Bulldog Force
Referee
- Messages
- 20,619
2015 Australian Open Campaign
Our Summer of tennis is well and truly underway with tournaments to begin if not already underway right around the Great Southern Land. Let's get this started:
Minor Tournaments:
World Tennis Challenge, Adelaide, Tuesday January 13 - Thursday January 15
http://worldtennischallenge.com/
McDonalds International, Burnie, Tasmania, TBD
http://www.burnieinternational.com.au/
World Series
Perth, Hyundai Hopman Cup, Sunday January 4 - Saturday January 10
Defending Champions: France
For more than two decades, the Hopman Cup has been serving up some of the very best international tennis. Named in honour of Harry Hopman, one of Australias greatest tennis players and coaches, it is one of the first events of Australias summer season of tennis. Some of the worlds best players battle it out in singles and mixed doubles matches in a warm-up to the Australian Open. Finals matches have included tennis legends and champions such as Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Monica Seles; along with Australias own Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur.
Professional
Brisbane International, Sunday January 4 - Sunday January 11
Defending Champions: Lleyton Hewitt, Serena Williams
The Brisbane International brings world class tennis to Brisbane in the first week of January, as the greatest players in the world prepare for the Australian Open. The event attracts visitors of all ages, offering something for everyone from family and childrens activities to live music every evening. Events are played on the outdoor hard courts at Queensland Tennis Centre. In 2012, the Brisbane International won the international group award for Best Fan Experience as voted by members of the Association of Tennis Professionals. The event saw record numbers attend the carnival of tennis, food and live entertainment.
Professional
Hobart International, Sunday January 11 - Saturday January 17
Defending Champion: Garbine Muguruza
On the back of an impressive 2014 season which saw her reach the semi-finals in Birmingham and crack the worlds top 30 for the first time, Casey Dellacqua headlines a promising line-up at the Hobart International.
Less than 18 months ago the Western Australian languished outside the top 100 as she battled numerous injuries, but a run to the fourth round of the Australian Open launched a great season as far as her ranking was concerned.
Now ranked 29th in the world, Dellacqua stands as the only hope Australia has of a seeding at the Australian Open, but first she will return to Hobart for the second year in a row to prepare for the years first Grand Slam.
She is joined in the field by Kazakhstans Zarina Diyas, who herself is coming off a breakthrough year, as well as Italian doubles specialist Roberta Vinci and former Australian Open semi-finalist Sloane Stephens.
Rising American Alison Riske and Camila Giorgi, who in 2014 lost two finals after holding championship points, are also among those to watch out for.
Exhibition
Heineken Open, Kooyong, Monday January 12 - Saturday January 17
Defending champion: John Isner
Drawcards: David Ferrer, Ernests Gulbis, John Isner and Gael Monfils.
One of the last pre-Australian Open warm-up tournaments will see some of the worlds best men descend onto Auckland for the Heineken Open, a week after the womens ASB Classic is held in the same city.
Four-time champion David Ferrer, defending champion John Isner and French favourite Gael Monfils are among those whom New Zealand fans will be treated to as the players finalise their preparations for the Australian Open across the ditch.
Ferrer, who dropped to tenth in the world after an indifferent 2014, will chase a fifth title in Auckland having previous triumphed in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013, while Isner will look to win here for the third time having won on either side of Ferrers hat-trick in 2010 and 2014.
Professional
Sydney International, Sunday January 11 - Saturday January 17
Defending champions: Juan Martin del Potro and Tsvetana Pironkova.
Drawcards: Juan Martin del Potro, Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Agnieszka Radwanska and Samantha Stosur.
Mens defending champion Juan Martin del Potro will look to continue his comeback from another wrist injury by attempting to defend his Sydney International title in the week before the Australian Open.
But even with a protected ranking of seven, the Argentine will still be unseeded meaning he risks drawing a seeded player in the early rounds, as does 2013 champion Bernard Tomic and this years Newcombe Medallist, Nick Kyrgios.
Them aside, there is only one top 20 player in the mens field, which contrasts to six of the womens top ten competing, including leading seeds Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Halep and Kvitova, the top two seeds, will have a first-round bye which means they wont play their first match until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest. In addition, as they are also the top two seeds in Shenzhen the week before, they also cannot meet before the final.
Joining Radwanska and Wozniacki in the womens field are defending champion Tsvetana Pironkova, Australian hope Samantha Stosur, Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova and US Open semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova.
The fact that all eight seeded players in the womens draw is in the top 15 will make up for the disappointment of only one top 20 player in the mens field. Still, a strong field for the Sydney International which serves as one of the three final warm-up events for Melbourne.
The Major
The Australian Open, Melbourne, Monday January 19 - Sunday February 1
Defending champions: Stan Wawrinka and Li Na
Drawcards: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep.
Last but not least the first Grand Slam tournament of 2015, the Australian Open, gets underway on January 19.
Novak Djokovic will arrive in Melbourne an angry man after being denied a shot at a record fifth title by Stan Wawrinka, who defeated the Serb 9-7 in a thrilling five-set quarter-final encounter in 2014.
Rafael Nadal will also be keen to complete a double Career Grand Slam after his bid for history was also denied by Wawrinka in the final having never lost a set against the Swiss in 12 previous meetings, the Spaniard was hindered by injury as Wawrinka won the match that mattered the most to win his first Major title.
Twelve months on and Wawrinka himself will enter uncharted territory, attempting to successfully defend his title. The 29-year-old, who will turn 30 in March, endured an inconsistent 2014 and it remains to be seen whether he can recapture the form that saw him claim a shock victory Down Under.
Looking at the women, and the retirement of Li Na and the consistent form of Serena Williams in 2014 will see the latter once again start favourite to claim a sixth title at Melbourne Park, but first since 2010.
The last three editions had seen the world number one start as favourite, only for her to crash out earlier than expected in 2012, she lost in the fourth round to Ekaterina Makarova when a victory would have pitted her against Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals, while in 2013 and 2014 she was on the wrong end of three-set losses to Sloane Stephens and Ana Ivanovic respectively.
If the womens final ends up being between Williams and world number two Sharapova, then the world number one ranking could be up for grabs, with both women having lost in the fourth round last year.
The Russian, as well as Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska, among others, will be among those expected to challenge Williams for the crown. Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka will also hope that a return Down Under will see her return to top form and rise back up the rankings after injuries ruined her 2014 season.
Our Summer of tennis is well and truly underway with tournaments to begin if not already underway right around the Great Southern Land. Let's get this started:
Minor Tournaments:
World Tennis Challenge, Adelaide, Tuesday January 13 - Thursday January 15
http://worldtennischallenge.com/
McDonalds International, Burnie, Tasmania, TBD
http://www.burnieinternational.com.au/
World Series
Perth, Hyundai Hopman Cup, Sunday January 4 - Saturday January 10
Defending Champions: France
For more than two decades, the Hopman Cup has been serving up some of the very best international tennis. Named in honour of Harry Hopman, one of Australias greatest tennis players and coaches, it is one of the first events of Australias summer season of tennis. Some of the worlds best players battle it out in singles and mixed doubles matches in a warm-up to the Australian Open. Finals matches have included tennis legends and champions such as Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Monica Seles; along with Australias own Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur.
Professional
Brisbane International, Sunday January 4 - Sunday January 11
Defending Champions: Lleyton Hewitt, Serena Williams
The Brisbane International brings world class tennis to Brisbane in the first week of January, as the greatest players in the world prepare for the Australian Open. The event attracts visitors of all ages, offering something for everyone from family and childrens activities to live music every evening. Events are played on the outdoor hard courts at Queensland Tennis Centre. In 2012, the Brisbane International won the international group award for Best Fan Experience as voted by members of the Association of Tennis Professionals. The event saw record numbers attend the carnival of tennis, food and live entertainment.
Professional
Hobart International, Sunday January 11 - Saturday January 17
Defending Champion: Garbine Muguruza
On the back of an impressive 2014 season which saw her reach the semi-finals in Birmingham and crack the worlds top 30 for the first time, Casey Dellacqua headlines a promising line-up at the Hobart International.
Less than 18 months ago the Western Australian languished outside the top 100 as she battled numerous injuries, but a run to the fourth round of the Australian Open launched a great season as far as her ranking was concerned.
Now ranked 29th in the world, Dellacqua stands as the only hope Australia has of a seeding at the Australian Open, but first she will return to Hobart for the second year in a row to prepare for the years first Grand Slam.
She is joined in the field by Kazakhstans Zarina Diyas, who herself is coming off a breakthrough year, as well as Italian doubles specialist Roberta Vinci and former Australian Open semi-finalist Sloane Stephens.
Rising American Alison Riske and Camila Giorgi, who in 2014 lost two finals after holding championship points, are also among those to watch out for.
Exhibition
Heineken Open, Kooyong, Monday January 12 - Saturday January 17
Defending champion: John Isner
Drawcards: David Ferrer, Ernests Gulbis, John Isner and Gael Monfils.
One of the last pre-Australian Open warm-up tournaments will see some of the worlds best men descend onto Auckland for the Heineken Open, a week after the womens ASB Classic is held in the same city.
Four-time champion David Ferrer, defending champion John Isner and French favourite Gael Monfils are among those whom New Zealand fans will be treated to as the players finalise their preparations for the Australian Open across the ditch.
Ferrer, who dropped to tenth in the world after an indifferent 2014, will chase a fifth title in Auckland having previous triumphed in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013, while Isner will look to win here for the third time having won on either side of Ferrers hat-trick in 2010 and 2014.
Professional
Sydney International, Sunday January 11 - Saturday January 17
Defending champions: Juan Martin del Potro and Tsvetana Pironkova.
Drawcards: Juan Martin del Potro, Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Agnieszka Radwanska and Samantha Stosur.
Mens defending champion Juan Martin del Potro will look to continue his comeback from another wrist injury by attempting to defend his Sydney International title in the week before the Australian Open.
But even with a protected ranking of seven, the Argentine will still be unseeded meaning he risks drawing a seeded player in the early rounds, as does 2013 champion Bernard Tomic and this years Newcombe Medallist, Nick Kyrgios.
Them aside, there is only one top 20 player in the mens field, which contrasts to six of the womens top ten competing, including leading seeds Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska.
Halep and Kvitova, the top two seeds, will have a first-round bye which means they wont play their first match until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest. In addition, as they are also the top two seeds in Shenzhen the week before, they also cannot meet before the final.
Joining Radwanska and Wozniacki in the womens field are defending champion Tsvetana Pironkova, Australian hope Samantha Stosur, Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova and US Open semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova.
The fact that all eight seeded players in the womens draw is in the top 15 will make up for the disappointment of only one top 20 player in the mens field. Still, a strong field for the Sydney International which serves as one of the three final warm-up events for Melbourne.
The Major
The Australian Open, Melbourne, Monday January 19 - Sunday February 1
Defending champions: Stan Wawrinka and Li Na
Drawcards: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep.
Last but not least the first Grand Slam tournament of 2015, the Australian Open, gets underway on January 19.
Novak Djokovic will arrive in Melbourne an angry man after being denied a shot at a record fifth title by Stan Wawrinka, who defeated the Serb 9-7 in a thrilling five-set quarter-final encounter in 2014.
Rafael Nadal will also be keen to complete a double Career Grand Slam after his bid for history was also denied by Wawrinka in the final having never lost a set against the Swiss in 12 previous meetings, the Spaniard was hindered by injury as Wawrinka won the match that mattered the most to win his first Major title.
Twelve months on and Wawrinka himself will enter uncharted territory, attempting to successfully defend his title. The 29-year-old, who will turn 30 in March, endured an inconsistent 2014 and it remains to be seen whether he can recapture the form that saw him claim a shock victory Down Under.
Looking at the women, and the retirement of Li Na and the consistent form of Serena Williams in 2014 will see the latter once again start favourite to claim a sixth title at Melbourne Park, but first since 2010.
The last three editions had seen the world number one start as favourite, only for her to crash out earlier than expected in 2012, she lost in the fourth round to Ekaterina Makarova when a victory would have pitted her against Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals, while in 2013 and 2014 she was on the wrong end of three-set losses to Sloane Stephens and Ana Ivanovic respectively.
If the womens final ends up being between Williams and world number two Sharapova, then the world number one ranking could be up for grabs, with both women having lost in the fourth round last year.
The Russian, as well as Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska, among others, will be among those expected to challenge Williams for the crown. Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka will also hope that a return Down Under will see her return to top form and rise back up the rankings after injuries ruined her 2014 season.
