Many experts predict big things in 2015 for tennis. Not at least because there are a new array of talent that could contend for some of the sport's most prestigious tournaments. This year's Australian Open is the first major event of the calendar year and see's defending men's champion Stan Wawrinka hoping to re-capture the form that saw him claim his maiden Grand Slam title. But with many of his peers fully rested and injury free will Stan be able to stake a claim to keep hold of the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup?
Many were surprised to see Wawrinka topple Djokovic and Nadal on the way to winning the title last year but the Swiss had always displayed signs that one day he was going to win something big. His epic quarter-final loss to Kei Nishikori at the US Open last year was commendable when you consider how well the Japanese player was hitting the ball. But there were opportunities during the match that could have turned the tide but Stan wasn't able to exert the extra influence on the court that was needed to beat Nishikori. A similar pattern followed in his encounter with good friend Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the World Tour Finals in November. When serving for the match, Stan decided to serve and volley but his game plan failed and he subsequently lost the match. The 29 year-old should have won that match but he gifted Roger the initiative and if Stan is to successfully defend his title here in Australia, then he will have hoped that the off-season preparations with his team will have flushed out any irregularities in his game. Fourth seeded Wawrinka kicks off his campaign against Turkish opponent Marsel Ilhan, the 100th seed. An early loss for the Swiss seems very unlikely; he has been given a fair draw and should be able to negotiate his way to at least the quarter-finals where Kei Nishikori could be awaiting. Nishikori, the fifth seed is an extremely talented tennis player who possesses all the right attributes to win a Grand Slam. He was unfortunate to not claim it at the US Open last year, but it seemed the 25 year-old had played one game too many as well as falling victim to some fantastic serving from Marin Cilic. Kei has been given a tough first round opponent in former World No. 9 Nicolas Almagro who has not played at a Grand Slam since the French Open last year, so this is a tough assignment for Kei. Although he won't be expected to lose at this early stage, it is sure to be a competitive match and will set the tone for the rest of the tournament for him.
The Australian Open has been somewhat dominated over the last three years by World No.1 Novak Djokovic who has held the trophy aloft four times (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013), a joint record with Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. Were he to win for the fifth time, he will have broken new territory. So it's quite easy to see why many are predicting the Serb to go the distance this year and with a pretty comfortable draw it does seem that the writing is already on the trophy. Confidence will be high however for his first round opponent Aljaz Bedene who was runner-up to Stan Wawrinka at the Chennai Open earlier this month, but Novak shouldn't be troubled. A third round encounter with John Isner is probably on the cards so Novak will be tested on his way to the quarter-finals where Canadian Milos Raonic, you would think, will be waiting. The 6ft5 eighth seed had an excellent 2014 reaching the quarter-finals at the French Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon, so there is an added pressure for him to emulate that form in 2015, and the Australian Open is the perfect way to begin his year on a high. But a meeting with Frenchman Gael Monfils in the third round could see the Canadian make an early exit. They have only met twice and Monfils has won both encounters and the way the 17th seed played last year at the French and US Open is a good enough reason to believe that he could cause some serious damage in Australia.
This week the tennis community welcomes back Rafa Nadal to Grand Slam tennis after overcoming a wrist injury and also appendicitis. The Spaniard last played slam tennis at Wimbledon last year where he was beaten in the fourth round by Australian wonder-kid Nick Kyrgios. It is expected that the 14-time Grand Slam winner will be feeling rusty especially after a first round exit at the Qatar Open earlier this month. What doesn't help matters for the third seed however is his first round opponent here in Australia. Mikhail Youzhny is just not the type of player you want to start your campaign off with but an early test may be what Nadal requires if he is to make a serious challenge for this year's title. Nadal leads there head-to-head 11-4 but it's still not clear whether Nadal will be feeling vulnerable and if so Youzhny is the type of player who will take advantage. This has upset written all over it and if it's not this match it'll be another where Nadal fans will be left disappointed. A shot at the title seems a long way off at the moment for Rafa, but a 15th Grand Slam title could well come at Roland Garros. If Nadal was to somehow make it to quarter-finals then a meeting with Tomas Berdych is the likely outcome. This is pretty much the easiest quarter for Berdych and if Nadal was to fall early then Berdych should have a great opportunity for a crack at the title. With a new coach behind him in tactically astute Dani Vallverdu, a decent record down under by reaching at least the quarter-finals or better since 2010, it wouldn't be a bad idea to put your money on Berdych as this tournament's dark horse.
The bottom half of the draw sees Andy Murray and Roger Federer, two names no player would want to face in their opening round. The pair have a pretty tricky route if they are to face-off in the quarter-finals however. Murray will likely face Grigor Dimitrov as early as the fourth round, hoping to avenge his defeat against the Bulgarian at Wimbledon last year. A repeat seems unlikely, Murray looks extremely fresh so far in this new season and a match like this is great preparation for his potential quarter-final against Federer. Murray may also have to negotiate his way past Marinko Matosevic and Martin Klizan before the fourth round. Andy has a positive record in Melbourne having been runner-up three times but whether he has the belief that he can beat the top players again at the slams is still not clear and Federer will surely be eager to stamp his mark on the new season. The Swiss maestro hasn't won here since 2010 and although he will face possible tricky opponents in rising star Borna Coric, big serving Ivo Karlovic and fellow veteran Tommy Robredo, these are all obstacles that Federer has overcome time and time again.
At the end of the Grand Slam season in 2014 it seemed that the ATP tour was in a transitional period with the new Grand Slam champions. But here we are in 2015 and it's hard to pick anyone other than Novak Djokovic winning this tournament. He is still the most consistent player on tour and it just doesn't seem possible that he will lose at any stage of the tournament. You would think that the final will be contested by the Serb and Federer but dark horse Tomas Berdych could be the player to watch out for. The Czech won't win this event but could definitely make the final, but Novak is still the clear favourite to win an unprecedented fifth Australian Open crown.
Men's Champion: Novak Djokovic
Dark Horse: Tomas Berdych
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