CAMELOT FANTASIES

True.  Tomic could surprise.  He seems to be playing well in Sydney. And Rafa isn't always up to speed from the start.
Still, it's best of 5.  I just can't see Nadal losing this.

Anyway, Good night General and anyone else who might be lurking... It's almost 4 am here.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Unbelievably difficult draw. Still, stranger things have happened.

Fingers crossed.

I have never seen a draw this tough.

they are all playing quite well.

nole is at his highest level ever.

roger and andy are back.

del potro says he can be #3 in the world so he is confident and playing well.

this is madness: how can all the toughest players end up in clay warrior's 1/2?

Rafa always gets the toughest draws, IMO. This has been going on for years. It would be so cool if the draw opens up for him. It would serve them right.

I completely agree General Hercules.

In fact, I'll go one step further. 
If Rafa somehow manages to win the Australian Open this year, beating all of these tough opponents, I believe the effort he has to extend on the hard courts will cook him for Roland Garros/Wimbledon, just like in 2009.
It could be a blessing in disguise to lose here.

Respectfully,
masterclass

I had really wanted Rafa to win the AO and the French, but I don't want him to expend so much energy that he doesn't have enough for his most prized surface.

I'll be happy whatever he wins, or nothing at all, because one thing I know for sure, is that he'll compete and try to win and that's worth the price of admission.

Well, even though the prep tournaments played faster, it looks like Rod Laver Arena is playing much like last year according to almost all of the top players who have either played or practiced there, with some of the outside courts playing faster than the show courts.

The tournament director said nothing has been changed from last year.

Andy Murray says it is playing exactly the same as last year.

Federer thinks it is about the same, maybe a just a bit faster, but will vary due to weather and time of day, somewhat faster during the hot days and slower at night.

Federer and Sharapova say that Brisbane was definitely faster, but as Federer said, not like lightning quick, while Rod Laver is playing about medium speed, and he and Tsonga played that exhibition the other day on it.

Nadal seems to be the only player who thinks that the Australian Open is faster than it was.  But then he hasn't played there since 2012 and he didn't play in Brisbane or Sydney.

I think Nadal will be fine as far as court conditions are concerned.  It is likely most of his matches will be at night when it is slower and if the new ball is livelier, it might even give his topspin more height. He'll have far more to worry about with the players in his draw.

Respectfully,
masterclass

full draw:


http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/ms/r1s1.html