AUS OPEN 2012: Men's and Women's Draws Released

The champions at the 2011 Australian Open were Noval Djokovic (Men's) and Kim Clijsters (Women's) and for the first time in quite a while, both champions will be defending their titles in Melbourne the following year.

The 2012 Australian Open Men's Draw has been released and can be analyzed:

Novak Djokovic should not have much difficulty reaching the semifinal against Andy Murray unless Milos Raonic or Janko Tipsarevic play completely out of their mind. Murray should also reach the semifinal, unless a talented Frenchman like Gael Monfils or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga knock him out in the 4th round or quarterfinal.

In the bottom half of the draw Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are scheduled to meet in an epic semifinal which almost certanly will not happen, especially if Juan Martin del Potro returns to form and takes out Federer or Tomas Berdych or John Isner takes out Nadal. I truly believe that another entry in the Federer-Nadal rivalry will not occur in this tournament.

The 2012 Australia Open Women's Draw has also been released and is available for analysis:

Serena Williams will potentially face Vera Zvonareva in the fourth round and then either Maria Sharapova or Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinal. The other quarterfinal in this half of the draw should be Petra Kvitova versus Samantha Stosur. In the other half of the draw, Li Na should make it through to face Victoria Azarenka with the winner reaching the final. Kvitova will be the #1 player in the world by the end of the tournament.

So right now I think there will probably be a Serena Williams-Li Na final and a Djokovic-Federer final. But I reserve the right to make changes once the second week begins :-)