Ahead of the 2017 Australian Open, The National's sports desk provide a series of predictions for the first grand slam of the new season.
MEN’S
JON TURNER — ONLINE EDITOR
Winner: Andy Murray. The world No 1 may have lost the Qatar Open final to Novak Djokovic, but it was a matter of fine margins. Murray remains the form player and as a five-time finalist in Melbourne, has ample experience navigating his way through the field. Until he meets Djokovic, that is. It is difficult to see past a fifth final between the world's top two, and while their previous four meetings have been largely lopsided, this year will be much closer, with Murray clinching the title at the sixth time of asking.
Surprise: Rafael Nadal. After an extended pre-season, the 2009 champion looked sharp in Brisbane until his quarter-final defeat by Milos Raonic. Of course still short of his devastating best, Nadal is moving in the right direction and can cause any player problems. A semi-final showing could be on the cards, as long as he avoids Murray or Djokovic in an earlier round.
Disappointment: Marin Cilic. On his day he can be virtually unplayable, but Cilic's 2017 season has got off to a shocker, losing his only match to a player outside the top 100 in Chennai. Chose not to play either Sydney or Auckland events so will enter the Australian Open lacking valuable time on court.
GRAHAM CAYGILL — EDITOR
Winner: Novak Djokovic. The Serbian is no longer world No 1, and has been out of sorts for the past six months, but he is still the man to beat in Melbourne having won it six times previously. He has won the title in five of the past six years, including the last two, and it is hard to look beyond him again. Despite not being at his best, he still beat Murray in the Doha final, and his mental strength remains intact with his ability to dig in against the Briton, after losing five games in a row at the end of the second set and start of the third, and still go on to win being mightily impressive. This is not peak Djokovic right now, certainly compared to 12 months ago, but that still may well be enough for a seventh Melbourne crown.
Surprise: Grigor Dimitrov. Very encouraging signs of a return to form from the world No 15 after his Brisbane title and if he can maintain those levels in Melbourne he can go very far into the second week.
Disappointment: Gael Monfils. The Frenchman had a consistent 2016 to get up to No 6 in the world, but that ranking spot flatters him and he could easily fall in the first week of the tournament.
CHITRABHANU KADALAYIL — SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR
Winner: Andy Murray. He is world No 1, is playing better than he ever has, is leading a happy family life and has been conferred the knighthood. Add to that the experience of playing in five finals in Melbourne, and one would think he has all the ingredients — quality, fitness, success, general well-being and motivation — to win the title that has eluded him so many times before. There is a valid theory that Murray is facing a psychological barrier, but every time he plays in a summit clash one gets the feeling he is less fazed by the setting and the stakes. His defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Qatar Open final last week proved the Serb still has the game and the gumption to beat Murray over three sets. But the gremlins from last season have not gone away and if Murray can raise his game during one of his rival's low moments during a match, he will win — assuming Murray faces the world No 2 in the final.
Surprise: Nick Kyrgios. He is one of the more frustrating players in men's tennis — brilliant in one set, terrible in the next. But since his meltdown at the Shanghai Masters and subsequent order from the ATP to see a psychologist, the irascible character seems to have calmed down. He may be finding purpose in playing tennis again, and it is tempting to predict a quarter-final appearance in his native Australia.
Disappointment: Marin Cilic. Injury has played its part in hampering the 2014 US Open champion's career, but only to some extent. Personal demons, whatever they are, pull him back every time he seems to be on a winning run. It is a wonder he is world No 7 despite all the stumbles, including in the first round of Chennai Open. He is good enough to reach the semi-finals, but it is highly unlikely he will on current form.
AHMED RIZVI — REPORTER
Winner: Andy Murray. This could be Sir Andy's time. He has lost five finals in seven years, and it is about time the law of averages show him some kindness. He deserves it.
Yes, Novak Djokovic might look like the favourite after his win over Murray in the Qatar Open final, but the world No1 has been the better player of the two over the past seven months, and, Murray himself said in Doha, that loss changes nothing. Murray has the momentum and, more importantly, Ivan Lendl in his corner. Djokovic, on the other hand, has parted ways with Boris Becker after three incredibly successful years, during which he won six of his 12 grand slams and 14 of his 30 Masters 1000 titles. How will he cope without the German? We still have to find out. So, all things considered, Murray seems to be in a better space and should favourite to end his long wait for an Australian Open crown.
Surprise: Alexander Zverev. The German teenager, regarded as one of the stars of the future, has never gone beyond the third round in his six grand slam appearances until now, but that could change in Melbourne. So watch out.
Disappointment: Nick Kyrgios. The Aussie craves attention, but is seriously inept at dealing with it, and that could prove to be his undoing in Melbourne — playing on centre court, in front of demanding home fans.
WOMEN’S
JON TURNER
Winner: Serena Williams. A six-time winner in Melbourne but 'only' twice in the past six years, it's about time the best female player on the planet makes it No 7. Expectations are, relatively speaking, low on the American as she continues to work her way back from a four-month injury layoff. Her second round exit in Auckland was far from ideal preparation, but Williams should cruise through the early rounds and build up some momentum. Karolina Pliskova aside, none of the top WTA players have sparkled in the season's opening weeks so it could be an open competition. Williams, 35, will be among the contenders and once the tournament reaches the latter stages, she will take some beating.
Surprise: Elina Svitolina. One of the tour's most consistent players and in good form, the world No 13 from Ukraine reached a final and three semi-finals in her last five tournaments of 2016. She began 2017 with a march to the semi-finals in Brisbane, defeating world No 1 Angelique Kerber en route. Quick around the court and solid from the baseline, Svitolina could go far in Melbourne.
Disappointment: Angelique Kerber. While a deserved world No 1, Kerber is not exactly the dominant force usually associated with the top ranking. She has too many off days and a dialled in top 25 player has every chance of beating the German on one of those days. It could be a first week exit for the reigning champion.
GRAHAM CAYGILL
Winner: Garbine Muguruza. The Spaniard has the game to be challenging at the top of women's tennis, and she fully deserved her French Open crown last year. Never been beyond the last 16 at Melbourne before, but this looks as if could be a wide open event, with doubts over Serena Williams's longevity and whether Angelique Kerber can repeat the form that got her the Melbourne title in 2016. Muguruza, at her best, has the game to hang with anyone on the WTA Tour and she should expect to be a factor in the business end of the action in Melbourne if she can shake off the thigh injury she picked up in Brisbane.
Surprise: Johanna Konta. The Briton had a breakout year in 2016 as she broke into the top 10. The backbone of that was reaching the semi-finals in Melbourne and Konta, 25, has the game as the world No 10 to repeat that and go even further this time around.
Disappointment: Agnieszka Radwanska. When the going gets tough the Pole normally gets going. Out of the tournament that is. The world No 3 usually flatters to deceive at key moments in majors, and it will be a surprise if she repeats last year's trip to the semi-finals this time around.
CHITRABHANU KADALAYIL
Winner: Karolina Pliskova. The Czech star has been on the rise over the past few months, which saw her reach the US Open final. Her rout of Alize Cornet to win the Brisbane International title proves she is still in top form. She withdrew from the Sydney International straight afterwards with a thigh injury but once fit, she will be the one to beat. Her booming serve and groundstrokes are at times unplayable, and while she is on the up, her most difficult opponents are not. Serena Williams is arguably on the descent while new world No 1 Angelique Kerber is still not a shoo-in based on current form. Garbine Muguruza may be a worthy challenger, but Pliskova may be able to outmuscle her if the two meet.
Surprise: Destanee Aiava. Just 16 years of age, she became the first player born in the 2000s to receive a wild card to play at the Australian Open. She beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands at Brisbane International and, although she lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the next round, she has demonstrated she has power, much like her hero Serena Williams. She will also likely receive a lot of support in front of her home crowd.
Disappointment: Dominika Cibulkova. Having risen to world No 6 on the back of her WTA Finals victory late last year, the Slovakian will be under pressure to sustain her form. She has acknowledged feeling the weight of expectation. Like a lot of women players before her, she will likely wilt in the Melbourne heat.
AHMED RIZVI
Winner: Karolina Pliskova. One of the biggest servers in women's tennis, Pliskova seems primed for grand slam success now after years of frustrating results at the majors. The turning point was last year's US Open, where she defeated crowd favourite Serena Williams in straight sets in the semis before losing to Angelique Kerber in three. The Czech, 24, had never gone beyond the third round in 17 attempts at the grand slams until then. Now, with the monkey off her back, Pliskova should be gunning for more. She is the form player as well, winning the title in Brisbane last week, dropping only one set en route.
Surprise: Svetlana Kuznetsova. Historically, the Russian has been an underachiever at the Australian Open. She has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in 15 attempts and has only one win in her last three visits to Melbourne, but following her late surge in 2016, she could be the one to watch this time.
Disappointment: Angelique Kerber. The world No1 has not really looked at the top of her game in Brisbane and Sydney, losing two of her three matches, and the defending champion could be one of the early casualties in Melbourne.
