Australian Open Day 7: Match of the Day

Kim Clijsters and Li Na

Could be a very close match with the defending champ and Li Na from China.

Clijsters leads the head-to-head 5-2, but the two have split their last four meetings.

The Belgian won their last meeting which was right here last year.  The match went the distance and this one might as well.  In a year where there have been a lot of blow outs on the women's side, this one should live up to any advance billing.

Prediction: Clijsters in 3.

Australian Open Day 6: Match of the Day

Andy Murray vs. Michael Llodra

Murray and Llodra take the court for a night match on Hisense.

The Scot owns the career edge 2-0, but these two haven't played since the U.S. Open in 2008.  Murray will try and do what he has been doing in previous matches; constructing the points and waiting for the right time to be aggressive.

Llodra is a cagey vet who will look to take the net and make Murray hot passing shots.

I like Murray, but I have a feeling about this match being closer than most think it will be.

Murray wins in 4 tough sets.

Australian Open Day 5: Match of the Day

Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Bernard Tomic

A night session match on Rod Laver Court that should attract a lot of attention. 

Both are playing some of their best tennis and both are looking to make a long run in the event.

Dolgopolov is 3-0 against Tomic, including two wins in 2011.

Most observers think Dolgopolov's game frustrates the big Aussie and I agree.  Dologopolov neutralizes Tomic's strengths and with the courts playing a little slower, the Aussie will have his hands full.

I like Dologopolv in 5 sets.

Australian Open Day 4: Match of the Day

Lleyton Hewitt vs. Andy Roddick

A lot of matches on Thursday in Australia, but nothing too earth shattering.

That leaves us with a match featuring former grand slam champs who were also former No 1s in the world.  And they meeting in the second round.

I'm of course talking about Lleyton Hewitt and Andry Roddick.

Hewitt is 30 years of age and his ranking has slipped close to 200 in the world.  Roddick is 29 and he fell out of the top-10 last summer, but he's holing steady at No. 16.

This match will bring back a lot of memories if not great play, but it's entertaining nonetheless.

Even though Hewitt will have the home crowd support, Roddick has a little too much right now for the Aussie.

These two have played 13 times in the past with Roddick holding a 7-6 advantage.  Hewitt hasn't beaten Roddick since Indian Wells in 2005, but expect Lleyton to fight as hard as ever on every point.

I like Roddick in 3 tough sets, maybe with a few tiebreaks thrown in.

Australian Open Day 3: Match of the Day

John Isner vs. David Nalbandian

This should be quite a fight on Margaret Court Arena Wednesday afternoon.

Isner is seeded 16th and is looking to keep moving up near the top-10.  Nalbandian has seen his ranking slide all the way down to No. 87.

The positives for Nalbandain include he is 2-0 in his career against the big American and it is early in the year, so The Argentine is relatively fresh.  One of his wins against Inser was back in 2010 when Isner was forced to retire in the first set during the Cincinnati event.

Isner will need to serve big and try and keep the points short.  If he does he should win in 4 sets.