Gasquet has worked himself back into the top 15 in the world with consistent play. He hasn’t won a tournament in 2011, but he is not an easy out either. He defeated a tough opponent in Sergiy Stakhovsky in the first round in straight sets and is looking to make a deep run in NYC.

In a battle of two former top-twenty players, Karlovic beat Fernando Gonzalez in straight sets. The hard-serving Croat hasn’t had a great year, posting a 14-19 record, but he is still capable of competing with the top guys day in and day out.

Match-Up:

Gasquet is 1-0 against Karlovic, but that win came back in 2005 on clay. If this match was best two out of three, then I would like Karlovic’s chances a little better. Being that it isn’t I have to give the edge to Gasquet. The Frenchman should have the advantage once the ball is in play. I don’t think the Karlovic’s serve will be enough to beat Gasquet. If Karlovic didn’t slice every backhand then he would have an opportunity to attack Gasquet’s one-handed backhand, but he doesn’t. I wish I would’ve had Karlovic at a young age at my Academy. I would not have let him slice a single backhand, I would’ve made him hit over the ball. I feel if he would do this, combined with his serve and forehand he would be a more complete player. I look for Gasquet to move on, but Karlovic will keep it interesting.

Nick’s Pick – Gasquet in 4 sets

Bernard Tomic (AUS) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)

Tomic is a guy that is certainly on the rise and he definitely has top-ten talent. He has shown that already this year when he reached the quarters at Wimbledon and beat some darn good players including Andreev, Soderling and Malisse before falling to Djokovic in four sets. He’s currently ranked a career high of #60 in the world, but it won’t be too long before he breaks the top 50 and even higher!

Cilic just beat a tough teenager in Ryan Harrison, and now he gets another one in Tomic. He kept his composure very nicely against Harrison, despite the young American serving for both the second and third sets. He hasn’t had a great 2011, but he is a guy that can turn it on and beat anyone.

Match-Up:

Cilic is 1-0 against Tomic, with that win coming at the 2010 Australian Open in five sets. Sometimes you may think that Tomic is sleeping out on the court, but trust me, he is wide awake! He glides across the court, has fantastic groundstrokes and he has the big-time serve. To me, having that serve, is what sets him apart from his competition. He is able to play it extremely well, and he is able to use it to get free points when he needs them. I know Cilic is ranked higher and played with great poise in his first round win, I just smell an upset here and have to give a slight advantage to the young Australian!

Nick’s Pick – Tomic in 4 sets

David Ferrer (ESP) vs. James Blake (USA)

Ferrer comes into the tournament ranked #5 in the world, but he hasn’t played as much tennis as some of the other top guys this summer. He reached the finals in Bastad in early July and then lost in the third round of Cincinnati. That shouldn’t affect him too much though as he has had good results in Flushing Meadows in the past (semifinals in 2007).

Blake hung on against Jesse Huta Galung in the first round, winning in four sets. No one gets more support from the fans than James, and I am sure he would love to have a big run here as his career is certainly winding down.

Match-Up:

Blake is 2-0 against Ferrer, with their last match coming in 2010 at Indian Wells. I don’t think Blake can win this match from the baseline by just keeping the ball in play. He needs to come in and try to surprise Ferrer and keep the Spaniard off-balance. The crowd will definitely give him a boost, but I am not sure that is going to be enough right now. Ferrer may not have a huge weapon, but he does everything so incredibly well and he gets to about every ball which makes him very tough to beat. I think Blake can take a set and keep it interesting, but in the end, Ferrer just has too much firepower.

Nick’s Pick – Ferrer in 4 sets

Donald Young (USA) vs. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

I have always been a big supporter of Donald ever since he turned pro back in 2004. He has all the natural gifts you need to be a contender, he just needs to remain focused on what is happening on the court and forget everything else. He had a nice run to the semis in Washington DC and he beat Lukas Lacko in straight sets in the opening round.

Wawrinka has had a solid year, posting a 28-14 record and winning a title. He crashed out early at Wimbledon, losing the second round, and I am sure he is going to try and avoid that same fate here in NYC. You never know what you are going to get from Wawrinka, but when he is on and focused he is tough to beat.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two, and with Young playing you know there is going to be plenty of interest. Young has no choice in this match, he has to gamble a bit and go for his shots. He has great hands and touch, and he anticipates so well that he is able to compete with anyone. One area he needs to get more free points from is his serve, especially in this match. Wawrinka is so big and strong that he has the ability to push Young backwards and control the play. Wawrinka does have a tendency to lose focus at times, he cannot do that against Young (especially in front of the US fans). There is no doubt that Young is beginning to demonstrate some of the talents that we had hoped to see years earlier, but is that enough against someone like Wawrinka? Right now, I am not sure and I have to give the edge to Wawrinka.

Nick’s Pick – Wawrinka in 4 sets

Svetlana Kuznetsova  vs. Justine Henin

• Kuznetsova played very close to the baseline.  She hits flat and hard at all times and moves well from side to side but not as well when coming forward.
• She has been working hard to improve her physical conditioning and it has paid off.
• She also possesses a very consistent serve, a very comfortable volley, and her biggest weapon is hitting the ball early on the rise.
• Henin also plays close to the baseline and has an excellent one handed backhand.  She has a huge flat forehand and likes to come into the court and make contact at shoulder height or even above the shoulder.
• She too has a very good serve and can attack the serve as well while also being a prolific volleyer.  Her movement on the court ranks among the best in the game.
• The first set of this match was definitely in favor of Kuznetsova, who controlled the majority of all baseline rallies.  Henin had trouble tonight with her lack of racket head speed when hitting the forehand.  She hit with her arm tight as a drum.
• As the match went on Henin began hitting from the baseline which then helped Kuznetsova.  No matter how hard Justine could hit the ball Svetlana would return until Henin began trying to over-hit the ball from behind the baseline.  Kuznetsova ended up winning the first set playing some decent tennis.
• As the second set rolled on Kuznetsova had several chances to win not only the set, but also the match.  The set then went to a tiebreaker.
• The tiebreak included many faults and unforced errors but finally ended with Kuznetsova winning for only the 3^rd time against Henin in their 19 battles.
• Nick’s Tip: Kuznetsova could not have won this match if she did not work so hard to be in such great shape.  Henin should have not tried continuously hit with Kuznetsova but should have moved her from side to side and pull her in with short slices, hit angles, drop shots, some heavy top spin, groundstrokes, etc.

Andy Roddick vs. Robin Haase

• The first set was all Haase.  He not only had huge serves, but backed it up off the wall groundstrokes.
• The seconds set went to a tiebreak, and you guessed it, the bottom fell out, which included double faults.
• After the tiebreaker Roddick went on a roll with everything going his way.
• Conclusion: Roddick will not give up no matter what, but let’s also mention Roddick pulled the plug and really hit huge forehands, slices, and then a few strong backhands.
• During the interview, Roddick said he can always count on his serve.  With that being true, that alone will win a lot of matches for you.
• Keep in mind Haase rolled his ankle in the second game of the second set and at this point everyone thought it was over.  Haase showed heart and took Roddick to the tiebreak but that is when the bottom began to fall out with faults and errors.  After that is was all Roddick.

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Dominika Cibulkova

• The first set went to Wozniacki 6-4.  The games went this way and that way, but she moved back behind the baseline 6 to 8 feet and kept the ball in play, but very deep.  This caused several unforced errors for Cibulkova because she went for too many winners and did not work for more of a defensive shot for Wozniacki.
• The second set:  Cibulkova can hit winners when the balls are above her shoulder because she is very strong and has plenty of racket speed but this could result in errors.
• Wozniacki must also learn how to run forward, especially for short balls on her forehand side by not going into a crunched over position which slows her down.
• Wozniacki is a heck of player.  To be No. 1 in the world is one thing, but to stay as the No. 1 she must continue to use her tools well.  Watch out for her killer forehand, backhand down the line and a heck of second kicker serve.
• If you review the big time No.1 past or present champion most of the experts will talk about their weapons.  Cibulkova can hit big forehands and darn good backhands, but when running wide her backswings are a little too big.
• It would be very interesting to see Cibulkova cut down on unforced errors and still be able to hit very offensive shots.  Her forehand is either a winner or an error.  Her coach needs to remind her to not hit for winners but just to play within her comfort zone.

Roger Federer vs. Xavier Malisse

• Federer has a huge flat forehand with very little spin, but he has control of his shots because of his movement and he is always balanced when striking the ball.  With his one handed backhand he can hit over the ball or slice.  He makes a little change with his grip when hitting his regular backhand and then moves to an Eastern grip when hitting his slice and drop shot.
• His movement couldn’t be any better and same goes for his net play.  His serve is not a supersonic serve but is still one of the best on the Tour.  He is a fierce competitor who is always in control of his mind and body, and physically he is in great shape.
• Malisse’s best weapon is his forehand.  He can drive the ball and also add spin.  His movement is also fantastic and can come forward and hit solid volleys.  At times, he can lack in the mental approach to the game.
• This match had several exciting rallies, but Malisse only had a few chances to really be in the match.  Xavier has been at the IMG Bollettieri Academy since he was 17 years of age.  Off the court he is one of the nicest people in the world!
• Let me point out how creative Roger is with his game.  Watch carefully when players attack the net.  He has the ability to wait until his opponent makes their move at the net and then hits his forehand.  Only a few players can do that but he can accelerate his racket head at just the right time.

Viktor Troicki vs. Novak Djokovic

• Not easy for two friends from the same country and members of the 2010 Davis Cup team to play against each other.
• Early in the match Troicki turned his ankle and had to retire down 6-2.  Novak has a complete game but the question is, can he win a Grand Slam?  Keep in mind how good you have to be to win a Grand Slam when Nadal and Federer are in the draw and don’t forget Murray, Berdych and others too!

Maria Sharapova vs. Julia Goerges

• Goerges is a bigger girl, 6’1” to be exact, but moves quite well for her size.  She has excellent groundstrokes that are hit quite flat and also has an unorthodox swing motion but still gets plenty of racket head speed.  Julia likes to control play when on the court and prefers to use her forehand.  Her take back on the forehand is something like I have rarely seen, and I wouldn’t advise it.
• Sharapova has powerful groundstrokes that she hits flat and early.  Not too much variety on the groundies except for a few drop shots mixed in.  She doesn’t use any slices or top spin but she is a fierce competitor and is in great shape coming back from an injury and surgery.
• The first set went back and forth with breaks of serves but the final break came at 5-4 giving Goerges the first set.  There was not too much variety except for a few drop shots for Goerges.  When Maria does not control baseline play and can’t get defensive shots from her big serve it is not that easy for Maria to beat another good baseliner.  Georges won 6-4.
• The second set Maria began to get her rhythm and increasing her serving percentage especially towards the end of the match.  Goerges gets a little feisty on the court and this is not a good thing when you are playing someone like Sharapova.  Maria’s game is quite simple: When the serve is on she steps into the court and goes for a big winner with very little spin.  Maria wins 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
• Let me end this breakdown about Maria Sharapova and what makes her so special and such a major asset for tennis.  It makes no difference what the scene is, what the weather is, how she feels, etc.  Maria will fight to the bitter end and never complain.  Why do you think she is in the highest paid female athlete in the world?  Go Maria!

Venus Williams

• What a loss to the Australian Open when both Williams’s sisters are out.  Believe me, this opens the door for all of the remaining players.
• Venus received treatment all day on her upper thigh but it just did not operate in a manner that enabled Venus to move so fluently when playing.  Get well soon, Venus!

Tomas Berdych vs. Richard Gasquet

• For so many years Berdych was always in the elite group of young ones coming up along with Gulbis, Gasquet, Del Potro, and a few others.  No one ever doubted his athletic skills, movement, technique, and his three weapons: forehand, backhand, and his serve.
• As my good friend Dick Vitale says, “You can have all the talent in the world, but you must control your emotions and play the game.”  Tomas ran through Gasquet even though the 2^nd set went to a tiebreaker.
• Berdych is on a roll and is capable of beating anyone in the draw.
• Gasquet’s backhand is pretty impressive, but against deep penetrating groundies and a big serve, he was always on the defense.

Stanislas Wawrinka vs. Gael Monfils

• There has never been doubt of Wawrinka’s ability to winning the big ones as long he understands that one’s mind can destroy what you can do, so he must be careful.
• Gael Monfils had trouble handling the constant pressure of Stanislas’ power.

Berdych needed four sets to beat a tough opponent in Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round. After a great summer in 2010, Berdych ended the year on a sour note. This will be a test to see which Berdych is out on the court – the one from the middle of 2010 or the one from the end.

Gasquet is 2-1 against Berdych, but in their one meeting last year Berdych won easily. Both men were picked to be top players when they were young, and both have spent time in the top ten. Neither has won a Grand Slam, and neither has been extremely consistent over their careers. The key in this match will be Berdych’s groundstrokes. Can he keep Gasquet off-balance and break down the Frenchman’s backhand? Berdych definitely has the overall advantage in this match, but Gasquet has the talent to win. I look for a close match with Berdych advancing in four sets.

Nick’s Pick – Berdych in 4 sets

Andy Roddick (USA) vs. Robin Haase (NED)

Roddick hasn’t dropped a set in his two matches, but he seems to be lacking a little power on his groundstrokes. They don’t seem to be penetrating like they have done in the past, and that is going to be a problem moving forward. It isn’t that he is playing with too much spin, but he isn’t generating enough to keep his opponents pinned behind the baseline.

Haase is a 23-year old Dutchmen who is ranked #62 in the world and is playing in only his third Australian Open. He was a top junior (ranked #3 in the world) and did reach the finals of Junior Wimbledon back in 2005. This is the first time he has been in the third round of any Grand Slam and it’s also his first match against Andy Roddick.

Haase hits with a ton of power from both sides and has beaten some top men in the past. This will not be an easy win for Roddick. Look for the American to use his serve to keep Haase back and Roddick has to win easy points. He cannot get into long rallies with Haase. The edge in experience goes to Roddick and this should help him in this match. I look for Roddick to win, but this will be tough.

Nick’s Pick – Roddick in 4 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Bernard Tomic (AUS)

Nadal has lost a total of four games in two matches and he is playing absolutely unbelievable tennis. He gets to just about every ball and hits some shots that I used to think were impossible! The guy is amazing to watch and he is getting closer and closer to winning the “Rafa-Slam.”

Tomic pulled off a big upset with a straight set win over the hard-serving Feliciano Lopez. This will be a whole other level against Nadal. Tomic has a great two-handed backhand, his movement is deceptively good, and he doesn’t lack confidence. You will know how this match is going to go right from the outset. If Tomic is 8-10 feet behind the baseline and trying to rally with Nadal, he has no chance. Nadal will hit angled shots, drop shots and move him side-to-side. If Tomic can hang on the baseline and take the ball a little earlier and hit it flat, he could play with Nadal for a couple of sets. This will be a fun match to watch, but you have to think Nadal is going to win in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 3 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)

Murray has kept a rather low profile for his standards through the first two rounds and he hasn’t really been tested. He looks confident and seems at ease with everything which is a great sign. He is also playing a little more offensive which I feel is the way to go because his defense is already so good.

Murray is 1-0 against Garcia-Lopez, with that win coming on grass at Queen’s Club back in 2009. Garcia-Lopez is a solid righty who has been as high as #29 in the world. I don’t think he has the game to compete with Murray on the hard courts, and with Murray’s ability to turn defense into offense and to return so well, I see him moving through in three sets.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 3 sets

A couple of other matches to keep your eyes on…

Kei Nishikori vs. Fernando Verdasco – Verdasco is coming off of a come-from-two-sets-down-five-set win over Janko Tipsarevic and Nishikori beat Florian Mayer in four sets. How will that long match affect Verdasco? Can Nishikori move Verdasco around and keep him off-balance? Verdasco is in great physical shape and that should help, but this match could go either way.

Xavier Malisse vs. Roger Federer – It’s weird to see Federer win the first two sets and then get pushed to five sets, but that is exactly what happened against Gilles Simon. Federer hung tough though and won it in five. Meanwhile, Malisse breezed through Albert Montanes, losing only 5 games in three sets. This is a tricky match for Federer, and I am so happy to see “X” playing well again. He is great for the sport!

John Isner vs. Marin Cilic – A battle of two giants. Longer points and longer rallies will not be the way that Isner wins this match. He needs to win quick, easy points and move forward when he has the chance. Cilic has been a little up and down so if Isner gets a chance he needs to jump on it immediately. You have to give a little edge to Cilic, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Isner win.

Richard Berankis vs. David Ferrer – Berankis was cruising by Nalbandian when the veteran retired in the third set. This is going to be a different match because of how well Ferrer moves. Berankis will stand on the baseline and for a smaller guy he packs a huge punch on his groundstrokes and serve. Ferrer probably gets the edge because of his experience, but again, I wouldn’t be surprised to see my man Richard win!

THE CONTENDERS

Can Roger Federer get back to the winner's cirlce down under?

Roger Federer

Federer is a special player that has a style that few can match: he can play and hit any shot in the book. He ran into a bit of a dry spell in 2010 and no one can really say why, but I think we will see a totally different Roger this time around.

The addition of Paul Annacone (a former student of mine and close friend) was definitely a great move for Federer’s team. Annacone boasts a successful playing career, extensive experience as a coach (USTA, LTA, and private coach of Pete Sampras), and played college tennis at the University of Tennessee. Annacone has had a great influence already on Federer and he explained that Roger had become a defensive player hitting too many slices, chipping the return of serve, not coming to the net enough, and applying pressure at all times. The end result was that Federer won the year-end ATP World Championships. Federer is far from finished and I feel he can win additional Grand Slam titles.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael is only 24-years old and no matter how far back I go in tennis history I cannot find any player that plays the game like he does. Every single point is a match-point to him and very few players can match what he does on and off the court.

He’s won 9 Grand Slam titles and I’m sure he congratulated Roger on winning the year-end championships, but I am sure this is going to give him more of a reason to get out of the gate quickly this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win this title.

Novak Djokovic

I can evaluate his entire game and I find it almost impossible to find a flaw with his techniques, movement and style of play. At times, you might think he is out of shape because of the way he gasps for air but knowing Djokovic personally, I know this isn’t true. If I was his coach, I would have him attack a little more, especially against Federer, Nadal and a few others. He is definitely a contender to win any tournament and even a Grand Slam.

Andy Murray

Andy is one heck of a player, who has so many of the necessary tools to win a Grand Slam, but it also seems like little things happen here and there that cut down his chances of really contending. I really like Andy and his mother, Judy. He is my kind of player – he excited me because he reminds me of my former student Andre Agassi.

It was recently printed that Andy over-trained during the Holiday Break and did not have his normal energy while playing in the Hopman Cup. Andy has got to tell himself that he is 100% fit mentally and physically and he cannot have any excuses. He is capable of so much and just needs to focus on that. I would like to see him play much more offensively, including attacking at times. He must also play much closer to the baseline.

Gael Monfils

He is truly an entertainer, but at the same time, he is a fantastic athlete who at any time can hit any shot whether he is standing still, running, jumping, lying on the ground, well, you get the point. He has shown flashes of brilliance against the very best in the world and is a tough out. He has been plagued by injuries and I am sure that has cut down on his chances of winning the big ones! If healthy, watch out, he can take you down.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

He is another guy, like Monfils, who has shown the ability to play at a very high level but he has been injured off and on and that has really affected his performance. Back in 2008 he reached the finals of the Aussie Open and he really got the crowd on his side with his flashy play. It’s really a shame that he has had so many injuries because when he is on, he is incredible to watch.

Robin Soderling

He takes it to you at all times with very aggressive, quite flat, groundstrokes from both sides. It isn’t that easy to take advantage of his serve, and he puts a ton of pressure on your serve, and he will not hesitate to come to the net. I like the way he competes and his movement is excellent. Don’t be surprised to see him playing well into the second week.

Andy Roddick

He has come so close in many tournaments, but has come up short of winning a Grand Slam title since 2003. Yes, he has a huge serve, big forehand, and an improved backhand, but when you have Federer and Nadal playing alongside you it doesn’t make it easy to win a Grand Slam. He is a fierce competitor, but some are saying his time may be running out. I think he still may have some good runs left in the tank!

Tomas Berdych

He’s another guy who has all the physical ability in the world, but at times loses his mental focus. He was able to correct that in the middle of 2010, reaching the semis of the French and the finals of Wimbledon, but then a first-round exit at the US Open left us all wondering again. Will 2011 be more of the same, or will Berdych put it together consistently?

WATCH OUT FOR THESE GUYS!

Can Querrey and Isner make some noise in Melbourne?

Sam Querrey/John Isner

Sam and John are big boys with off the wall serve, darn good groundstrokes, they move well for their height and are capable of playing on all surfaces. They both look to attack and are very comfortable at the net.

Isner was an All-American tennis player at the University of Georgia and by all accounts his time at college was well spent. He was at the center of one of the most historic matches of all time last year at Wimbledon, but I don’t think he wants to be remembered for that.

Both men hold their own well against the top guys, but can they win a Grand Slam? I am not sure.

Mardy Fish

Every time you feel his time is up, Mardy will come up with a big win. His two-handed backhand is one of the very best and he is extremely aggressive. His forehand has improved, he has a big serve and is a very sound volleyer. The US needs him to come through with a big tournament.

Stanislas Wawrinka

Wawrinka stated that he is ready to get down to business in 2011, and we will have to see how that pans out. He and his wife have recently separated and he has added Peter Lundgren as his coach. These are some big changes, and they will have a significant impact on the way he plays. No one has ever doubted his physical talents, but sometimes his mind goes in all directions.

Ernests Gulbis

What can I say? He is a very dangerous player with all sorts of weapons, but he comes and goes.

Marin Cilic

Never, never count him out. He can play against any player, but seems to get to a high point and then flame out. I’ll be keeping a close eye on him in 2011.

Richard Gasquet

The years are rolling on and we can no longer call him “someone to watch out for in the future.” It’s time for Gasquet to step up to the plate and demonstrate his talents consistently.

YOUNG AND DANGEROUS

Kei Nishikori

Kei has been a student at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy since he was 13-years old. He is a shot-maker with brilliant speed and a flair for the dramatic. He was on a roll and all of Japan was behind him as he became not only one of the best Japanese males to play, but he was also starting to beat some of the top men in the world. His run to the top came to a sudden halt when he injured his elbow and was basically out for a year.

He is now back and looking good and has a new look and team which includes the ugliest technical tennis player I have ever known: Brad Gilbert (he sure knew how to win though!). Glenn Weiner (his former traveling coach of two years) did one heck of a job, but there comes a time when change is a must. In addition to Brad, Bollettieri Academy coach Dante Bottini will be on the road with Kei.

Kei is already off to a great start in 2011 with wins over world #14 Marin Cilic and Alejandro Falla in Chennai. If he stays healthy, I feel very optimistic he will have a banner year.

Ryan Harrison is the new hope for American tennis.

Ryan Harrison

Ryan and the entire Harrison family live and train at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. At the age of 18, Ryan’s performance at the 2010 US Open vaulted him into another level of play and stardom. His style of play includes a huge Bollettieri forehand, steady two-handed backhand, very aggressive 1^st and 2^nd serve, attacking game style, excellent movement and physically prepared to battle the higher ranked players.

It’s very important for Ryan to control his emotions and listen to his new coach, Martin Damm, because that could make a huge difference in the rest of his career. I am looking for big things from Ryan in 2011 and beyond and I really enjoy working with him and his father, Pat, here at the Academy.

Richard Berankis

Berankis is another student of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and he and his coach, Remigijus Balzekas (a top Lithuanian coach) are a perfect team. Berankis isn’t tall, but he packs a wallop with his outstanding groundstrokes and serve. He moves extremely well and players very aggressively. Another strong point of his game is his ability to compete for every single point – he fights like a lion! He is currently the youngest player in the top 100 and has shown the ability to compete with the top pros. I look for big things from him this year.

DARKHORSES

Ivo Karlovic

Karlovic is coming back from an Achilles tendon injury that kept him out of action for much of 2010. He spent his Holiday Break training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy with his team and he looks to be in good shape. No one has a more dangerous serve than Karlovic and he is also a fantastic volleyer. I worked with him on his backhand during his stay and suggested that he might not want to hit every backhand with a slice. When on a roll his aggressive forehand can beat the best in the world.

P.S. He has a great support team and is a great person.

Kevin Anderson

Anderson spent some time at the Academy during the Holiday Break and he is really a great guy. Standing at 6’8”, he can serve big bombs and then capitalize on any defensive return with a very aggressive forehand and backhand. He must come in towards the net more often though to beat the best.

Xavier Malisse

He has been a favorite student of mine since he came to the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy when he was 16 years of age. No one ever has questioned his techniques, movement and talent, but he has lacked focus at times and has also battled injuries. Just recently, Xavier told me he is really enjoying playing tennis again which is great to hear.

Andrey Golubev

He is a hard-hitter with a killer forehand and a one-handed backhand that can penetrate at any time. The serve is good, but his percentages go down when the pressure is on.

Viktor Troicki

This man is dangerous, and I mean dangerous! His serve and two-handed backhand are a lethal weapon. He can be a little off the wall at times, and sometimes his forehand can break down.

Alexandr Dolgopolov

This man is still very young, but he has very smooth strokes with a two-handed backhand. He is fast, fast, fast, but still might need a year of playing before winning a big match.

Davydenko took down American Michael Russell in the first round in straight sets. He has had good success at the US Open in the past, reaching the semis twice and the Round of 16 two other times. He comes in ranked #6 in the world and definitely has the goods to make a deep run.

Gasquet is still coming back from his layoff and has worked his way back up to #38 in the world. He beat Simon Greul in straight sets in the first round and is into the second round for the first time since 2007. He didn’t have a great hard-court summer, but he is more than capable of beating the best when he is on.

Match-Up:

Davydenko and Gasquet have faced twice before with each winning a match (although both took place back in 2005). This is definitely one of the more compelling match ups of the second round as you have two guys who really can beat anyone. Gasquet’s biggest weapon is his backhand. He is able to whip it around the court and really punish his opponents with it. He uses an extreme semi-western grip but is still able to use it effectively. He also moves well, has a good serve and is confident. I feel his downfall is that sometimes he has too many shots in his head. He just needs to simply things and do what he does best. Davydenko is a pillar of consistency on the court. No emotion (maybe the hot NY sun will help!) and very few mistakes. He has a great two-handed backhand, solid serve and is a great mover. This is going to be a barnburner between two of the best on tour, but I have to give a slight edge to Davydenko because of his consistent play.

Nick’s Pick – Davydenko in 4 sets

Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)

Nishikori, who trains at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, had his coming out party at the US Open in 2008 when he reached the fourth round and took out a couple of high seeds. In 2009 he was hampered by injuries, but he is feeling healthy again and is brimming with confidence. He advanced to the second round when Evgeny Korolev retired in the second set.

Cilic beat Illya Marchenko in straight sets in the first round to reach the second round of the US Open for the third time in his career. He was a quarterfinalist last year, but has had mixed results this summer as he lost in the first round two times (Canada and Cincinnati) and reached the semis once (Washington DC).

Match-Up:

Cilic is 1-0 against Nishikori, beating him back in 2008 at Indian Wells. Cilic plays aggressive at all times. He has a booming serve, killer forehand and very consisntent backhand. He is a big boy and he moves well for his size. I don’t think he has reached his full potential yet and there could be even brighter days ahead for him. Nishikori looked very good against Korolev – he controlled the court with his outstanding movement and footwork forcing Korolev to hit an extra shot or two. He can take the ball on the rise extremely well and understands what it takes to win at this level. This match will be decided by how well Nishikori can return Cilic’s serve. If he returns it well, this is going to be one heck of a match. I wouldn’t be surprised if this goes either way, but I am going to go with the upset and pick my boy Kei!

Nick’s Pick – Picking the upset here and going with Nishikori in 4 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Dustin Brown (JAM)

Murray made quick work of Lukas Lacko in the opening round, beating him 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Murray’s had an excellent summer, reaching the semis of Wimbledon, the finals of LA, winning Canada, and then reaching the quarters in Cincy. He is definitely one of the favorites to win this tournament and claim his first Grand Slam title.

Brown is playing in his first career US Open and defeated Rubin Ramirez-Hidalgo in the opening round in straight sets. He comes into the tournament ranked #123 in the world and is definitely a heavy underdog in this match.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Brown and Murray. This match is on Murray’s racket. If he is playing to his potential he will win. Murray is striking the ball extremely well and also looks calm, cool and collected on the court. His return of serve and movement are basically as good as anyone in the world and his groundstrokes and serve are excellent. He is running his own show and I feel this is in his best interest. The more accountable he is for himself, the better he will be in the long run. The one thing I wish Murray would find is his “bread-and-butter” shot. He doesn’t have one and I think the sooner he can find one the better off he will be. I look for Murray to advance and I am interested to see how these two weeks play out for him.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 3 sets

Ryan Harrison (USA) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

I am so happy and excited for Ryan Harrison. He has been training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy for the last couple of years and his hard work is paying off as exemplified by his upset win over Ivan Ljubicic in the first round. His father, Pat, works with him daily at the Academy and they are a great one-two team. With his win, he is the first American teenager to beat a Top 20 opponent in a Grand Slam tournament since Andy Roddick (19) at 2001 US Open (d.No. 11 Corretja in 3rd Rd.).

Stakhovsky needed four sets to beat Peter Luczak in the first round and comes into the tournament on the heels of winning the event in New Haven last week. He is also ranked a career high of #36 in the world. A win here would put him in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Stakhovsky and Harrison and promises to be an interesting match. Stakhovsky has big time weapons from both sides and a sonic serve. He moves well and is a real competitor. He really has the tools to be a top 20 player. Harrison is coming off of a huge win and at the age of 18 he really doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. He is already gaining respect from the American fans and the players and it’s just a matter of time before he is a household name in tennis. He has a big first serve and he also has a tremendous kick serve that penetrates. His forehand is huge, his backhand is consistent and he is in great physical shape. What I like is that he is coming in towards the net as often as he can looking to put points away early. Stakhovsky certainly will be favored in this match, but I am smelling another upset from my boy Ryan Harrison!

Nick’s Pick – Harrison in 4 sets

A couple of other matches to keep your eye on:

Taylor Dent vs. Robin Soderling – Spoke to Taylor and he said he needs to play about 5-10% better in this match than he did in his previous match against Falla. Love watching the serve and volley and I think Taylor has a real shot here. Soderling needed five sets in the first round and we will have to see how that effects his stamina, especially with the heat the way it is.

Ricardas Berankis vs. Jurgen Melzer –Berankis is a former world #1 junior and also won the US Junior Open a couple of years ago. He stands only around 5’9” but he is like a bull on the court. He took down Ryan Sweeting in the opening round and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pull off another upset. This kid is the real deal and at the age of 20, he is someone to watch over the next few years as I think he has top-20 talent.

Murray comes into the tournament ranked #4 in the world but his record on the year is a paltry 13-7 and he has yet to win a title in 2010. His clay court results have been okay, losing his first match at Monte Carlo, winning a round at Rome and then reaching the quarters at Madrid. It seems as those he is feeling more comfortable on the clay as the tournaments go by, and his game is adaptable to the surface. He reached the quarterfinals here last year, which is his best result thus far at Roland Garros.

Gasquet just won a Challenger title on clay in Bordeaux and before that he lost in the quarterfinals to John Isner in Serbia. I was at that match, and he seems to be playing the kind of tennis that took him to #7 in the world a couple of years ago. He is currently ranked #68, but he is a dangerous player, especially on the clay.

Match-Up:

Gasquet is 2-1 against Murray but the two 23-year olds haven’t played since the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2008. This is going to be one heck of a match, and is definitely the highlight of the first round. Playing in front of his home fans, there will be pressure on Gasquet to win. Like I said above, he should’ve beaten Isner in Serbia and his play seems to have picked up as of late. He isn’t hitting as many unforced errors and he is focused on winning again instead of all the outside distractions. He has all the tools to beat Murray, but that is much easier said than done. This has not been Murray’s best year, but a deep run here would surely get him going in the right direction before Wimbledon. He cannot get pushed back behind the baseline 6-8 feet and expect to win this match. He must take it to Gasquet, which will keep the Frenchman off balance. The condition of the court will have an impact on this match. If it is dry and fast it favors Murray, if it is wet and slow it gives an edge to Gasquet. I have to give a slight edge to Murray because of all his weapons, but this will not be easy or over quickly.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 or 5 sets

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Robby Ginepri (USA)

Querrey comes into the French Open ranked a career high of #21 in the world. He just won the title in Serbia earlier this month but then followed it up with a first round loss in Madrid. He needs to play the kind of tennis that won him the title in Belgrade if he wants to make an impact at Roland Garros.

Ginepri is only 1-5 on the year in ATP events, but he did reach the finals of a Challenger recently in Tallahassee so that should give him some confidence. He comes in ranked #98 in the world and has only been past the first round of the French Open once in his career. That came back in 2008 when he advanced to the fourth round.

Match-Up:

Ginepri is 1-0 against Querrey, having beaten him at Indianapolis in straight sets last year. Ginepri is going to be really hungry for a win here as he hasn’t had a very good year. He serves big and will play aggressive at all times. He will have to gamble against Querrey, because his fellow American is getting better each tournament. For a big guy, Querrey moves well, takes the backhand early, has added a little slice and you know his forehand and serve are huge. He has almost cracked the top-20 for the first time in his career, and I believe he is on his way to bigger and better things. I give the edge to Querrey here.

Nick’s Pick – Querrey in 4 sets

Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Santiago Giraldo (COL)

Nishikori, an IMG Bollettieri student, comes into the French Open on a hot streak. He has won the last two Challenger tournaments he has played in (both on clay) and the elbow injury that hampered him for much of 2009 seems to be gone now. I look for his young Japanese star to find his way back into the top 50 very soon.

Giraldo is a 22-year old Colombian who is currently ranked a career high of #55 in the world. He won a Challenger on clay in Pereira in April, reached the fourth round (after qualifying) in Rome and qualified and reached the second round in Madrid. The last three years he has qualified for the French Open before falling in the first round, so I am sure he is looking to get past that point for the first time in his career.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Nishikori and Giraldo and promises to be interesting. Giraldo is a very good clay-courter who moves well and can change the pace with the best of them. Growing up on the clay in Colombia, he knows how to win on the surface and will be a dangerous opponent for Kei.

I’ve worked with Kei for many years now, and he is back to the person that we saw in 2008. He can sting and bite you from anywhere on the court and his “jump shots” from both sides are really fun to watch. His movement is simply incredible and that is what separates him from his opponents. This will be a fun match to watch, but the way Kei is playing now I have to give the edge to him.

Nick’s Pick – Nishikori in 4 sets

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Devin Britton (USA)

Federer is back on top of the rankings and is looking for his sixth consecutive US Open title. He is coming off of an impressive run in Cincinnati where he captured the title with wins over David Ferrer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. He seems as confident as ever and I have to say that he is the favorite right now.

Britton is an 18-year old American who received a wild-card into the tournament. He spent many years training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, and then went to college at Ole Miss this year where he won the NCAA singles title as a freshman. He was the runner-up in the 2008 Junior US Open and it is great to see him out on the big stage.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Britton and Federer, and this is really the chance of a lifetime for the young American. He will be out on center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium with the American fans cheering him on. He got to be brave and just focus on his own game. He is a serve-and-volleyer and he will come in towards the net every chance he gets. Federer will definitely not overlook the youngster, and I do expect him to move on. I just believe that for Devin, this is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and have some fun!

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 3 sets

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)

Djokovic reached the finals here in 2007 and is looking to get back to where he feels he belongs. He has won two titles in 2009 (Belgrade and Dubai), and just reached the finals in Cincinnati before falling to Federer in straight sets. He is definitely a threat to win this tournament, he just needs to remain positive and focused.

Ljubicic has fallen back to #50 in the rankings, but has been as high as #3 in the world. He has been to the third round of the US Open twice, but never past that point. He has had good results in the other Grand Slams, as he reached the quarters in Australian and the semis in Paris (both in 2006).

Match-Up:

Djokovic 3-1 against Ljubicic and has beaten him twice already this year. These matches are always interesting because you are pitting Serbia versus Croatia and both sets of fans are very passionate and aren’t the best of friends! Ljubicic has a big serve and isn’t afraid to come to the net. He is dangerous for Djokovic because if his serve gets rolling and he can get into a tiebreak he can always win a couple of sets. Djokovic is one of the best all-around players in the game. He has a great return of serve, solid groundstrokes from both sides, and isn’t afraid to attack. He can’t fall asleep in this match, otherwise Ljubicic will be right in it.

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 4 sets

Rafael Nadal (USA) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)

Nadal is coming off a summer of injuries and has fallen back to #3 in the world. Everyone is going to have their eyes glued to this match to see if the injuries are still effecting him in any way. If his movement is hampered, that could be a big problem for Nadal as the tournament wears on.

Gasquet is coming off of a long layoff due to a drug-related suspension. He’s been to the fourth round here twice, but hasn’t done that since 2006. If Gasquet finds his rhythm he is extremely dangerous, it is just going to be a question of whether or not he is mentally and physically ready to play again.

Match-Up:

Nadal is 6-0 against Gasquet, and clearly has the upper-hand against the Frenchman. This is the first round match that everyone is going to be watching. Gasquet was picked at a young age to be one of the best players in the world, but has never lived up to the hype. The French had really high hopes for him, but maybe the pressure was just too much. He needs to put the past behind him and start again right now. He is a brilliant shot-maker, has a fantastic one-handed backhand, and moves well. He doesn’t like to play long points, and when you are playing someone with injuries you have to try and wear them down. This will help Nadal and should make things a little easier on him. We all want to see if Nadal can play the game as physically as he has done in the past. That is the question that we are all asking. I am going to pick Nadal, but I this is going to be a very interesting match for many reasons.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 4 sets

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Nicolas Massu (CHI)

Gonzalez reached the quarterfinals here back in 2002, but since then he hasn’t gotten past the fourth round. He has had a pretty good summer, reaching the semis at the French Open and Washington DC, but he had to retire in the first round at Cincinnati which is never a good sign.

Massu comes into the tournament ranked #89 in the world and has been to the fourth round here before. He’s mainly been playing Challenger events in 2009, but back in 2004 he won gold at the Athens Olympics in both the singles and doubles competitions!

Match-Up:

Gonzalez is 4-1 against Massu, but the two Chileans haven’t faced since 2007. Massu has excellent groundstrokes, moves exceptionally well, but the engine is starting to run out of steam. Gonzalez has a huge forehand, big-time serve, and loves to go for winners. He just needs to keep his nose to the ground and start grinding from the outset. He can’t let things bother him and must stay focused. If he does those things, he will find himself in the second round.

Nick’s Pick – Gonzalez in 4 sets

Roger Federer begins his quest for a sixth straight US Open title against American Devin Britton

It’s US Open time again and we are thrilled to be back in New York for the entire tournament. Be sure to stay with Nick’s Picks throughout the tournament for live coverage of the year’s final Grand Slam. We begin today with our breakdown of the draws.

Men’s Draw

The big story about the men’s draw is the change at the top. For the first time in a long while, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could have faced before the finals. Nadal has slipped to #3 in the rankings because of injuries and Federer and Andy Murray have taken over the top two spots. Alas, it was not to be, as Nadal was placed in Murray’s half of the draw and can still face Federer in the finals.

Speaking of Federer, he starts off with an interesting match against young American, Devin Britton. Britton spent many years training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and then as a freshman in college he won the NCAA singles championship this year at Ole Miss. Britton is a serve-and-volleyer and this will be a great experience for him.

Assuming Federer plays like he has, he should be able to move through the draw with not many issues. He could face Lleyton Hewitt in the third round and possibly James Blake in the fourth, but I don’t see either of those guys stopping FedEx. A potential Nikolay Davydenko quarter could be tricky, but the match we all want to see is a Federer/Andy Roddick semifinal. After a fantastic Wimbledon final, a rematch in the semis here would be must-see TV.

Roddick’s path could be tough though as he could run into some trouble in the fourth round against either Tommy Haas or Fernando Verdasco. He would also have to get by Novak Djokovic in the quarters, whom he lost to in last year’s quarterfinals. Since then though, Roddick has beaten him three consecutive times (all this year).

On the bottom half of the draw, all the talk is about Murray and Nadal. Murray, last year’s runner-up, begins his quest for a first Grand Slam title with a tough opponent in Ernests Gulbis. He could also face a big-serving third round opponent as Ivo Karlovic and Taylor Dent both loom in that section of the draw.

Those guys aren’t the only big guys who can serve in the bottom half, as they are joined by Jo-Willy Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin Del Potro, Marin Cilic, and Stan Wawrinka. All of those guys are talented enough to beat anyone. You’ve also got a couple of sly Frenchmen in Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon in the draw; watch out for those guys as well!

The match everyone is going to be looking at early on is Nadal vs. Richard Gasquet. We all know that Nadal has been dealing with injuries, but Gasquet is playing in his first ATP Tour level match since April after missing most of 2009 because of a drug suspension. He comes in ranked #46 in the world, but has been as high as #7.  This will be a very interesting match for both players.

Overall, I think the bottom half of the draw is a bit stronger than the top half just because of the quantity of men who are more than capable of taking down the top guys. I wouldn’t be surprised to see any one of those guys playing well into the second week.

Women’s Draw

As has been the case for most of 2009, the field is once again wide open. This draw seems top-heavy to me. On the top you have a very strong contingent of Russian women which includes: Dinara Safina, Alisa Kleybanova, Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova, and Svetalana Kuznetsova. You’ve also got Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Sabine Lisicki, Caroline Wozniacki and Jie Zheng. This is an extremely tough half of the draw and whoever comes out is going to be battle-tested.

The top-seed on the women’s side is Safina, and she is still looking for her first Grand Slam title. She has not been able to put together a strong showing in the finals of a Grand Slam yet, and some people question whether or not she should be the top seed. She could face fellow Russian Kleybanova (a big hitter) in the third round and possibly Jankovic, Ivanovic, or Lisicki in the quarters.

The semis on the top half of the draw are tough to predict. You’ve got Dementieva (who I think has the best groundstrokes on tour), and two former champions here: Sharapova and Kuznetsova. Dementieva and Sharapova could meet in an epic third-round bout with the winner having to move on and face maybe Kuznetsova or even Wozniacki in the quarters. Should be interesting to follow.

On the bottom half of the draw the story revolves around two names: Williams and Clijsters. Both Serena and Venus find themselves in the bottom half with wild-card Kim Clijsters (2005 champion) also lurking. Serena, the defending champion, opens up with American Alexa Glatch, and could face Daniela Hantuchova in the fourth round and possibly the uber-talented Vera Zvonareva in the quarters.

Venus and Clijsters could face in the fourth round, which would be one heck of a match. The winner of that match could be looking at Victoria Azarenka in the quarters, and beating her is never an easy task.

Don’t forget about the young Michelle Larcher de Brito. The 16-year old Portuguese sensation, who trains at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, opens up with Mathilde Johansson and is looking for her first career win at the US Open.

My prediction for the women’s draw has to start with Serena. Until someone knocks her off, I just can’t predict her to lose. She is so good when she is focused and fit and playing in New York always seems to bring out the best in her. Don’t be surprised if there are numerous upsets in the draw, because when the field is this wide open, who knows what will happen!!

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Christophe Rochus (BEL)

For the first time in his career, Nadal is the top seed of the Australian Open. His best finish came last year when he reached the semis before falling to Tsonga, and you would have to think that anything short of that in 2009 would be considered a disappointment. I will be very interested to see how Nadal looks in this match.

Rochus is a fun guy to watch. He stands at only 5’7″ and moves around the court like a road runner! He is currently ranked #75 in the world, but has been as high as #38. His beat appearance down under came all the way back in 2000, when he reached the fourth round.

The Match-Up:

This will be the first career meeting between Nadal and Rochus. It’s nice to see a guy like Rochus, at the age of 30, still going strong. Like I said before, he is so quick around the court, but as you get older this is one part of your game that you lose. I will be watching this match to see how Nadal is moving around the court and challenging balls, because I think this will give us a good indicator of how he is feeling and how he will play throughout the tournament. Rochus certainly doesn’t have the guns to compete with Nadal, but this will be an interesting match to keep your eye on.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 3 sets

Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Diego Junqueira (ARG)

Gasquet comes into the tournament ranked #25 in the world, which is way down from his career high of #7. The last two years he has faired well here, reaching the fourth round on both accounts. He could use a big tournament to help get back into the top 20.

Junqueira is a 28-year old Argentinean lefty who is ranked a career high of #76 in the world. This will only be his second main draw Grand Slam appearance, and his first at the Aussie Open. Last year he qualified for the French Open and reached the second round before falling to Ivan Ljubicic.

The Match-Up:

This will be the first career meeting between Gasquet and Junqueira. What a great opportunity this is for Junquiera to make a name for himself. He is a relative unknown at this point, but if he could pick up an upset that can certainly change overnight. However, defeating Gasquet is no easy task, especially with the way the ball bounces in Australia. For some time now, we have heard how good Gasquet is going to be and he has never been able to put it together and reach the finals of a Grand Slam. Now, some of the other French guys have passed him up in the rankings (Monfils, Simon, Tsonga) and that has to motivate him to get back to the top. I look for Gasquet to come out and play a strong match and make a statement.

Nick’s Pick – Gasquet in 3 sets

Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)

Del Potro comes into the tournament ranked #9 in the world, and for the first time he is a top-ten seed in a Grand Slam. How he follows up a great 2008 season is going to be one of the most interesting story lines of 2009. Can he continue on that success, or take a step backwards?

Zverev is a 21-year old German that is currently ranked #80 in the world. He is a tough competitor and in 2008 he reached the quarterfinals of two tournaments. This is someone to watch out for in the next couple of years.

The Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two young talents, and should be a good one. Zverev is a lefty, and they are always tricky to play against so Del Potro will have to be ready for that. The big story about Del Potro is his energy. I liken his run in 2008 to a big F-18 that was firing on all cylinders and then one of the engines goes out. For a while there, Del Potro was unbeatable, but then it looked like he tired out and just couldn’t go anymore. He needs to manage his playing schedule a bit more closely this year and that will help him maintain his mental focus. For this match, I believe Del Potro just has too many weapons for Zverev and that will be the difference.

Nick’s Pick – Del Potro in 4 sets

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Federer doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone, but if could start the year by winning this tournament that would certainly be a big boost to his confidence. He needs a solid start here, and a good win over a talented player would definitely be that.

Seppi is a 24-year old Italian that is ranked #34 in the world. He is a big boy, 6’3″, and plays like it. This is his fourth Australian Open, and he has never been past the second round.

The Match-Up:

Federer is 3-0 against Seppi, and just beat him a couple of weeks ago in Doha 6-3, 6-3. Like Nadal, all eyes will be on Federer, looking to see how he is moving and where he is mentally. I really like Federer’s chances at winning this tournament, and having just beat Seppi recently will definitely help him out.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 3 sets

Other matches of interest:

Here are some of the other matches that I will be keeping my eye on during the first round.

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (ARG) – This is quite the first round match! I will be looking to see how Gonzalez plays without Larry Stefanki by his side. That is a compelling story line to me. Hewitt has been hut as of late and without a doubt will have the crowd behind him. This is a must see match!

Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) – We hope Nishikori’s arm is feeling better, because it caused him to pull out of a tournament last week. This is a big chance for Kei to continue his climb up the rankings and the entire Academy will be rooting him on! Watch out though, because Melzer is one heck of a competitor.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG) – This is another excellent first round match. Can Tsonga find the magic that worked for him in 2008? I sure hope so, because he has a lot of points to defend!

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) – I’m looking for Querrey to have a big year, and I think he is one of the best young Americans we have. He just reached the finals last week and is playing excellent tennis.

Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Fabrice Santoro (FRA) – Here is a great match between two veterans. I’m sad to here that Santoro is retiring this year, and I will be following him closely throughout 2009!

Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Ivan Navarro (ESP) – The fun thing about Safin is that you never know what the heck is going to happen!! He is a former champion here and the crowd loves him. He is one of my favorite guys to watch and I without a doubt I’ll be watching this one.

Other winners in Brisbane included Jo-Willy Tsonga, Fernando Verdasco, Radek Stepanek, and Florent Serra. Tsong’a win sets up an all-French bash with Richard Gasquet. Stepanek will take on Robin Soderling and Verdasco will face Serra.