The 2015 Australian Open is just around the corner, and many have their predictions on whom will be the victor even before securing their AO tickets. Many would expect one of the Big Four to triumph, but new champions are developing in each tournament. All of the best players have intriguing storylines leading up to the event, and this makes it all the more exciting to take an early guess.
Routine Resurgence of Rafa For the third time, the 2014 Australian Open saw Rafael Nadal reach a final where many expected him to capture his 14th slam to tie the record of Pete Sampras. While it was not to be, his reaching the final was still met as a surprise to many as he often had trouble at the tournament since his championship in 2009. At the close of the 2014 season, the Spaniard has had to recover from a wrist injury only to be set back once again by appendicitis. He dropped Paris Bercy and World Tour Finals from his schedule due to his condition and impending surgery. The benefit to this misfortune is the added time he will have to rest up before the 2015 season. If we know anything about Rafa, he is even more dangerous after having overcome a struggle.
Federer’s Fire
With his heightened success in the 2014 season, Roger Federer stands to make a mark at the upcoming tournament. On his favorite surface, the Swiss has taken the title in Melbourne four times in the past. The dip in results that has seen him bow out in earlier rounds of many tournaments has been halted with his performance in 2014. The star captured titles at Dubai and Cincinnati earlier in the season, won Shanghai and Basel in the second hard court swing and came in as runner-up in the Wimbledon final during the summer. The increased success is likely to keep the Basel native optimistic and confident going into the 2015 season.
Maybe Murray?
Andy Murray is no stranger to the results rollercoaster either. Ascending to the height of his success with his long-awaited Wimbledon victory in 2013, the Scot saw a title drought that lasted for 14 months until the late hard court stretch of the 2014 season. This part of the year saw him succeed at Shenzhen, the Vienna Open and Valencia. While the success is more than welcome by Murray and his team, the weeks of successive competition (including attempts in Beijing and Shanghai) could take their toll on his fitness. Luckily for Murray, this surface happens to be his best, and he has come close to the Australian Open title without coming out victorious in three final appearances.
New Life for Nole
Out of all of the contenders of the so-called “Big Four,” no one has had more of a dominance at this tournament than Novak Djokovic. While he and Federer are tied for total titles, the Serb has seen a successive run of three years as Champion, and most of his grand slam success was garnered here against his biggest rivals. Outside of the court, Djokovic saw the birth of his first child in October 2014, and the responsibilities or excitement of his new family may act as a distraction. Federer’s career struggles after becoming a father were the subject of many a joke, and this “phenomenon” could also prove true with Novak. At the end of the day, this is his most impressive slam, and in recent years most would put their money on him to take home the title.
Unexpected Underdogs
One of the most unexpected yet warmly-welcomed aspects of the 2014 season was the manifestation of two first-time grand slam champions. Stan Wawrinka beat Rafael Nadal in Australia in what was expected to be a history-making match for the Spaniard. Marin Cilic took home the US Open title after both he and Kei Nishikori reached their first slam finals upon beating favorites Djokovic and Federer. Some may see it as the cliché “changing of the guard” while others just see talented players with a bit of luck on their sides. Either way, the new champions have proven that nothing can ever be “expected” in tennis, and any man in the tournament stands to lift the trophy in the end.
