What have the top ranked men been up to ?

After the draw is announced I will make my usually ill advised predictions for the Australian Open this year.  Until then it is best just to observe and comment on the build up to what promises to be another fabulous fortnight of competition.

To borrow car racing terminology, Serena Williams has set the fastest lap in qualifying to take provisional pole in the Women's Singles race, and will not go out again, convinced that the performance will hold up, and saving tyres for the long haul in the process.

Of the prominent male singles players Rafa won as expected in Doha, although most matches went the distance, a fact not displeasing in hindsight for the world number one as it provided valuable court time at match level pressure.  He did lose a match, but only an exhibition against Ferrer in Abu Dhabi.  Of course in a proper tournament the Spaniards will never repeat a result such as this.

Djokovic will enter Melbourne Park in his defence of his defence of his defence of the 2011 Australian Open crown on the back of no official tournaments, a ploy which he hopes will work well.  It certainly did for Federer some years ago when he used to win these events.

Roger has had a match on Rod Laver Arena this year already and that exhibition - we are witnessing plenty of those this year - was a three setter against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to raise funds for the Federer Foundation and to raise the profile of the barely noticed Swiss player.

Another Swiss player, one could fairly argue the top player from that nation at present, won the recent event in Chennai.  Stanislas Wawrinka had a breakout year in 2013 and may be a contender for even bigger honours this time around.   He seriously challenged eventual champion Djokovic in the fourth round here last year and each of the top 4 seeds will be hoping not to draw Stan as a potential quarter final opponent.

Del Potro also holds some fears come the second week due to some more consistency in his output in 2013.  He has cemented the number 5 ranking and depending on Andy Murray's fitness and form, the latter which is none too inspiring and the former which is not all that convincing, the tall Argentine could easily slip into the top four.  Remember Andy has 1200 points to defend as runner up, and Rafa is back this time to make the defence of those points extra tough.

For locals, we are relying as for many years on Lleyton Hewitt, and he is in good shape to fly the flag manfully.  The win in Brisbane brought about a change in mind - he now won't play the Kooyong Exhibition - too hard on the body - instead he will prepare in other ways (probably helping Bec with the kids) and then hit some balls with Andy Murray in another of those exhibitions, because Andy refused an offer to play in a proper tournament in Auckland and so was at a loss for something to do.

The ATP Tour has begun, and players are sorting themselves out either in tour sanctioned events or exhibitions, or just practising in earnest.  However, we are now only 4 days way from the first day of
play in the Australian Open, and qualifying is underway, and many of those competing, or aspiring to compete in the men's singles are in Melbourne now.

Draw tomorrow and Day One Schedule on Sunday night - can hardly wait.