Who will be holding this in 2 weeks?

So, I face a bit of a conundrum with this blog. Most weeks, Friday is the only day where I have enough time to write. Stupid things like google adword campaigns, emails, banner ads, and social media get in the way. Oh wait, those things are my job…I hope my boss doesn’t read this. Back to my point – by Friday my brain is mushy enough that it’s difficult for me to form a coherent blog post. As a result, you get a bunch of random thoughts in random order. I hope that’s ok with you. If it’s not, feel free to tell my boss and maybe I’ll get to skip the whole adwords thing so I can blog better. With that out of the way, here are my thoughts on the Australian Open Draws.

- #1 Seed Novak Djokovic can’t be thrilled with his draw. He should breeze through the first 2 rounds, and then might face a minor speed bump in the 3rd against the likes of Stepanek. In the round of 16, he’ll most likely face HUGE serving Milos Raonic or BIG serving Andy Roddick. He’d obviously be a heavy favorite against either, but with their serves, along with both players having lots to prove (Raonic that he is here to stay, and Roddick that he is not done yet), look for a dogfight. Following that, his 1/4 final would be against fellow Serbian Tipsarevic or the always dangerous David Ferrer.

- On the other hand, #2 Seed Rafa Nadal has about an easy a draw as a high seed can have in this day and age. His quarter is filled with talented players who routinely come up short in big situations – Lopez, Almagro, Berdych, Wawrinka are the biggest names there. While they all have the potential to challenge Rafa, can any of you see them beating him in a best of 5 set match? Didn’t think so.

- Federer should have little trouble (maybe a 4 setter against Melzer in the 3rd round) until the round of 16, where he’d face last year’s Australian Open surprise Alexandr Dolgopolov. If he gets through that match – top seeded American Mardy Fish or Juan Martin del Potro will most likely await him, neither of which will be an easy task. However, like most places he goes, Federer will be the “hometown” favorite and have the crowd supporting him just about the entire way through. Unless of course he plays Aussie Bernard Tomic instead of Dolgopolov.

- I’d discuss Murray more, but I think we all know he will most likely do what he does best: get through his quarter with a couple of exciting matches (especially against Tsonga in the quarters), and then lose in the semifinals to Djokovic.

- 1st Round Match to watch: 22nd seeded Fernando Verdasco vs. Bernard Tomic. Tough draw for the seed here – Tomic is ranked just outside the seeds at 37th & will have his home country behind him. This could go the distance…

- The top quarter of the Women’s Draw might be the most intriguing in Grand Slam History. Highlighted by two Grand Slam winners – Clijsters & Li Na, as well as the current #1 Wozniacki, and former #1 Jankovic. Your guess is as good as mine as to who comes out of this alive.

- Everyone’s favorite, or least favorite, American Serena Williams is in the 3rd quarter, and unless something freaky happens early, she looks to have a relatively clear path to at least the quarters. Looming there is likely to be Zvonareva. If that matchup occurs, I’ll stay up all hours of the night to make sure I get to watch it. Sharapova is the top seed in that quarter and if she makes it through, would play the Williams-Zvonareva winner to advance to the final four.

- Finally, the bottom quarter of the Women’s Draw holds the potential quarterfinal matchup between heir apparent to the throne Petra Kvitova & Sam Stosur. I think I speak for most when I write that I’m really looking forward to that battle and will be kind of disappointed if it doesn’t happen. To do so, Stosur will have to overcome the pressure she feels in her home country, as her best appearance down under has only been the 4th round. Hopefully this is the year she does it.