Day 7: Australian Open Match of the Day

A night match in Australia, Andy Roddick an Stanislas Wawrinka.

These two will be playing for the right to play Roger Federer in the quarters.  Wawrinka may be playing better at the moment, but Roddick has a much more impressive resume and a better record in Grand Slam tournament. 

The two have played three times, with Stan holding a 2-1 advantage.  The interesting fact is in the two victories by Wawrinka, Roddick had to retire in each match with injury.  The only time they played a complete match was in 2009 when in a Davis Cup tie, Roddick beat Wawrinka 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Look for the competitive juices to be flowing in this one.  Roddick will have to serve big, and Wawrinka will have to return well.

Look for a tight 4-setter with Roddick winning a tie-breaker in the 4th to take the match. 

Roddick in 4.

*Upset alert -  Nicolas Almagro is playing well and he plays Novak Djokovic.  Its an afternoon match on Hisense and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Almagro takes it 5 sets and wins.

Day 6: Australian Open Match of the Day

The Australian Open is loaded with potentially great matches today.

How about Sam Stosur against Petra Kvitova, Flavia Pennetta vs. Shahar Peer, Jurgen Metzer and Marcos Baghdatis, or even Rafael Nadal and Aussie upstart Bernard Tomic?

In my estimation, the best match of the day should be out on Margaret Court, a match between John Isner and Marin Cilic.  Seems strange, but the two have never played before.  What that means today is there will be tons of big serves and huge forehands exchanged.

Who ever can break serve more than once should win and the over/under on the number of tie-breakers is 3.  On paper and in the seeding, Cilic is the slight favorite.  I happen to like the grit and determination of Isner.  He got by Stepanek last round, now he takes out Cilic in 4.

Day 4: Australian Open Match of the Day

Women's Singles - 2nd Round
Bojana Jovanovski(SRB)	vs.	Vera Zvonareva(RUS)[2]



A nice 2nd round match between one of the upstarts on the women's tour and a player who has worked her way up to #2 in the world.

This should be a classic battle and a close one.  Jovanovski has started off the year with a semi-final showing at the warm up event in Sydney.

Zvonareva appears confident and in a good frame of mind.  She feels she can win the tournament. 

Look for Vera to eek out a close 3-setter.

*Upset alert - This match could also qualify for the match of the day.  John Isner is taking on Radek Stepanek  Isner will have to serve huge to win, but would it be a huge upset of Stepanek were to win?  Not sure, but Isner is seeded and Stepanek isn't.  Stepanek could win in 4 sets.

Day 1: Australian Open Match of the Day - Wickmayer and Groth

Women's Singles - 1st Round
Yanina Wickmayer(BEL)[21]	vs.	Jarmila Groth(AUS)



A good match to open the first night session of the tournament.

These two are two of the most athletic players on the circuit.  They have only met once before with Wickmayer winning in three tough sets back in 2009.

They both have improved since then, and this should be another close three-setter.  Groth will be a bit of an underdog, but she will have the support of the crowd.  Wickmayer likes playing in Australia.

Prediction:  Wickmayer in 3 sets.

*Upset alert or Monday's play:  I don't like the matchup for Mardy Fish playing Victor Hanescu of Romania  out on Court 3.  Not sure what the state of Fish's game is right now, but he will have his hands full in this one.  I say Hanescu pulls off the upset in 4 sets.