U.S Open 2013 Draw Unveiled - ATP

There are some interesting match-ups as the draw was unveiled for the 2013 U.S Open. The biggest question was who would get Federer and as most of us expected, Federer landed in Nadal's quarter. Murray fell in Djokovic's half while Ferrer filled in the last spot for the top 4 seeds.

Potential Quarter-final match-ups are as follows:

Djokovic - Delpotro (Should be a good one if happens)
Murray - Berdych
Ferrer - Gasquet  (Opportunity for a lot of players to make the quarter-finals and even the semi-finals)
Nadal - Federer

Djokovic and Dimitrov potential third round match promises to be great one, if Dimitrov can play well. Nadal - Isner potential fourth round match also promises to be great.

For complete draw please click here.

I will be doing an analysis of the draw, so stay tuned :)

Novak Djokovic vs Tomas Berdych (Australian Open Quarter-Final Preview)

Novak Djokovic faces Tomas Berdych for a spot in the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2013. Djokovic is coming off a huge confidence boasting win over Wawrinka in the 4th set. Djokovic won 12-10 in the final set.

Berdych had a confidence boasting win of his own over Anderson when he won the 3rd set tie-break 15-13 to clinch the match.

Image via optimumtennis.co.uk

Djokovic and Berdych have faced each other 12 times, with Djokovic winning 11 of those encounters. One of Berdych's 11 defeats, one came at the same stage in 2011 when Djokovic went on to win the title.

Berdych has made it to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the 3rd straight year. He has been playing well so far, but he might have his work cut out against the world no.1 Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic is one of the fittest players on tour, but he might be facing the after effects of his epic win over Wawrinka in the 4th round, and if that is the case, Berdych will have to capitalise on it.

Let us have a look at the performance of the players so far in the tournaments.

The stats used have been average stats for the 4 matches played by players so far in the tournament.

Description	Djokovic	Berdych
Aces	8	8
Double Faults	2	2
1st Serve %age	67%	57%
1st serve points won	79%	79%
2nd serve points won	64%	59%
Net points won	71%	69%
Break points won	43%	44%
1st serve return won	33%	37%
2nd serve return won	55%	63%
Winners	39	35
Unforced Errors	29	27

The stats favour Djokovic, but the match might come down to the 3 main things.

Serve: Djokovic's serve looked vulnerable in his match against Wawrinka, and if it does look the same he might be in trouble again. Djokovic has been broken 7 times so far, while Berdych has been broken 5 times. Berdych will have to up his first serve percentage if he is to have a chance against Djokovic.

Image via Getty Images

Break Points Conversion : What failed Wawrinka, despite playing better for most part of the match was his failure to convert on the break point chances he got against Djokovic. Berdych must learn the lesson from Wawrinka if he is to win, or he will be going home soon. Djokovic will not want to have another marathon match and will try to save as much energy as possible, so it will be important for him to capitalise on any break point chances he gets.

Return of Serve : The player who takes more chances and stays aggressive will have an advantage. Balanced aggression will win the match, however going for extra may cost either player.

We all know that Berdych lets the nerves get the better of him, and if he looses a close set, he collapses after that. Berdych will have to come out firing all cylinders and will have to stay mentally strong if he is to win this match and make it to the semi-finals of Australian Open for the first time in his career.

Djokovic will be hoping for an easy match to conserve energy, and will try to shorten the points. If Djokovic overdoes this, he may start making unforced errors. He will have to find his range and settle in from the start.

Pick : Djokovic in 5 sets

Australian Open Draw Analysis - ATP

The new season has begun and the first major starts in a day. The draw has been made and all the eyes had been on where was Andy Murray going to fall in the draw, the Scot being the 3^rd seed, just like in women’s draw all the eyes were on Serena Williams. The Scot ended up flying past the top half and into the Swiss Masters half.

Some intriguing matches have been set, although not as intriguing as women’s early matches.

Novak Djokovic returns to defend his title, the only grand slam he has been able to defend before this. He will be going for 3 peat, and will be aiming to become the first man to win 3 consecutive Australian Open titles, and joining Andre Agassi and Roger Federer, as the 3^rd man in the open era to win 4 Australian Open titles.

Roger Federer, the 2^nd seed will be aiming to win his 5^th Australian Open title to become the lone holder of the most Australian Open titles. Federer enters the Australian Open for the first time in his career without playing any warm-up event.

Andy Murray will be aiming to become the first man ever to win back to back grand slams, after winning his first grand slam. No man has man ever won a straight second grand slam after his maiden grand slam title.

Let us move onto the draw and see what the draw holds for us.

FIRST QUARTER

Heads of the quarter

Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych

Also here

- Roberto Bautista Agut, who upset Tomas Berdych in Chennai, and lost a 3 set final to Tipsarevic

- Fernando Verdasco, the Hpman cup winner

- Sydney runner-up Kevin Anderson

- American comeback kid, Brian Baker

Country most represented in the quarter

Spain, with 6 players

ANALYSIS

Novak Djokovic opens against French Paul-Henri Mathieu and can play Ryan Harrison in the second round. Djokovic is seeded to play Radek Stepanek in the 3^rd round. Djokovic is combined 13-2 against Mathieu, Harrison and Stepanek, with the 2 loses coming to Mathieu and Stepnaek, both in 2006.

Meeting Djokovic in the 4^th round for a place in the quarter-finals will be either Sam Querrey or Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

Querrey opens against Spanis player Munoz De-La Nava, while Wawrinka opens against German Marcel Stebe. Wawrinka and Querrey are seeded to meet in the 3^rd round. The head to head favours Wawrinka, but their both prior meetings have gone the distance most notable one in the 4^th round of U.S Open, won by Wawrinka in tight 5 sets. However, I guess, Querrey will step up and book a meeting with Djokovic in the 4^th round.

Djokovic leads Querrey 4-1 in head to head, however, Querrey’s only win came in the pair’s last meeting in 2012 in the second round of Paris, where Querrey rallied after getting bagled in the first set, to win the match in 3 sets.

Sitting at the bottom of the quarter is Tomas Berdych, who has made it to the quarter-finals of Australian Open, the last two years, losing to Novak Djokovic in 2011 and Rafael Nadal in 2012. Berdych opens against Michael Russel and is seeded to meet Jurgen Melzer in the 3^rd round. Berych and Melzer are tied in their head to head at 2-all, however they have not played since Beijing 2011, a match won by Berdych.

Berych is seeded to play the winner of Juan Monaco and Fernando Verdasco in the 4^th round.

Verdasco opens against David Goffin, while Monaco opens against Kuznetsov. Monaco can play Sydney runner-up Anderson in the second round. Monaco has won the only meeting with Anderson in the quarter-finals of Houston. Goffin and Anderson may spoil the possible meeting of the seeded players in the 3^rd round. Berdych is 6-0 against Monaco and 10-4 against Verdasco.

It seems like the heads of the draw will not have much trouble and will march on for the much anticipated quarter-final.

First Round Matches to Watch

Xavier Malise vs Pablo Andujar; Fernando Verdasco vs David Goffin; Fabio Fognini vs Roberto Bautista Agut; Viktor Trociki vs Radek Stepanek

Black Horses

Sam Querrey, Kevin Anderson

Players to keep an eye on

David Goffin, Roberto Baustista Agut

Likely early upsets

Fernando Verdasco, Juan Monaco

Quarter-final:

Novak Djokovic d. Tomas Berdych (Although I have picked Berdych to make it to the quarter-final, but I have a feeling that he will fall early)

SECOND QUARTER

Heads of the quarter

David Ferrer, Janko Tipsarevic

Also here

- The ace doctor, Ivo Karlovic

- Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, loved a lot by the Aussie fans

- Brisbane runner-up, Grigor Dimitrov

- Last year’s Paris Bercy runner-up Jerzy Janowicz, and

- The Aussie veteran Lleyton Hewitt, playing his 17^th straight Australian Open

Players with former glory at the Australian Open

Marcos Baghdatis and Lleyton Hewitt

ANALYSIS

The withdrawal of Rafael Nadal, lifted David Ferrer to the 4^th seed. David Ferrer opens against Oliver Rochus, in a quarter that is the most open of all the quarters. Ferrer is coming off a 3 peat at Auckland and is seeded to meet Baghdatis in the 3^rd round.  Ferrer is 6-2 life-time against Rochus, and could play Karolvic in the 2^nd round. Ferrer is 2-1 against Karlovic, but they have not played since Indian Wells 2011, where Karlovic beat Ferrer. Ferrer leads Baghdatis 3-1 in their head to head but the pair has not played since Madrid Spain in 2010. Ferrer should make the 4^th round without much trouble.

Ferrer is seeded to play the winner of Nishikori and Youzhny in the 4^th round. Nishikori played some impressive tennis in Brisbane International before retiring against Murray with a knee injury. Nishikori claims that the he is now fine and ready for the Australian Open. If he finds that form, he will definitely make it to the 4^th round taking out possible 3^rd round seed Mikhail Youzhny

.

If Nishikori is well and finds his game, he will definitely give Ferrer a head ache. Nishikori leads Ferrer 2-1 in their head to head. Nishikori bagled Ferrer in their last meeting at Olympics, although Nishikori won in 3.

Janko Tipsarevic is coming off a title run in Chennai and faces a tough opener in 2005 Australian Open runner-up Lleyton Hewitt. Hewitt had some impressive wins in AMI Kyong Classic over Raonic, Berdych and Del Potro and will be high on confidence. Hewitt leads Tipsarevic 3-1 in the pair’s head to head, however they have not played since Sydney 2009.

Grigor Dimitrov faces Benneteau in his opener and should be able to navigate his way past him. I am not yet fully convinced on Dimitrov making a run in the grand slam, but I will give the kid a chance and pick him to go on to the 3rd round at least, where his possible opponent will probably be the winner of Hewitt Tipsarevic match.

Jerzy Janowicz has the chance to prove that his Paris Bercy run was no fluke. He is seeded to meet Nicolas Almagro in the 3^rd round where his real test will come. The winner will move to the 4^th round with a chance to make it to the quarter-finals.

First Round Matches to Watch

Xavier Malise vs Pablo Andujar; Fernando Verdasco vs David Goffin; Fabio Fognini vs Roberto Bautista Agut; Viktor Trociki vs Radek Stepanek

Black Horses

Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori and Jerzy Janowicz

Players to keep an eye on

Lleyton Hewitt, John Millman, Nicolas Almagro

Likely early upsets

Julien Benneteau, Mikhail Youzhny and Janko Tipsarevic

Quarter-final:

David Ferrer (Although I would love to pick Nishikori) d. Grigor Dimitrov (I know Dimitrov has never been out of the 2^nd round of a Grand Slam yet, but there always is a first time)

THIRD QUARTER

Heads of the quarter

Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro

Also here

- Aljaz Bedene, who made the semi-finals of Chennai taking out Wawrinka and took Tipsarevic to three sets;

- Marin Cilic, the 2010 Australian Open semi-finalist;

- Alexander Dologopolov, the 2011 Australian Open quarter-finalist

Player returning from injury lay off

Gael Monfils

Name Game

Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo

ANALYSIS

Juan Martin Delpotro, sitting at the top of the quarter, opens against Adrian Mannarino and is seeded to meet Marcel Granollers in the 3^rd round. Granollers has however, never been out of the 2^nd round in Australian Open. Possible 4^th round opponent of Del Potro is Marin Cilic, who opens against Marinko Matosevic. Cilic is seeded to meet Andreas Seppi in the 3^rd round. If Cilic and Del Potro meet, it will be a good match up, although Del Potro leads Cilic in the pairs’ encounters 7-2. 4 of those 7 victories came last year, where Cilic failed to win a set. However, the two have once met before in the 4^th round of Australian Open and it Cilic who walked away with victory, but since then it has been all Del Potro.

Andy Murray starts his 2013 Australian Open campaign against Robin Hasse and is seeded to meet Florian Mayer in the 3^rd round. Possible 4^th round opponents for Murray are Giles Simon/Alexandr Dolgopolov/Gael Monfils. Murray is 4-0 against Dolgopolov, 9-1 against Simon and 3-2 against Monfils.

First Round Matches to Watch

Gael Monfils vs Alexndr Dolgopolov, Tommy Robredo vs Jessie Levine

Black Horses

Marin Cilic, Alexndr Dolgopolov

Players to keep an eye on

Aljaz Bedene, Gael Monfils,

Likely early upsets

Julien Benneteau, Mikhail Youzhny and Janko Tipsarevic

Quarter-final:

Murray leads the head to head 5-1, however, surprisingly the two have not played since 2009. Their last two encounters went to 3 sets. The two are grand slam champions, it should be a great match-up and will be a test for Delpotro, however, Murray will be more fired up and will move on.

Andy Murray d. Juan Martin Delpotro

FOURTH QUARTER

Heads of the quarter

Roger Federer, Jo Wilfried Tsonga

Also here

- Tommy Haas, the 34 year old Veteran and seeded 19^th.

- Milos Raonic, the young gun from Canada

- Lukas Rosol, the Nadal conqueror at Wimbledon

- Sydney winner, Bernard Tomic

- Qatar Exxon runner-up, Nikolay Davydenko

Players making debut at Australian Open

Guido Pell, Josselin Ouanna and Di Wu

ANALYSIS

Jo Wilfried Tsonga occupies the top spot of the quarter and opens against country-man Micheal Llodra. Tsonga is seeded to play Bellucci in the 3^rd round. Tsonga has done well on the Melbourne courts and should be fired up to do well again. Injury forced Tsonga to withdraw from Hopman cup and Sydney, and we have yet to see where the French man stands. Veteran Tommy Haas opens against Fin Jarkko Niemien and is seeded to meet Richard Gasquet in the 3^rd round. Haas has been a semi-finalist here 3 times and knows what it takes to go that deep in the draw, Gasquet on the other hand has never been out of the 4^th round of the Australian Open. Haas and Gasquet are levelled at 2-all in their head to head, with Gasquet winning their encounter in last year’s French Open. The winner will be likely taking on Tsonga in the 4^th round for a quarter-final spot. I would love Haas going deep, but given his age and the hot weather of Australia coupled with the fact that this is best of 5, diminishes his chances greatly.

Roger Federer occupies the bottom of the quarter, and opens against Benoit Paire, and could play Davydenko in the 2^nd round in what could be a very tricky 2^nd round match. However, Federer is 17-2 against Davydenko in their meetings. However, the last one at Rotterdam in the semi-finals, went to 3 sets. Davydenko showed great form in Qatar Exxon monile and with that form he will definitely give fits to everyone. Federer’s possible 3^rd round opponent could be the Sydney winner Bernard Tomic. Tomic played Federer in the 4^th round last year, but lost in straight sets. The winner could face Milos Ranonic or Philip Kohlschreiber,  in the 4^th round, however Raonic has not had a good start to the year. Raonic opens against Jan Hajek, and could player Rosol in the 2^nd round.

Roger Federer has entered Australian Open without any warm-up events, and says that he is eager and fit to return to the courts.

First Round Matches to Watch

Go Soeda vs Luke Seville; Lukas Rosol Jamie Baker;

Black Horses

Bernard Tomic, Milos Raonic,

Players to keep an eye on

Go Soeda, Philip Kohlschreiber, Tommy Haas

Likely early upsets

Martin Klizan, Thomaz Bellucci

Quarter-final:

Roger Federer d. Tsonga

SEMI-FINALS

Novak Djokovic leads David Ferrer 9-5 in the head to head record. Djokovic has defeated Ferrer twice in the quarter-finals before here (2008 and 2012), Ferrer may give Djokovic a head ache but in the end it will Djokovic who will prevail against Ferrer.

Djokovic d. Ferrer

Andy Murray leads Federer 10-9 in the pair’s head to head record, however, the Scot has yet to beat 17 time major champion in a grand slam. However, I would go with Andy Murray. (Although, I hate myself for going with Andy Murray, and I would love to see Federer proving me wrong, but that is what my mind says)

Murray d. Federer

FINAL

Djokovic leads the head to head 10-7, and Djokovic has won the last 2 meetings, however, it was Murray who defeated Djokovic in the finals of U.S Open to claim his maiden slam, so he should be brimming with confidence should the two meet, but in the end it will be Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic d. Andy Murray

What do you think? Who do you see causing upset, or making a deep run?

Enjoy the Australian Open tennis. Appologies in advance for any typos.

Tomas Berdych and Australian Open 2013

Tomas Berdych started his 2013 campaign in Aircel Chennai Open as the top seed, but could not make it to the end as he fell in the quarter-finals at the hands of eventual runner-up Roberto Bautista Agut 5-7 6-2 3-6.

Berdych is one of the three top 8 players, outside the BIG 4, who have made it to the final of a Grand Slam in this era of BIG 4. Although the final came on the lawns of Wimbledon, but it came on the heels of back to back wins over Roger Federer in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. Berdych fell in the final at the hands of Rafael Nadal.

Berdych finished his 2012 campaign on a high note winning the Davis cup for Czech Republic. It was the Davis cup win in 2010, which propelled Novak Djokovic to the heights of success, will it do the same for Berdych remains to be seen.

Let us see what the probability of Berdych is, making it deep into the Australian Open. Berdych will be seeded 5^th for the Australian Open.

Tomas Berdych and Australian Open – Based on the past results of 5^th seeds

Tomas Berdych and his fans will not like to know that during the past 25 years, a 5^th seed has never won on the Melbourne tennis courts. The best result by a player seeded 5^th has been runner-up showing, achieving the feat 3 times since 1988 when Australian Open changed the surface from grass to hard courts.

Image via en.wikipedia.org

The first 5^th seeded player to make it to the final of Australian Open was Michael Chang in 1996. Chang defeated 2^nd seeded Andre Agassi in straight sets in the semi-finals to set up a championship match against 4^th seeded Boris Becker, only to lose to Becker in 4 sets.

Andy Murray is the only other player who as a 5^th seed has made it to the finals of Australian Open, and he has done it twice. In 2010, Andy Murray defeated Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, Nadal retired in the quarter-finals due to knee injury while trailing Murray 3-6 6-7 0-3. Murray then went on to defeat Marin Cilic in 4 sets in the semi-finals to set a show down against Roger Federer. Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray in straight sets to claim his 4^th Australian Open title. Andy Murray, as a 5^th seed, made it to the finals in 2011 again defeating Alexander Dolgopolov in the quarter-finals and David Ferrer in the semi-finals, 4 set victories in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals. However, Murray went down in straight sets to Djokovic in the final.

I just went on too much with the Murray thing, the point was just that a 5^th seed has made it to the final of the Australian Open 3 times.

Berdych has 44% chance of making it to the quarter-finals or better. During the past 25 years a 5^th seed has made it to the quarter-finals of Australian Open 11 times, going 5-6 in the quarter-finals.

5^th seeds have lost in the first round 4 times during the past 25 years, however the last time a 5^th seed lost in the first round was way back in 2005, and since then a 5^th seed has made it to the 4^th round at least.

Will Berdych follow the foot-steps of his past fellow 5^th seeded players, or will he carve his own path?

Tomas Berdych and Australian Open – Based on the past performance of Berdych in Australian Open

Berdych is 20-9 life-time in Australian Open, and has made it to the quarter-finals in his last 2 trips here. In 2011 he fell at the hands of eventual champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets, the final score being 1-6, 6-7(5), 1-6.

In 2012 Berdych played Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals. The first two sets of the match were very high quality tennis, with Berych winning the first set 7-6(5). The second set went in the same manner as the first set, but with different outcome, as Nadal won the second set 7-6(6), from then on it was all Nadal. Nadal won the match in 4 sets, the final score being, 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3.

An interesting thing to note is that 7 of Berdych’s 9 loses at Australian Open have come at the hands of players who were ranked in the top 6 at that time. On his debut in Australian Open in 2004, Berdych lost in the 2^nd round in straight sets to then world no.4 Andre Agassi. The following year in 2005, he lost the opener to then world no.6 Guillermo Coria. In 2007, Berdych lost to then world no.4 Nikolay Davydenko in the 4^th round. In 2008 and 2009, he lost to Roger Federer in the 4^th round. Berdych lost in straight sets in 2008, but took the first 2 sets in his 4^th round encounter with the Swiss Mastero in the 4^th round in 2009, however Roger Federer stormed back to win the next 3 sets and take the match.

Berdych should be well relaxed for the Australian Open. He serves big and his game suits the hard courts, will he unleash the beast he has in himself and make it deep into the Australian Open, or will he falter again. 

Let us wait and watch the future unfold.

For a preview of other players please see below:

Li Na and Australian Open 2013

Juan Martin Delpotro and Australian Open 2013

Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Australian Open 2013

Sara Errani and Australian Open 2013
Janko Tipsarevic and Australian Open 2013
Petra Kvitova and Australian Open 2013

Australian Open 2013 Predictions - Part 1

Yesterday, I wrote about how eagerly we all are waiting for the season to start. I had also mentioned that over the course of next few days I will be bringing the Aussie Open predictions articles to you. So let us kick start the series.

The first article of the series looks at the chances of the top 8 players, based on the history of top 8 players in Australian Open. I have used the results since 1988, since it was 1988 when the surface of Australian Open changed from grass to rebound ace. The surface being used these days is Plexicushion.

Most likely top 8 seeds at this year's Australian Open will be:

Image via news.bbc.co.uk

1 - Novak Djokovic
2 - Roger Federer
3 - Andy Murray

4 - Rafael Nadal
5 - David Ferrer
6 - Tomas Berdych
7 - Juan Martin Del Potro
8 - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Let us now explore the chances of each player winning this year's first grand slam (Aussie Open) based on the rank of the player and how the players with similar ranks have performed at Australian Open in the past.

We will start from bottom and move upwards gradually. Let us start from potential 8th seed for the Australian Open 2013, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

No. 8 - Tsonga (Chances at Australian Open)

Image via en.wikipedia.org

Melbourne tennis courts have never loved an 8th seed. During the past 25 years, an 8th seed has never made it to the finals of the Australian Open. In-fact only one player seeded 8th has made it to the semi-finals during the past 25 years, it was Mats Wilander, back in 1990 (he lost in straight sets to Stefan Edberg).

Based on the past results the probability of Tsonga loosing before the QF stage are 80%, with only 20% chances of making it to the QF or better.

Tsonga has been working with a new coach and we know that he has got the game, he has been to the finals here and he knows what it takes to make it to the big one, will he change this statistic for the 8th seed, let us wait and watch.

No. 7 - Del Potro (Chances at Australian Open)
Of the top 8 seeds during the past 25 years of Australian Open, only 2 seeds have never made it to the final. One being a player seeded 8th, and the other, guess who? Yes, the unfortunate 7th seed. The Aussie tennis doesn't seem to like the 7th seed either. However, they have done better than the 8th seeds, making it to the semi-finals at 3 occasions during the past 25 years. The chances of Del Potro making it to the QF or better are 42% based on past results of the 7th seeds.

Del Potro won't be happy with this statistic and might want to change it this year. The fact that he did close his year on a high note, though it was a loss at the hands of Djokovic, he did play well, might be an indication of good things to come. Let us see what Del Potro can do for the 7th seed.

No. 6 - Berdych (Chances at Australian Open)
Of the top 8 seeds, no. 6 seed is the only seed out of the top 4 seeds to have won the Australian Open during the past 25 years. Must be a good thing to know for Berdych. Based on historical data, Berdych has 36% chances of making it to the QF or better. In fact a 6th seed has never lost in the final when he has made it during the past 25 years, doing it twice. Petr Korda did it in 1998 and Agassi did it again in 2001.

Berdych will be gunning for his first major, and given the statistics and the fact that he has beaten Federer and Djokovic back to back before at a major, he must be pumped up to go for it.

No. 5 - Ferrer (Chances at Australian Open)
Ferrer had a stellar 2012, where he won the most titles of all the players, 7, his career best. In fact it was his career best year on tour. What is next for him, a Grand Slam, yes or no? We will have to wait and see.
A fifth seed has never won Australian Open, but he has been to the championship match on 3 occasions during the past 25 years.
Based on the past performances put in by the fifth seeds, Ferrer has 44% chance of making it to the quarter-finals of Australian Open or better. Ferrer's best grand slam result has been semi-final. He has never been to the final of a grand slam, will it happen at Australian Open, the odds are not that bad.

No. 4 - Nadal (Chances at Australian Open)

Image via guardian.co.uk

We have all been anxiously waiting for the return of Nadal from the injury lay off. How good will he perform remains to be seen.
Given the history of 4th seeds at Australian Open, they have made it to the final on 3 occasions (1988, 1996, 2005), winning it on 2 occasions, Becker in 1996 and Safin in 2005. Nadal has won the Australian Open trophy before, and he did that in style in 2009 when Ndal defeated Federer in the final.
Nadal's chances of making it to the quarter-final or better of the Australian Open are 52%. But it will all depend on how his knees hold up and how he deals with the pressure.

No. 3 - Murray (Chances at Australian Open)

Image via fr.wikipedia.org

Andy Murray walks into the Australian Open as the reigning U.S Open champion. He will be having all the confidence he needs. Based on the past trends a 3rd seed has 60% chances of making it to the quarter-finals of Australian Open, 44% chances of making it to the semi-finals, 24% chances of making it to the championship match, and 12% chance of winning the trophy.
Murray has been to the championship match of Australian Open twice, loosing to Roger Federer in 2010 and to Novak Djokovic in 2011.
With the weight of winning his first major off his shoulders, he will be looking forward to add more to his grand slam resume.

No. 2 Federer (Chances at Australian Open)

Image via guardian.co.uk

Based on the history of second seed in the Australian Open, Federer has a huge 76% chance of making it to the quarter-final of the Australian Open. In-fact a second seed has lost before the quarter-final only once in the past 10 years, and a total of 6 times during the past 25 years.
Federer has a 24% shot at winning the trophy based on the history of 2nd seeds at Australian Open. However, with his age and heat there in Australia, will he be up to the task, remains to be seen.

No. 1 Djokovic (Chances at Australian Open)

Image via optimumtennis.net

The top seed has the richest history in the Australian Open tennis during the past 25 years. A top seed has not lost in the first round, but once, in the past 25 years. The only top seed to loose in the first round was Australian stalwart Hewitt, back in 2001. A top seed has gone on to win the Australian Open trophy in 10 of the past 25 years, which makes a whooping 40% chance for Djokovic to win the trophy.
Djokovic is the two time defending champion, and is aiming to become the first player in the Open era to win Australian Open 3 consecutive years. Will Djokovic win Australian Open 2013, let us wait and see.

That was all from the part one, I will be bringing in the part 2 for you guys soon. Stay tuned and do let me know how you feel about this article or anything else you want to see on the blog. Hoping for a great season ahead of us.

For the probability of the individual players please refer to the links below:

Juan Martin Delpotro and Australian Open 2013

Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Australian Open 2013

Sara Errani and Australian Open 2013
Janko Tipsarevic and Australian Open 2013
Petra Kvitova and Australian Open 2013