ATP

 

1. Rafael Nadal

2. Roger Federer

3. Grigor Dimitrov

4. Alexander Zverev

5. Dominic Thiem

6. Marin Cilic

7. David Goffin

8. Jack Sock

9. Stan Wawrinka

10. Pablo Carreno Busta

11. Juan Martin Del Potro

12. Novak Djokovic

13. Sam Querry

14. Kevin Anderson

15. Jo-Wilfred Tsonga

16. Andy Murray

17. John Isner

18. Lucas Pouille

19. Tomas Berdych

20. Roberto Bautista Agut

 

 

Selected Others

 

21. Nick Kyrgios

22. Kei Nishikori

24. Milos Raonic

51. Denis Shapovalov

79. Frances Tiafoe

 

Brit Watch Top 400

 

50. Kyle Edmund

114. Cameron Norrie

134. Daniel Evans

171. Liam Broady

220. Jay Clarke

282. Brydan Klein

358. Edward Corrie

373. Alexander Ward

 

WTA

 

1. Simona Halep

2. Garbine Muguruza

3. Caroline Wozniacki

4. Karolina Pliskova

5. Venus Williams

6. Elina Svitolina

7. Jelena Ostapenko

8. Caroline Garcia

9. Johanna Konta

10. Coco Vandeweghe

11. Kristina Mladenovic

12. Svetlana Kuznetsova

13. Sloane Stephens

14. Julia Gorges

15. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

16. Anastasjia Sevatsova

17. Ashleigh Barty

18. Elena Vesnina

19. Madison Keys

20. Magdalena Rybarkova

 

Selected Others

 

21. Angelique Kerber

22. Serena Williams

29. Petra kvitova

57. Monica Puig

60. Maria Sharapova

82 . Eugenie Bouchard

 

Brit Watch Top 400

 

74. Heather Watson

116. Naomi Broady

199. Katie Boulter

231. Laura Robson

278. Katy Dunne

303. Katie Swann

310. Harriet Dart

335. Gabriella Taylor

351. Tara Moore

 

 

 

I wonder how different the rankings will look at the end of the year.

I think it is going to be a very interesting year to see how the 'Big' names try to come back, so far not so well...I'm expecting a rise of the young pretenders and maybe some older ones falling by the side, maybe attempt to keep up but end up falling down rankings and retiring.

 

Murray just pulled out of Brisbane, Djokovic has pulled out of his warm up event as well on the mens side and Nadal is plagued with his knee again, Wawrinka still not back on it either yet on the womens side Muguruza just pulled out of Brisbane during the match due to cramp for 4th year in row!!

 

Anyway as season begins and just 13 days to AusOpen..

 

Brit Watch

 

Kyle Edmund beat Shapovalov in the first round of Brisbane,

Konta beat Madison Keys in 3 sets for her first win in an age plays her 2nd round at the moment down a break in first set against Tomljanovic

Watson lost in final round of qualies but got lucky loser spot and lost in first round

Naomi Broady lost in qualies as did her brother Liam

 

Selected Others

 

Ostapenko started with a loss to the lower ranked Pliskova sister Kristina

Halep, Sharapova, Radwanska and Wozniacki all made winning starts

Konta came through in 3 sets to the last 8 will play either Svitolina or Konjuh

 

Murray post on his feeds is very touching, he has surgery as option but from the sounds of it it might finish his career if not successful I really feel for him

Murray has withdrawn from the Aus Open and will return to assess and contemplate hip surgery.

 

In Brisbane Konta retired against Svitolina in the 3rd set with a hip injury

Looking like Konta could be a doubt for the Australian Open following that retirement.

 

Also Kei Nishikori is out of the Australian Open as well.

 

Seemed to be expected that Murray would pull out. It's a shame.

Yeah its a massive shame I can see Murray being out most of year, especially if has to do surgery maybe even possibly, dare I say it.. retiring.

 

Still a lot of doubts for the Aus Open due to fitness a few tests to come for Djokovic, Nadal, Warwrinka and then you have Konta, Muguruza, Azarenka and a few others on womens side. Konta said she was unsure if just a muscle pull or spasm but wont be able to assess til the morning.

 

Kyle Edmund won on the plus side in Brisbane making it to the quarters will play either Millman or Dmitrov

Serena has withdrawn as well, kind of expected but a shame . also Nishikori is out.

 

 

Great to see Goerges pick up where she left off in 2017.

Kyle Edmund has withdrawn from Auckland this week with his ankle problem, more a precaution then anything, so be ready for Aus Open.

 

Konta is in to defend her title in Sydney where her first round is against Radwanksa, which was last years final line up!, Radwanska racket change last year has seen her tumble down the rankings after being stable in top ten for a long time but a lot reckon her time is up as her game style is no longer a force it once was.

 

Other Sydney results US champ Sloane Stephens continues to slump another first round defeat against Qualifier Ciorgi, rising star Sevastova also lost, Kerber came through a 3 setter against Safarova, Ostapenko and Mladenovic also lost.

 

In Hobart a place where Heather Watson won a title in 2015 she came through qualies to make the main draw and then took out Sorana Cirstea in the first round, while the wildcard of Bouchard who a few said didn't deserve a WC where as Heather did as a former champ , slumped to a first round loss to Sabalenka. Other first round losses at Hobart for Nara, Maria, Pliskova and Babos.

 

Last weeks title winners:

 

Brisbane ATP/WTA

 

Men

 

Kyrgios BT Harrison 6/4 6/2

Kontinen & Peers BT Mayer & Zeballos 3/6 6/3 10/2

 

Ladies

 

Svitolina BT Sasnovich 6/2 6/1

Bertens & Schuurs BT Klepac & Martinez Sanchez 7/5 6/2

 

Doha ATP

 

Monfils BT Rublev 6/2 6/3

Marach & Pavic BT Murray & Soares 6/2 7/6(8/6)

 

Pune ATP

 

Simon BT Anderson 7/6(7/4) 6/2

Haase & Middelkoop BT Herbert & Simon 7/6(7/5) 7/6(7/5)

 

Shenzhen WTA

 

Halep BT Siniakova 6/1 2/6 6/0

Begu & Halep BT Krejcikova & Siniakova 1/6 6/1 10/8

 

Auckland WTA

 

Goerges BT Wozniacki 6/4 7/6(7/4)

Errani & Schoofs BT Hozumi & Kato 7/5 6/1

 

 

Azarenka has also withdrawn from the Aus Open due to the ongoing custody battle she is locked in

Murray had surgery today!: From his facebook

 

Andy Murray

·

Today I underwent successful right hip surgery at the St Vincent Hospital in Melbourne. I'd like to thank Dr John O’Donnell and all of the staff for looking after me. I look forward to returning to competitive tennis during the grass court season. Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes and support over the last few days. I'll comeback from this

Andy Murray has had hip surgery in Melbourne:

 

"My plan is to be back playing around the grass-court season - potentially before then - but I'm certainly not going to rush anything."

 

Hope to see you back fully fit soon, Andy.

Konta loses in 1st round Sydney to Radwanska 6/3 7/5... not a good defense of her major title from last year but positive signs of no injury

 

Mens first round losses for Simon, Verdasco, Zverev and Bedene

Heather is through to the quarter finals in Hobart where she next faces Vekic, she beat Jamie Fourlis 6/2 6/2

 

In Sydney on the mens side the seeds Ramos-Vinolas, Schwartzman and Dzumhur went out while Fognini and Mannarino progressed, in the ladies side Muguruza and Radwanska marched on while Stosur and Kvitova fell.

 

In ATP Auckland Sock, Isner, Querrey, Johnson, Cuevas and Shapovalov all lost in the 2nd round, Del Potro beat the rising Shapovalov and secures his return to the top ten next week. Ferrer and Bautista Agut also won

Edited January 10, 20187 yr by Mikee1981

Heather marched on in Hobart defeating Vekic 6/0 6/4 (she did have a 5/0 lead in 2nd set but Vekic came alive) she will face defending champ Elise Bertens who got a walk over in the semi finals. Been a good week for Heather moves her back top 70. The other semi final is Tsurenko V Buzarnescu who defeated Riske.

 

Auckland sees Haase V Bautista Agut and Del Potro V Ferrer in the semi finals

 

In Sydney Ashleigh Barty is the last highest ranked player at 17 in world through to the semi finals to face fellow Aus Gavrilova who got a walkover after Muguruza pulled out just hours after winning her previous match. Italian Giorgi continues a good run taking out Radwanska and will face Kerber in the other semi who has shown her old fighting determination this week.

 

In the mens side talented youngster Medvedev continues to impress he will take on hot headed italian Fognini after he defeated Mannarino in 3 sets.. The other sem will be Paire who took out Muller and the winner of either Feliciano Lopez or Alex De Minaur.

 

 

In Brit Watch from Aus Open Qualifying.... Naomi Broady came through first round but Cam Norrie lost in 2nd round meaning Kyle Edmund only Brit male in main draw

 

Konta V Brengle

Watson V Putinseva

Edmund V Anderson

 

first round matches and all toughies for the brits down under

Thanks for the updates,Mikee. Great to see Camila Giorgi now has a proper coach instead of her dad and she's now in a semi-final having beaten Stephens,Kvitova and Radwanska.

Mens Australian Open Draw 2018

(1) Nadal V Burgos Estrella
Jarry V Mayer
Millman V Coric
Lorenzi V Dzumhur (28)
(24) Schwartzman V Lajovic
(Q) Ruud V Halys (Q)
Dolgopolov V Haider-Maurer
Ebden V Isner (16)
(10) Carreno Busta V Kubler (WC)
Simon V Copil
(Q) Caruso V Jaziri
Delbonis V Muller (23)
(31) Cuevas V Youzhny
Sela V Harrison
(Q) Brown V Sousa
(Q) Pospisil V Cilic (6)
(3) Dimitrov V Novak (Q)
(Q) McDonald V Ymer (Q)
Baghdatis V Bhambri (Q)
Ferrer V Rublev (30)
(17) Kyrgios V Dutra Silva
Triocki V Bolt (WC)
Tsitsipas V Shapovalov
(Q) King V Tsonga (15)
(11) Anderson V Edmund
Herbert V Istomin
Melzer V Basilashvili
(Q) Bemelmans V Pouille (18)
(27) Kohlschreiber V Nishioka
Seppi V Moutet (WC)
Karlovic V Djere
Sugita V Sock (8)

(5) Thiem V Pella
Johnson V Kudla (Q)
(Q) Safranek V Vesely
Krajinovic V Mannarino (26)
(20) Bautista Agut V Verdasco
Stebe V Marterer
Chardy V Sandgren
Berankis V Wawrinka (9)
(14) Djokovic V Young
Monfils V Munar (Q)
(WC) Smycek V Popyrin (WC)
Donaldson V Ramos-Vinolas (21)
(32) Zverev V Chung
(WC) Kokkinakis V Medvedev
Kukushkin V Gojowczyk
Fabbiano V Zverev (4)
(7) Goffin V Bachinger (Q)
Benneteau V Daniel
Donskoy V Mayer
Zeballos V Fognini (25)
(19) Berdych V De Minaur (WC)
Garcia-Lopez V Paire
Khachanov V Polansky (Q)
Taifoe V Del Potro (12)
(13) Querrey V Lopez
Albot V Fucsovics
Kicker V Thompson
Lacko V Raonic (22)
(29) Gasquet V Kavcic
(Q) Sonego V Haase
(WC) Kwon V Struff
Bedene V Federer (2)

Edited January 14, 20187 yr by Mikee1981

Ladies Australian Open Draw 2018

(1) Halep V Aiava (WC)
Bouchard V Dodin
Davis V Cepelova
Petkovic V Kvitova (27)
(18) Barty V Sabalenka
Giorgi V Kalinskaya (Q)
Osaka V Kucova
Jabeur V Vesnina (16)
(9) Konta V Brengle
(Q) Blonkova V Gasparyan
Arrubarrena V Hogenkamp
(WC) Ahn V Strycova (20)
(29) Safarova V Tomljanovic (WC)
Cirstea V Diyas
(WC) Cabrera V Haddad Maia
Cepede Royg V Pliskova (6)
(3) Muguruza V Ponchet (WC)
Hsieh V Zhu (Q)
Vikhlyantseva V Tsurenko
Pliskova V Radwanska (26)
(21) Kerber V Friedsam
Hibino V Vekic
Maria V Sharapova
Lepchenko V Sevastova (14)
(11) Mladenovic V Bogdan
Putinseva V Watson
Hercog V Alexandrova
Wang V Keys (17)
(28) Lucic-Baroni V Rogers
McHale V Sasnovich
Nara V Vondrousova
Witthoeft V Garcia (8)

(5) Williams V Bencic
(Q) Khumkum V Larsson
Van Uytvanck V Martic
Begu V Makarova (31)
(23) Gavrilova V Falconi (Q)
(Q) Kuzmova V Mertens
Cornet V Wang (WC)
Kenin V Goerges (12)
(13) Stephens V Zhang
(Q) Allertova V Parmentier
Brady V Linette
(Q) Schmiedlova V Kasatkina (22)
(25) Peng V Kostyuk (Q)
(WC) Fourlis V Rogowska (WC)
Sakkari V Siniakova
(Q) Jorovic V Svitolina (4)
(7) Ostapenko V Schiavone
Duan V Duque-Marino
Niculescu V Barthel
Krunic V Kontaveit (32)
(24) Cibulkova V Kanepi
Stotur V Puig
Suarez Navarro V Frech (Q)
Babos V Vandeweghe (10)
(15) Pavlyuchenkova V Kozlova
(Q) Golubic V Bondarenko
Flipkens V Riske
Townsend V Rybarikova (19)
(30) Bertens V Bellis
Gibbs V Tomova (Q)
Fett V Eguchi
Buzarnescu V Wozniacki (2)

Edited January 14, 20187 yr by Mikee1981

Lot of rain down under delaying a lot of the qualifying matches, Naomi posted she been called for her match a lot warmed up twice got on court once and then called off again.

 

Elsewhere

 

Hobart - Heather lost in a 3 setter against defending champion Mertens she will face Buzarnescu

 

Sydney - Qualifier Medvedev beat Fognini in 3 sets and will play the winner of De Minaur V Paire, in the ladies Barty beat fellow Aus Gavrilova in 3 and Kerber took out Giorgi in 2 they will play each other in the final a big match for both.

 

Auckland - Del Potro will play Bautista Agut in the final

The Men:

Roger 15/8

Rafa 9/2

Novak 5/1

Grigor 10/1

Sascha/Delpo/Nick 14/1

David 16/1

Stan/Dominic/Marin 33/1

Milos 40/1

Denis 66/1

Tsonga 80/1

Tomas 125/1

Kokkinakis 200/1

 

 

The Ladies:

Elina Svitolina 15/2

Karolina Pliskova/Simona Halep 8/1

Caroline Wozniacki 10/1

Angelique Kerber/Garbine Muguruza 11/1

Maria Sharapova 12/1

Julia Goerges 16/1

Jo Konta/Petra Kvitova 20/1

Caroline Garcia 25/1

Venus Williams 28/1

Jelena Ostapenko 40/1

Sloane Stephens 50/1

Camila Giorgi 80/1

Genie Bouchard 150/1