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By Chris Oddo/ Monday, January 13, 2014
Rafael Nadal will look to recreate the magic of his 2009
title run when he takes the court against Bernard Tomic on
Day 2.
Photo Source: Scott Barbour/ Getty
The heavily anticipated matchup between World No. 1
Rafael Nadal and Australia’s heir to the
tennis throne Bernard Tomic is set for the
night session, and with Roger Federer,
Victoria Azarenka and Maria
Sharapova also in action, Day 2 of the Australian Open
should have something for even the most discerning tennis
fan.
See the Complete Day 2 Order of
Play Here
Here’s what we’ll be watching:
Roger Federer’s Diary: The Season
Begins
Rafael Nadal vs. Bernard Tomic, 1st Match, Night
Session
The very second the draw came out this is the one that
everybody has been looking forward to, but after Bernard Tomic was shellacked by
Juan Martin del Potro in the Sydney final, some of air may
have leaked out of the hype balloon. While Tomic has performed
beyond expectations at the Australian Open in the last three
seasons, not losing to anyone other than players named Federer
or Nadal, the fact remains that was been swept out in
straight-sets in each of those aformentioned matches, managing
only a tiebreaker in last year’s tilt with Federer.
Can the quirky, deceptive and deceptively powerful Queenslander
overcome his pedestrian second serve and rather average
footspeed to keep a phenom like Nadal at bay over five sets?
Unlikely.
Can he play out of his mind for a set or two, with the home
crowd raining down thunderous applause while Nadal scowls and
grunts his way through points? Perhaps.
But either way you slice it, Nadal should get by without too
much difficulty.
Maria Sharapova vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 2nd Match,
Night Session
Sharapova takes a 4-0 head-to-head record into this Day 2 clash
with the hard-rockin’, tattoo-sportin’ American. But
Mattek-Sands loves to take risks (just look at her attire), and
on the odd chance that her risk taking is rewarded with
winners, there is a small chance that this late-night tilt
could become a legendary battle.
Mattek-Sands certainly has the power to trade with
Sharapova—it’s the precision that she lacks. Either way, it
will be nice to see Sharapova’s proper fashion juxtaposed with
the off-kilter, new-wavy stylings of Mattek-Sands, even if it
lasts for only an hour or so.
Ryan Harrison vs. Gael Monfils, 7:00, Margaret Court
Arena
Why is this one to watch? Well, because it’s the magical
mystery tour of Gael Monfils, that’s why. And
even though Ryan Harrison, a young American
who has fallen on hard times and even harder draws, will
clearly be the underdog in this affair, expect him to come out
hungry, desperately in search of that high profile win that his
resume has sorely lacked ever since his 2011 upset of a red-hot
Milos Raonic in Indian Wells.
If Monfils, always happy to let the evening linger aimlessly on
as if it were a cocktail party or swinger’s ball, lets Harrison
get too close to victory, don’t be surprised if the Louisiana
native snatches it up and scores the upset. He’s nowhere near
Monfils in terms of raw talent, but when it comes to desire to
win, Harrison might have the edge and the mindset that it takes
to close out such a match.
Sloane Stephens vs. Yaroslava Shvedova, 4th Match,
Court 2
Stephens had to pull out of her Australian Open warmup due to
some wrist issues, so it’s not a guarantee that she’ll be
anyone near her best form this early in the year, but the
American, who reached the semifinals Down Under last year,
certainly has some points to protect.
To reach the second round she’ll have to get past the dangerous
Kazakh. Though floundering of late after reaching her peak
ranking of 25 in 2012, Shvedova possesses raw power and lots of
experience on the Grand Slam stage. The 26-year-old owns five
top 20 wins in Grand Slams, including triumphs over
Jelena Jankovic, Agnieszka
Radwanska and Li Na. She’s better on
the red clay of Roland Garros, but she certainly has the game
to trouble the oft-too-passive Stephens, especially if the
American is feeling the pressure of defending her seminal
points.
Andreas Seppi vs. Lleyton Hewitt, 3rd Match, Rod Laver
Arena Day Session
Hewitt has split six career matches with the Italian, but in
the Melbourne heat in front of his home crowd, one has to tab
the Aussie for the inspirational win.
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