Australian Open 2012 Preview: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray Are The Contenders, Tsonga Is The Dark Horse

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray are the favorites to lift the trophy at the Australian Open 2012. However, Australian Open does not have history of honouring seedings. In the last fifteen years, only 2009 featured the two top seeds in the finals.

Novak Djokovic has started 2012 from where he left 2011. There were no signs of weakness in his game in Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi where he defeated David Ferrer in the finals for the loss of just three games. Although it was only an exhibition tournament, the game was on display. He easily defeated Federer in the semi-finals. In Djokovic’s quarter, only Milos Raonic can give a sort of fight to Djokovic. Janko Tipsarevic did defeat Djokovic in Barclays WTF at London in November 2011, but Djokovic's defeat was not convincing. A fully fit Djokovic is beyond the level of Tipsarevic, although Tipsarevic has capability of showing extra-ordinary performance against higher ranked opponents. It is difficult to forget his match against Roger Federer in the Australian Open 2008.  

Rafael Nadal is not being considered a firm favourite this year. He had a very good year in 2011 when he reached finals in three Grand Slam events and triumphed in one of them. However, his successive defeats against Djokovic in six finals of 2011 have robbed him of self-confidence. His game is the same, but the players have figured out his weaknesses and are no longer intimated by him. Nevertheless, his fighting spirit mostly takes him home in a five set format and he can never be ruled out of contention in any Grand Slam tournament. In his quarter, Tomas Berdych, Kevin Anderson, John Isner and Nikolay Davydenko will fancy their chances against him.

Roger Federer is no longer troubled by the burden of expectations these days. He has achieved the most in the tennis history. His game as well as physical prowess can not be compared to his prime years, but he still has the streak of consecutive quarter final appearance in Grand Slam events. However, he brings a back injury into the Australian Open this year. In his quarter, only Juan Martin Del Potro has the capability of causing an upset, barring the unforeseen disasters. However, Del Potro has not shown such performances after his return from injury.  Federer will attempt to win his matches in three sets, but those who are able to take him beyond four sets can instill doubts in his mind in the fifth set. There are not many and one would need light to search for them in his quarter.

Andy Murray has added Ivan Lendl to his strengths, but what has he added to his game, will be seen only during the championship. Nonetheless, it shows his determination to do better. He would have been a champion in the era when game was played at a slower pace. However, he has realised the need to have aggressive baseline shots. He has a difficult quarter where anyone from Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Viktor Troicki and Thomaz Bellucci can trouble him. Andy Murray has had a good 2011 where he reached semi-finals of all the four Grand Slam events.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is the dark horse who can play better than anybody on his day. Whether he has a tryst with that day in the course of the two weeks of Australian Open will have to be seen as the tournament progresses.