Australian Open '16: Final Thoughts

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

This is the final, reflective Australian Open post. No stats, no more guesses at results or blind stabs in the dark.

In the men’s doubles, chaos reigned. All of the top eight bar the 7th seeds crashed out. Murray/Soares duly closed out the slam, though Stepanek/Nestor pushed them in the final. BACKSPIN wonders if this will be a recurring theme throughout the year, if the doubles side of things is due for four different slam champions, a complete smorgasbord of champions and no overall favourite. The top seeds wilted under the pressure and lost in a tight three setter to Mannarino/Pouille. They should dominate, not crumble in a three-setter. They at least made the quarters. Mind you, things are always a little funky at the first slam. Perhaps if we give it time, the tour will self-right.

In the ladies' final, Angelique Kerber made the final and rose to number two. She could be in for a banner year, which neither Todd nor I predicted. Or she could go the way of Cibulkova. Either way, as it stands, because of a German Steffi Graf has won the most singles slams in the Open era. Isn’t life funny? Serena Williams played alright, if a little sloppy, but Kerber was just too good. This was honestly one of the best matches I have seen in a while. Both women played to an incredibly high standard and Kerber’s defense was 1985 Chicago Bears-like. She was everywhere like a bad rash. She beat the last two Australian Open champions, more proof of just how far she has come all of a sudden.

Johanna Konta rose 19 places to 28 in the world but how will she defend those points next year? Zhang Shuai was the first qualifier to make the quarters since Gavaldon in 1990. The whole rankings have been shaken up, with Simona Halep at 3 now. Petra Kvitova is clinging onto the top ten. It’s like a shuffled deck of cards. The women’s tournament was of a higher grade than usual in the later rounds but the amount of upsets early on was embarrassing. And Aga Radwanska showed again her flaws. Solid enough and can put away inferior opposition, but so easy to overpower. And there was a lack of firepower in a 6-0, 6-4 rout handed to her by Williams. She couldn’t do anything. She has no weapons and certainly does not belong at number four though the top ten is where she should be.

Andy Murray lost again to Novak Djokovic. This time it was 6-1, 7-5, 7-6[3]. The rallies were close but Djokovic seemed to always have the upper hand. But this was forgettable despite the high quality. It was two counter-punchers ball bashing and some of the rallies were somnolent. Only 15 years ago, less even, Pat Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic serve-volleyed their way through Wimbledon before playing a thrilling and heart-breaking final. What’s happened? Most of the top ten now are mindless ball-bashers with no finesse or sense of style. Where is the slicing and dicing, the volleying? Why is every point decided on the baseline? It make one nostalgic but also kind of sad. That’s why the Aussies, who are dreadful off-court, are so important. They bring some entertainment onto court as do the Frenchies.

Overall, this slam was good. It was a B plus at worst, probably scraping towards an A. It is a good benchmark for the ones that follow it.

*Suicide Picks*
MS 1st Rd: Dimitrov d. Lorenzo {W}
MS 2nd Rd: Kyrgios [29] d. Cuevas {W}
MS 3rd Rd: Tomic [16] d. Millman {W}
MS 4th Rd: Monfils [23] d. Kuznetsov {W}
MS QF: Raonic [13] d. Monfils [23] {W}
MS SF: Murray [2] d. Raonic [13] {W}
MS F: Djokovic [1] d. Murray [2] {W}
--
WS 1st Rd: Gavrilova d. Hradecka {W}
WS 2nd Rd: Mladenovic [28] d. Gibbs {W}
WS 3rd Rd: Beck d. Siegemund {W}
WS 4th Rd: Keys [15] d. Zhang {L}


In Montpellier [France], Gasquet makes his return on their hardcourts. He is the defending champion and top seed. I like the Frenchman to beat Simon [3] in the semi-final. He will be rusty but the draw is kind to him. Monfils [5] should overcome Paire [4] and also Cilic [2] to make the final. But Gasquet is too rested and he likes this tournament. But keep in mind how funky tournaments are before and after slams.

The first edition of an indoor hard-court in Sofia is also taking place. Bautista Agut [1] will take care of Mannarino [8] and Garcia-Lopez [3] to make another final. Troicki [2] and Seppi [4] are both playing fine but I like the Serbian to make his second final in three tournaments. Still, the top seed here should hold serve, too.

The event in Quito, Ecuador may be on clay, but I still like top seeded Tomic to continue his momentum. He will even beat [3] Bellucci to make the final. However, Lopez [2] or Verdasco [4] will both have too much in the final. I like Verdasco’s fire to help him here.

Thanks and visit WTA BACKSPIN. They have the results of Iowa, a big wrap-up, and also pie. With cream or ice-cream. But not both, because it'd be too much of a good thing.

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