AO Preview - Men’s Singles

The preparation experienced by players immediately prior to the 2021 Australian Open has been less than ideal, to state the bleeding obvious.

And it will be trotted out by many as a convenient excuse for below par performances which may ensue in the coming fortnight.

Well, I’m not that forgiving.

Come the start of the tournament, all competitors will have had time out of quarantine to either practice or participate in lead up events. (or for a few continue to grizzle)

So, blank sheet for all, and time for predictions.

Men’s Singles

No Federer this year, which is sad for fans, but in terms of the title, he was never a real threat.

The perennial question is “Can anyone bother Djokovic ?”

Last year Dominic Thiem stretched the world number one to the limit in a thrilling final, and it’s a little disappointing that there won’t be a repeat finale in 2021. The two are seeded to meet in a semi final.

Djokovic, to reach the semis, could face either former champion Stan Wawrinka or big serving Milos Raonic (who he faced in last year’s quarters) in the round of sixteen.

His quarter final opponent should be Alexander Zverev, and that would be a  rematch of the ATP Cup clash of recent days.

Thiem may have Nick Kyrgios as a third round contest, but I think he is far too capable for the Aussie highlight package.

More of a concern is in form Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, a likely round of sixteen rival, whose ATP Cup efforts were on the mark.

A quarter final for Thiem could see him face Diego Schwartzman or Denis Shapovalov, but Shapovalov has one of the toughest first rounds, unseeded but dangerous Italian Jannik Sinner, who won this week’s Murray River Open.

The bottom half of the draw has second seed Rafael Nadal, who is apparently under a slight injury cloud. Resting in preparation I’d prefer to believe.

Not too difficult a start for Nadal on paper, with probably Dan Evans in the third round (Evans won the Great Ocean Road Open, a lead up tournament to the AO) and Fabio Fognini or Alex de Minaur in the round of sixteen. Nadal hasn’t lost to the Australian, and has won 7 of the last 8 matches against Fognini.

Matteo Berrettini or Stefanos Tsitsipas in a possible quarter final.

Daniil Medvedev, if he reaches the semis, will present difficulties to whatever is there. Nadal leads him 3-1 head to head, but Medvedev won the most recent match - the semis of the 2020 ATP Finals.

Medvedev leads Tsitsipas 5-1 head to head, though lost the latest.

The Russian has a kind draw - seeded to play out of form David Goffin in the round of sixteen, and fellow countryman Andrey Rublev in the quarters.

Medvedev hasn’t lost to Rublev in three contests.

My semi final predictions 

Novak Djokovic (1) to defeat Dominic Thiem (3)

Daniil Medvedev (4) to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas (5)

Final: Novak Djokovic (1) to defeat Daniil Medvedev (4)