Australian Open Preview

One thing we know for sure about the 2010 Australian Open; during the next two weeks we will be bombarded with ads for Cougar Town starring Courteney Cox-Arquette. Thanks Channel Seven, it looks like a cracking show, can't hardly wait. We can also be confident that Seven will cut short many matches just when they're getting interesting, possibly even one of the men's quarter finals like last year. The ad breaks will also run too long so you'll miss the first point of every game after said ad breaks. But enough about Seven and their douchebaggery.

I'm steering clear of Federer again this year. Gone are the days where you'd pencil him in for the final at worst, and he's got a tough draw here. Not playing a lead-up tournament smacks of sheer arrogance and $3 is no value at all. I like Nadal as my top pick at $6. Watching him at Abu Dhabi and Qatar, he looks like he's working back into his best form and will be peaking just at the

right time. It's good to see, there was just something missing in world tennis last year when he was missing/sucking through injury. I've got Del Potro ($10) as my second pick, providing the elbow injury he sustained at Kooyong isn't too serious. I doubt that it is; players withdraw from Kooyong if they get stung by a bee, it being more of an exhibition tournament. My big smoky is Roddick who I think now believes that he can win another slam. He is well-coached and can get

himself out of tough situations much better than he used to. He got blown off the court by Berdych in the first set of his semi-final in Brisbane but impressed me in turning that match around. Wimbledon '09 convinced me there's a new Roddick. I got him at a juicy $38 and he's still around the $21-$26 mark if you shop around.

For the Aussies, I don't need to tell you that Hewitt is no chance. I'm more looking forward to a couple of up and coming guys in Carsten Ball and Bernard Tomic. Unfortunately for Ball, he has

drawn Verdasco in the first round but he's not without a chance. As I predicted, Bernard Tomic is on the way to becoming not only Australia's top player but a top 10 player. He may well even be our next world number 1 down the track. Since a disappointing first round loss in Brisbane, he's chalked up W's over Ginepri, Stepanek, Simon and Djokovic. Exhibition tournaments they may have been, but impressive form nonetheless for a 17 year old, and with a qualifier in the first round, he's a good chance to make some noise in his section of the draw.

Our women's tilt looks shaky at best with none of the gals in great form. As Pat Cash once described women's tennis, it's "hit and giggle", so I don't get into the women's much but it would

be nice to see one of them go deep into their home tournament, like Dokic last year. You would think that it would be someone with the initials S.S who is ranked 13 in the world...I don't want to actually say her name or she'll collapse under the weight of WHAB's expectations, and she doesn't need any help there. Hit 'n' giggle you say Pat?!

So check back during the tournament for all the action and the inevitable Channel Seven grilling.