well folks, it's back!

I don't know why, but I feel like this is my 2nd favorite Grand Slam besides Wimbledon. Probably has to do with the fact that it's the first of the year and the timing is so off that I'm able to spend late nights watching live action before I suffer the next morning.

Interesting draw this year, as I feel like the bottom half has pretty good chance at running as top seeds.

Fish/Fed in a QF will be great.

The draw sets up SF matches as Joker/Murray and Nadal/Federer. That's bigtime.

Maybe Tsonga can play well and upset someone.

So...predictions/hopes,etc?

I predict Rafa wins, I hope Roger wins...As a huge Federer fan, I want to see him win 2 more before he's done. Doubt it'll happen, but you never know.

biggest question of 2012 has to be if Novak can keep it up, or will Rafa reclaim #1.

[This message has been edited by Bunk Moreland (edited 1/13/2012 11:30a).]

If Nadal can stay healthy he could return to the top. Novak will have lots and lots of points to defend. Roger will win a Major this year, and is my pick for the Australian. And if he doesnt win one this year, hopefully he can take the Olympics at Wimbledon!!

Would love to see Isner take out Rafa in the Round of 16.

GREAT match between Tomic and Verdasco. Tomic came back from being down 2 sets to love to beat the Spaniard. Wonderful match from the young Aussie.

yeah, great match to kick off the tourney!

Rafa is starting to break down. His body can't take much more of the pounding. He will win the French and that is about it. And it could be his last one. Too much pounding. Will wait and see what Murray will do with Lendl as his coach. See if it gives him that added edge his game lacks.

Big Fed fan but physically he just does not have it to win a major two week tournament. He runs out of gas. His ame is so fluid that his body does not get pounded but age is starting to take its toll. Nagging ijuries (his back) are starting to become prevalent.

I think Joker wins this one. The top three will remain the top three but I think Fed overtakes Nadal fir munmber two. Of course as already mentioned Joker has a ton of points to defend.

I am not even sure Rafa can win French. Clay pounds your body with the running after every shot. He is obviously hurting now and it is January. Love to see Isner beat him in rd of 16 but I am not sure if he will get that far.

Isner may not have game to beat him. Will not wear him down if he gets that far. Isner tees off on shots and has big serve so points over quick.

Looking forward to a good couple of weeks watching as well as chatting on here.

I was reading a bit on the thoughts of his comments regarding Fed's silence on the schedule issue.

Overall, I think the media is making it out to be more than it is, but I completely see why Roger would be silent on it...he has been able to handle the brutally long and demanding scheduling for so many years, and his game is so smooth he can do it, while Rafa clearly has had trouble, and now it appears he's breaking down. Why would Roger jump in and support a change that will only make his top competitors better?

OTOH, there is the true health/safety issue of it, and Roger won't be around at the top of the top much longer one would think, so maybe Rafa shouldn't be looking to Fed to help lead a charge, but the younger guys like DJoker, Murray, etc. who will be carrying this sport for the forseeable future.

Good start from Mr. Ryan Harrison against Murray!

Whoop! Harrison takes the first set 6-4!

Stosur ousted

Well, Ryan had some great moments, but he couldn't sustain the same high level of play throughout the match when Andy raised his. There were some fantastic points, however!

Fish is down 2 sets to love to Falla, and they are on serve in the 3rd with fish up 5-4 and falla serving.

Mardy needs to pick it up.

If you have heard Falla's name but can't place it, he's the guy who went up 2 sets to love on Roger at Wimbledon a few years back in the opening round before losing.

30 all here...if Mardy breaks, he gets the set.

Down goes Fishy. Played like crap the entire match. Every long point, he lost. Weird to see him play that bad.

yeah that was kind of bizarre. Watching a bit of Rafa before I watch Justified and New Girl on the DVR...

Rafa went from 4-0 in the 1st to 5-4 but should serve it out here.

Rafa is up 2 sets and will likely win in straights, but this has been interesting. Haas was down 4-0 and fought back to 4-5 in the first before losing...and is now up a break in the 3rd.

We know Haas is a good competitor, but this might be looming signs of Rafa and his future in this tourney.

And as far as Mardy losing...maybe Federer/Del Potro looks to be the QF....and if Del Potro is playing well that could be an epic match.

bah, and beck withdraws from his match with Fed...which means Fed will wait 4 days to face the mega server Karlovic...

that could be interesting.

I feel like I am the only person who doesn't like Isner. Can't be true, right?

Not sure I do not like him of just do not like his game. Tall, lanky and does not seem to have much except serve. Needs to put on some muscle and get a game.

He went from playing 3 or 4 years of college tennis to a Top 20 player in the world. Who else has done that?

good point--I just cannot watch him play and enjoy the match. Did watch Wimbledon match a few years ago. Stayed home from work to see the end. I was committed to see the end.

I like Isner. Kind of put in a shittysituation with that Nalbandian match though. Crazy overrule from the ump.

Isner just proves that tall guys have a ceiling (terrible pun) of how great they can be once they get above a certain height because of the inherent lack of footwork. He, Karlovic and Kevin Anderson are always good for an upset against a top dog, but they can't sustain it throughout a major.

Ryan Sweeting just had a no call on the baseline against Ferrer. Line judge didn't call it, and neither did the chair ump. Sweeting goes to the chair ump to plead his case, and says "I know why they miss it. Most of these line judges are retards..."

Awesome!

Good way to represent Americans abroad.

wow. I have been so busy today, just found out Roddick retired due to injury against Hewitt?

Not a Roddick fan but not gonna say anything bad here. That sucks.

Fed in an expected tough battle vs. karlovic takes the first set 7-6

wow. Huge 2nd set for Fed....he got his first 2 break points on Karlovic's serve in that 2nd set.

Even though it probably wasn't a huge threat...the difference was basically a point here and there...but against Dr. Ivo, you just have to drain him. being up 2 sets to love, Fed should be just fine.

Don't like seeing that first set from Isner. Not good.

caroline looked good today. I hope she takes this GS.

She's a cutie, while some of the others(dulko, sharapova, cibulkolva) are the hotties.

There is a difference.

Fed is playing someone that is 6'10"? Good Lord.

Dr Ivo is a serving beast. But, as Fed is showing...you hold your serve, and find your opportunities, and you can break him once or twice and get by.

Karlovic has a limited game, but provides problems for some. Fed is so solid that he can hold up and get by. Even with the high amount of games played in matches vs. Karlovic, a guy like Fed really wont' get too tired due to the type of tennis played. It will be the tall beast that wears down over time.

How the he'll can you return a 156 mph serve? If that guys first serve is clicking you are looking at tie breakers all day.

Fed wins in straights....

setting up a possible match vs. Tomic. That should be the biggest match of the tourney to date as far as Aussie press/fan interest is concerned. That could be a wild atmosphere.

which is basically what happens. But sometimes Fed is able to guess right and return it. When he does in the 1/20 times....it's up to him(or whoever faces him) to make those points count and beat him on the run.

Karlovic was on a roll in the 1st 2 sets....but his game always wears as time goes on, and he starts having to deal with more 2nd serves.