There was apparently a break in the tennis season recently, though you wouldn't have known it as the first Grand Slam of the season rolls around at Melbourne Park on Monday.
The Australian Open holds its own curious excitement for fans and observers of the game. It's a tournament bristling with anticipation, if only for the fact that it's the opening Slam of the year.
Despite the absence of Rafael Nadal, this year's Aussie Open is sure to provide a competitive field andSports Mole is here to take a look at the contenders who could lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
Novak Djokovic:
The world number one sure likes Melbourne. Three of his five Grand Slam triumphs have come at the season-opening major - including last year when he overcame Rafael Nadal in a punishing five-set final. Typically, he will come into the tournament without any competitive preparations, but that can work in his favour: a low profile can make him more feared, like a shark that lurks in the murky deep.
Roger Federer:
The Swiss recently claimed that Novak Djokovic is the favourite to win the Australian Open. Mind games or genuine respect? Probably a bit of both, but Federer knows that he needs to tread carefully through the Grand Slams now if he is to build on his absurd legacy. The slow courts of Melbourne are likely to work against him the further that he goes in the tournament, but, as always, you'd be a fool to write him off.
Andy Murray:
This year, Murray is bidding to do what no man has done in the Open era of the game: to become the first player to win the next Grand Slam event following his first triumph. The Brit made himself an official part of the 'top four' with his maiden victory at the US Open in September and, judging by his smooth preparations ahead the tournament, he could well add another title to his name in Melbourne this time around. Expect a serious challenge.
David Ferrer:
The Spaniard has been one of the busiest members of the world top 10 ahead of Melbourne, winning the Heineken Open in Auckland as early as Saturday. However, could Ferrer's rapacious appetite for hard work be his undoing ahead of Melbourne? He'll need to call on all of his famed stamina if he is to lift the first Grand Slam of his career Down Under.
Tomas Berdych:
World number six Berdych had an unremarkable pre-season and history would tell you that he isn't expected to light up Melbourne - his best showing at the tournament were a couple of quarter-final appearances in 2011 and 2012. Oh, and he'll most likely have to get past defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
Juan Martin del Potro:
The big Argentine enjoyed a relatively-successful end to 2012, winning in Vienna, Basel and reaching the semi-finals of the ATP Finals. If anyone knows what it takes to loosen the grip of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on men's tennis then it's Del Potro. With Andy Murray know joining that elite group of Slam winners, it could take some of the pressure away from Delpo.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga:
Fan favourite Tsonga reached his only Slam final in Melbourne in 2008 when he was beaten in four sets by Novak Djokovic. There was some success at the end of last season with a victory in Metz, while there were also solid showings in Beijing and Stockholm. Expect the unexpected with Tsonga.
