Experts: Roger Federer to win
- Monday, January 18, 2010, 11:52
- Tennis
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Eurosport Yahoo! caught up with the experts to get their predictions on who will be lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in two weeks’ time. The consensus? Roger Federer – narrowly.Stefan Edberg - I’m sticking with Roger Federer. That may be a little bit of a surprise but I think he’s got nothing to lose. He’s won so many Slams, he usually loves playing in Australia and he’s won there a few times before.
Pat Cash – It’s hard to say. Rafael Nadal will come back strong, Federer’s always there, Murray’s got something to prove and then Juan Martin Del Potro’s probably the danger guy of the whole lot of them. One of those guys will win it.
Goran Ivanisevic – I have no idea. It’s going to be a very open Australian Open. Let’s say Andy Murray. I don’t think it’s going to be a big, big surprise. If it was to be a surprise, there is Nikolay Davydenko, who is always there.
Pat Rafter – Ooh, I’m going to say Del Potro. He’ll definitely be in the mix there. But I don’t think he’s necessarily going to dominate all the Slams.
Mark Philippoussis – I don’t think Nadal will win it again. I think Del Potro is the one who will be pushing for that event. Federer obviously also has a chance and I also have a feeling that Murray is going to have a good run. But Del Potro for me.
Henri Leconte – I will go for Federer. I think Roger is going to come back strong and he’s going to work hard. He had a tough year last year. I hope he is going to be ready for the Australian Open, he doesn’t have anything to prove, except maybe to himself. I will go with Murray as my second choice.
All speaking to the Masters Tour official website
Eurosport commentators and analysts
Greg Rusedski – The Australian Open is always the hardest Grand Slam to predict as you don’t have the same form book to work off as you have with the other Slams. Usually though you can still pick one or two clear favourites, but this year it looks near impossible to pick a winner.
Jo Durie – Federer. His drive is still strong – he still wants to be world number one and win more Slams. Del Potro will be the one to beat for Federer.
Chris Bradnam – Federer. The list of men who know how to win a Major is very small and Federer will be as loose as a goose this year in the Majors after finally winning his first French last year. I think the only time we will really see him tighten up is if he makes the final of the US Open having won the Australian, French and Wimbledon crowns once more. When Federer is at his best, in three out of five sets, he is simply the best.
Virigina Wade – It is a really hard question to answer. All I can do is put them in an order of who I think is marginally better going into the tournament. Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Murray, Federer and then Del Potro. But I’m always wrong!
Lucie Ahl – Nadal. I think in the off-season he’s had time to work on the things he needed to change. He’s lost quite a lot of weight in order to take the pressure off his knees and I think he knows his time is nearing an end so his want and desire will be even stronger, enough to see him through.
David Mercer – Del Potro. He’s the coming man, he’s young, he’s got huge power and for such a big man he moves so well. The only doubt I have about him is: can he cope with the intense heat?
Simon Reed – Nadal. He was moving better in Abu Dhabi last week than I ever thought we’d see him move again. If he can sustain that then he is physically the toughest player on the Tour. He’s already mentally the toughest player and with those two elements combined he is next to impossible to beat.
British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) and British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin 525) will be providing daily coverage from midnight of two matches which are also simulcasted on the Eurosport Player.
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