cilic (14) vs Juan Marin Del Potro (4) Dangers: Stanislas Wawrinka, James Blake
Andy Murray (5) vs Gael Monfils (12) Dangers: David Ferrer
Radek Stepanek (13) vs Rafa Nadal (2) Dangers: Ivo Karlovic, Phillip Kohlschrieber, John Isner
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