i really hope u guys are rite with the rafa prediction.pleassseeee rafa win pleasseee!! give us rafa fans a big victory to celebreate :).and i agree with ricky when he picks roddick ! roddick is a better match player ,he wil win

we'll see. I kind of forgot about Roddick's knee issues. We will see. I think he can pull this one out, then he will get toasted in the semis by Murray/Nadal.

At least none of the bloggers have written Rafa off. Some have written off on the basis that he hasn't beaten a to 10 player from whenever, in that case he might as well retire if they think that is going to be the case for ever. He was recovering from his injuries through all that time a,d picked up another oner in his stomach when he came back, you can't expect much from him under those circumstances.

Rafa was written off for any GS title on grass and hard before he won the AO and Wimbledon. Need I say more.

I hope Roddick beats Cilic.



There is only one Rafael Nadal
Vamos

yea carrie there is only one Rafael Nadal ! VAMOS !!! all rafa fans (my beloved fellows) lets pray for our man,he really needs this win to set the foundation for this season

carrie,
Only ATR suggested that Nadal should retire and you can't take that guy seriously. I'd be surprised if Murray won to tell you the truth.

Murray in 4 over Nadal.

Roddick in 4 over Cilic.

chr18,
I was referring to people who say Rafa won't win purely because he hasn't beaten a top 10 player recently, in which case there is no point in him carrying on because according to them that means that he'll never beat a top 10 player ever again.


There is only one Rafael Nadal
Vamos

Kelli "I take longer to get my picks in than Nadal takes between points" DeMario

hahahahah!!!

i reckon murray in 4 :(

I really think neither Fed or Rafa are going to make it to the finals. But I think both of them are going to make it to the semis.
Nadal over Murray and Roddick over Cilic.
Roddick over Nadal in the semis. (Just have a feeling so I said it)

LOL...I'm on California time here, which is 19 hours behind the festivities in Melbourne. I'll be watching my fellow colleagues as they engage in their own battle for tennis-predicting supremacy. :D

does that mean u will not be making ur predictions?? :S if yes then dont do that! we have a battle on ;p

I will agree w Ricky predictions,great analysis...This will be two greta matches,in my opinion,this is THE BEST QFS OF GS IN THE LAST DECADE,the most quality!!!Tomorrow..I don't know..I think Nole surely over Tsonga,but ROger-Davy..Oh,it is 50-50,although I am fed fan(I am from Serbia and I like Novak,too..)U agree w me?:)

I hope Ricky is right. I do like Rafa's chances against Murray, but I know it will be a tough battle. But I don't want to make the mistake of seeing this match as the be-all and end-all for Rafa. It would be great to see him finally beat a top player and it could give him enough confidence to get him over that last hurdle. He would be awfully dangerous with a win over the likes of Murray. But if Murray does prevail, I don't think it necessarily will destroy Rafa's newfound confidence. It's just the beginning of a new tennis year and there's a lot of tennis to be played. If I approach their match that way, then I know it will be a lot easier to watch!

I am not so sure that Nole will get by Tsonga. But Tsonga can't do what he did with Almagro. That's the problem with Tsonga. He can play brilliant tennis, but not with great consistency. He certainly has the game to take out Nole, but he will have to play his best tennis. Nole hasn't really been tested yet, so this will be interesting to see.

I do not agree that Roger and Davy is 50-50 at all. I am not saying it will be a walkover, but I just don't think Davy can step up and get the job done in a best three out of five against a man with 15 grand slam titles. If Roger is playing well, I don't see how he loses.

well i think murray is more motivated than ever

he is playing well

his return of serves are unbelievable

i think its all depends on 1st set
if nadal wins first set then nadal in 5
if murray wins 1st set then it 's going to be murray in 4


as far as fedex-davy considered, it's just that media is creating too much hype

fedex in straight or atmost 4

Rafa vs Murray - Tough call, it depends on which Rafa turns up. The good old Rafa, and esp the one of AO 09 mode, will beat Murray, in four or five sets. Otherwise, 50/50 chances.

Cilic vs Roddick - I favor Cilic over Roddick, as I think after he survived Delpo, his confidence will be sky high. I think Roddick plays more defensively and does not have big weapons to harm Cilic. Both have big serves, but Cilic's forehand is definitely a weapon for him.

Fed vs Davy - difficult to call, again depends on which Fed and which Davy turn up; master class Fed vs Davy of that fourth round match - Fed will win. Master class Fed vs Davy of WTF mode - 50/50 chances. Ordinary Fed vs Davy of WTF mode - Davy will win.

Nole vs Tsonga - always 50/50, no clear favorite.

Great job on the predictions everyone! I'm going to go with Rafa over Murray in 4 in a similar fashion to the Karlovic match. Yes, I know Murray is better than Dr. Ivo, but like Ricky said Nadal is a bad opponent for him because he doesn't rely on his serve, like Isner. The same is true for Roddick. He will get past Cilic, but Nadal will end his run without too much trouble... maybe he will give the second set. Federer will take care of Davy in straights, and then Djokovic in 4 to meet Rafa in the final. This time Roger will probably beat Rafa for the title, even though I would like Rafa to win, realistically I thing Roger will have the edge this time.

Ok...my turn...
Rafa over Muzza in 4... great warrior will go throu
Andy over Cilic in 4... Marin is coming, but still old school will win...
Nole over Tsonga in 4...
Fed and Davy... I am rooting for Davy... but 5 sets...everything is posible...
SF...
Rafa over Roddick in 4...
Nole over Fed in 4, over Davy in 3
...and finaly Nole over Rafa in 4...
Nole wasn't tested...yes... but was Fed tested??? Life was much easier for both of them this time... and last matches... Nole has won over Fed, Rafa, Cilic and Davy.
Roddick and Muzza are not in that group but I don't think they will reach finale.
Anyway...lot of beautiful matches are in front of us. Snacks and cold beer and enjoy!!!

I'm so excited, I have tickets for the Rafa/Mandy match! Can I be completely outrageous and pick Rafa in straight? :P On a more serious note, I hope for Rafa in 5 thrilling sets ala Rafa/Nando last AO. That would be SUCH a treat.

But realistically, I pick Rafa in 4. :)

As for Roddick/Cilic...Roddick in 5. Really want A-Rod to go through :)

I'm still laughing at Ricky "Martin" Dimon ... Just thinking of him dancing to La Vida Loca.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47fEXGabaY

if rafa doesnt win the aussie open, i really dont know where he goes from there.
it would have been nearly a year since he has won a title.

attacker - he will go to Rotterdam

regards.

there's no shame in losing to murray in 1/4 finals of a grand slam on murrays favourite surface. and also lol @ ricky :D

if Davydenko loses to Federer on Wednesday, I really dont know where he goes from there. It would have been nearly three weeks since has has beaten Federer.

Ricky,

I think you are on a roll. You have the best comebacks for our resident pesky Mr./Ms Spamalot!

Thanks so much! I need a good laugh!

But on a serious note, I think it really serves to put all this in perspective. We aren't talking about life and death folks! The world won't fall off its axis, the sun will rise again tomorrow morning and the players will move on to the next tournament, more matches, challenges, victories, defeats. Life goes on.

I believe Murray in 4 and also Cilic in 4 though I dont think there is any way Cilic can take last two sets 6-3 6-2 no matter how roddick's knees are. Bold scoreline cheryl :D

can't agree more than that, ricky. cilic is behind davydenko only because he has not beaten nadal or federer yet this season. but i am already seeing the next top 10 player in process. he beaten his nemesis twice, wawrinka, in two weeks, beaten potro, another revenge for us open. interesting to see how many more top 10 players will he beat lol.

zare,hi. federer has been plenty tested,(if you read the blogs here), if you are a federer fan, then you will know this already.novak hasnt (that could be good - he's fresher, or bad - needs more practise).we will see.

I don't get it Maxi... tested??? with Andreev???... was that 1 set test for Fed.
...and Nole lost one to Ciudinelli... sory, don't see the point...
It was easy draw for both of them' till QF...

as much as i HATE roddick, u gotta appreciate the guy for fighting with everything he has after that shoulder injury.
gotta love a fighter.
roddick without that serve is nothing, but he is hanging with cillic on the baseline and even domiating some points.
cillic is just too timid, he lacks that killer ruthless instinct to finish off an opponent.

watching tsn/espn - Brad Gilbert picks Murray over Nadal.

with almost tears in my eyes ,here are the standings for the tennis-predicting competition :
1.VIncent:24 points
2.Cheryl:23 points
2.Ricky:23 points
4.kelli:21 points (she missed the first day of predictions and this one but will be assigned an average of her score to be added to her total ,after the 2nd SF day)

*i am heart-broken ,but congrats to all murray fans and plz pray rafa gets healthy again

vamosrafa doing a fine job keeping scores.

thank you homos :)