2009 Australian Open Picks

Roger is healthy! Rafa just isn't right (again... in January... on hard courts... imagine that.)! Novak has the pressure to defend pushing down on him from every angle! And then there's Murray, who's playing better than anyone and might just make all other arguments meaningless. Could we actually have a grand slam final without EITHER Roger or Rafa?

Well, now let's not get carried away.



**ROUND OF 16**
#1 Nadal def. #24 Gasquet
#12 Monfils d. #6 Simon
#4 Murray d. #14 Verdasco
#5 Tsonga d. #9 Blake
#10 Nalbandian d. #7 Roddick
#3 Djokovic d. #16 Soderling
#19 Cilic d. #8 del Potro
#2 Federer d. 15 Wawrinka

...ugh, I hate picking both Roddick and Blake to make it this far. Maybe Querrey and Gulbis would be more paletable picks? After hearing so much about it the last two years, it's weird how little is being said right now about how Federer could tie Sampras' record of 14 career slams by winning this title.

**QUARTERFINALS**
#12 Monfils d. #1 Nadal
#4 Murray d. #5 Tsonga
#3 Djokovic d. #10 Nalbandian
#2 Federer d. #19 Cilic

...Monfils has already beaten Nadal once this season. Will Melbourne re-light the fire under Djokovic?

**SEMIFINALS**
#4 Murray d. #12 Monfils
#2 Federer d. #3 Djokovic

...the moment of truth is about to arrive, for both Federer AND Murray.

**FINAL**
#4 Murray d. #1 Federer

...a rematch of the U.S. Open final, but with a different Murray in attendance. He'd beaten Federer before, but ever since losing to him in New York he's REALLY had his number, beating him four straight times -- twice already in '09. Federer's date with history might have to wait until Wimbledon, while Murray can finally erase the phrase "no British man has won a slam since Fred Perry in 1936" from the sports lexicon.


All for now.

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