Tennis: Murray Must Climb Mountain in Melbourne

There may be no more confident player in Tennis right now but Al Dannity says Andy Murray must negotiate a brutal draw if he is to win a maiden major.

Long road ahead
Andy Murray has looked exceptionally confident since announcing Ivan Lendl as his new coach. In Lendl he has a coach who has done it all but also one who struggled through his first few major finals. Murray has made it to three Grand Slam finals but needs help to get over that final hurdle. Lendl is the ideal man for a hard court master like Murray. The draw in Melbourne however means he will have to fight through nearly every round.

Ryan Harrison won’t be a pushover in the first round. Alex Bogomolov looks likely to be waiting for Murray in the third round. If he gets through those early battles, Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfriend Tsonga are likely to be standing between Murray and the semi-finals. With Novak Djokovic a likely semi-final opponent, the Scot will do remarkably well to make a third straight final in Melbourne.

Raonic will rock you
Milos Raonic has already been dubbed the Canadian Sampras by Tennis betting fans. The young powerhouse will get plenty of time in the spotlight Down Under. Andy Roddick is seeded to meet Raonic in the third round, a potential re-match of their excellent final in Memphis last year. Should Raonic avenge that defeat he would likely face a meeting with Djokovic in the fourth round.

Delpo has to do it the hard way
Murray’s draw is the toughest of any of the contenders but Juan Martin Del Potro runs him a close second. Delpo’s route to the last 16 is clear enough but from there he faces a possible route of Mardy Fish, Roger Federer (quarter final), Rafael Nadel (semi final), and then Djokovic or Murray for the title. Del Potro has the game to win wars with any of these opponents but multiple drawn out matches will take their toll.

King Novak won’t give up his crown easily
After delivering the most dominant single season since McEnroe’s prime, Novak Djokovic enters Melbourne as a deserved favorite and undisputed #1. By resting since Abu Dhabi, the Serb has reduced the potential for fatigue to play a significant role in his performance. The top seed has a favorable draw and may not drop a set before the semi finals. With only one blemish on his major record last year and solid form over winter, it’s impossible to look beyond Djokernole here.

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