The big match of week 1 pits the Australians' favorite sports hero against their best best hope for a local hero. That's right, Fed tops even the cricket stars and Aussie Rules Football standouts, according to one Sydney newspaper. Maybe he should be starring in Qantas in flight safety videos instead. Bernie Tomic is still up-and-coming (having just won his first tour title last week, on home soil at age 20) and quite enigmatic.
The draw is perfectly set up for maximum anticipation in the 3rd round. Not too far out that we can't expect the collision, but not too immediate that we can't build back story and suspense. Each player has gone through a rotation of questioning whether the other guy will make it to the tilt.
Last year, Federer schooled Bernard, but all appearances show this time will be completely different. Tomic is in better physical shape, has much more confidence (and his crowd as well), but most importantly he has a bigger serve!
I expect this to be the match playing on Laver right when I arrive in Melbourne Saturday night. Should be electric in town.
Until then... off to the Great Barrier Reef...
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The best match so far was a first rounder between a couple of top 20 talents: Dolgopolov vs Monfils (back in good health). There was nothing between them for two sets (7-6, 6-7). But Monfils turned out to have all the answers in the end, moving and sliding as no one else can.
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Sadly, Brian Baker took another serious injury and will likely be out until clay court season (if then). Tough one. But Sam Querrey stepped over him and into a match with the #1 seed. This should be a nice gauge of his prospects for 2013.
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