AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026, Melbourne, ATP GRAND SLAM

[don_fabio]

On his 3MP de Minaur d Bublik 64 61 61 well done Alex a really clean match from you and for your reward you play Alcaraz in the QF

De Minaur is really a solid player and able to beat most of the guys, but when he gets to meet the top 2-3 that's usually the end of the road for him.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

De Minaur is really a solid player and able to beat most of the guys, but when he gets to meet the top 2-3 that's usually the end of the road for him.

I had projected de Minuar to make the QFs, that is where it ends, he hasnt got the weapons to dismantle Alcaraz

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jannik stays on MCA and they have shifted the Shelton v Ruud match to RLA tomorrow night

 

[Federberg]

If Rafa and Michael Chang had a baby it would be Lerner Tien. Not because of the Asian ethnicity. The leftiness, the use of angles and the loopy forehands. Very impressive performance

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If Rafa and Michael Chang had a baby it would be Lerner Tien. Not because of the Asian ethnicity. The leftiness, the use of angles and the loopy forehands. Very impressive performance

Chang has been a revelation in Tiens game, very smart by Tien having Chang as part of his coaching team

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Following the defeat of Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva, Russia will have no singles players in the last eight of the AO for the first time since 2018

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rod Laver has left the AO and said he would watch the AO from a far, meaning back home in the USA, Rod now 87 has looked frail to me and has to now use a 'walker' to get around, he did survive a mini stroke in 1998.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

With Rafa Nadal coming back to the AO for a special event being a Kia Ambassador on the afternoon of the mens finals
I would not be surprised if Nadal presents the winning trophy at the mens final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mens Singles QFs for Tuesday 27th January
Top Half,

Alcaraz (1) vs de Minaur (6) Alcaraz leads their H2H 5-0

Zverev (3) vs Tien (25) Their H2H is 1 all, even though I find Zverev boring he has been quietly going through his draw, under the radar, though we all know what happens if he makes a GS final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The AO Legends Cup will feature men's, women's and mixed doubles matches across the second week of the AO

Australia,
Rafter ( my favorite Aussie)
Hewitt
Phillippoussis
Stosur
Molik
Dellaqua

The World,
Marat Safin
Tommy Haas
Marcos Baghdatis
Daniela Hantuckova
Andrea Petkovic
Angelique Kerber

 

[El Dude]

If you're talking about 25 Slams, then probably. But what about Stan? What about some notion that serious players mature around 24, which Spizzirri is. (And he just turned 24 in Dec. He's a year and a half older than Alcaraz.) I'm not saying he's about the be the next big thing, ni mucho menos, but it seems early to call him "too old." All I'm looking at is that he pushed Sinner, and not just for one set. Now, Miss Margaret can complain that Jannik was suffering in the heat, and Fonseca was having back issues, but as you pointed out, Spizzirri is still a small interesting story of the AO so far. Not more, not less. Maybe he got a bit lucky with what was in front of him, and they were a bit ragtag, but he didn't just roll over.

Haha, you're basically disagreeing with me, then re-stating what I already said. Moxie, please refer to my specific use of "too old." My original sentence was: "He's probably too old to be projected as a future star, but the guy can play and could rise into seeding territory at the least." We're saying the same thing; the only difference is that you don't like my phrasing of "too old," probably because you're ignoring the rest of the sentence. But again, read the specifics: I think it probable that he's too old to become a star (i.e. regular top 10 at least). I'm not even negating the possibility that he's the new Stan, I just think it unlikely and saying that rising to seeding would be impressive in and of itself.

As for Wawrinka, at the same age he had already been in the top 100 for a few years, and finished age 23 (2008) at #13. In other words, he had flashed upside and was considered a bit of an underachiever at that point. Spizzirri just popped into the top 100 for the first time at age 24. I haven't done an intensive study, but I'd guess that the number of players who didn't make the top 100 until 24 and went on to make the top 10 can be counted on one hand, and could be with none.

But again, if Spizzirri gets to seeding (top 30), that's a nice story in and of itself.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Carlos Alcaraz has the most GS singles QFs of any player in the Open Era before the age of 23,
Alcaraz 14
Borg 13
Becker 13.

 

[Federberg]

With Rafa Nadal coming back to the AO for a special event being a Kia Ambassador on the afternoon of the mens finals
I would not be surprised if Nadal presents the winning trophy at the mens final.

if Roger's there as well, they'll probably have a few rounds of golf

 

[El Dude]

I just watched the highlights of the Tien-Medvedev match. Man, what a slaughter. I'm really starting to like Tien. I saw him on Roddick's podcast and he seemed like a nice, humble kid. He's a lot of fun to watch...he's got the vibes of the top tier "pests" and even reminds me a bit of Lleyton Hewitt - the placement, precision, maybe not the speed and crazy defense, but he's pretty well-rounded. He also reminds me a bit of De Minaur, but a bit more offense.

I don't think he'll ever go into a Slam as the favorite, but he's the type of player who, if he optimizes, could dole out a few upsets. At the very least, I think he's going to win a bunch of titles, including a few Masters. But I think he's got a chance at a Slam or two.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Listening to Fritz in his press conference he said that his knee is still a concern, not so much when he is serving, in general play, he faces Musetti today, their H2H is 3 all, I was impressed with Lorenzo winning his match in 5 sets, that is one area he needed to improve on
As Jannik says ' Lets see whats coming".

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I just watched the highlights of the Tien-Medvedev match. Man, what a slaughter. I'm really starting to like Tien. I saw him on Roddick's podcast and he seemed like a nice, humble kid. He's a lot of fun to watch...he's got the vibes of the top tier "pests" and even reminds me a bit of Lleyton Hewitt - the placement, precision, maybe not the speed and crazy defense, but he's pretty well-rounded. He also reminds me a bit of De Minaur, but a bit more offense.

I don't think he'll ever go into a Slam as the favorite, but he's the type of player who, if he optimizes, could dole out a few upsets. At the very least, I think he's going to win a bunch of titles, including a few Masters. But I think he's got a chance at a Slam or two.

Tien needs to improve his serve, to be able to win a Masters or GS title

 

[El Dude]

Tien needs to improve his serve, to be able to win a Masters or GS title

True, true - as we've discussed. Just saying that the rest of his game is very impressive. Mensik looked good before getting injured, but Tien is starting to edge a bit ahead of him in my eyes, in the "other than Fonseca" category.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

True, true - as we've discussed. Just saying that the rest of his game is very impressive. Mensik looked good before getting injured, but Tien is starting to edge a bit ahead of him in my eyes, in the "other than Fonseca" category.

I think Tien adding Chang to his team has been a big plus, Mensik seems to be getting a lot of injuries in tournaments of late, just when you think he can challenge, he did beat Novak to win his first Masters, he pulls out with injury, it has become a bit of a concern.

 

[Moxie]

Haha, you're basically disagreeing with me, then re-stating what I already said. Moxie, please refer to my specific use of "too old." My original sentence was: "He's probably too old to be projected as a future star, but the guy can play and could rise into seeding territory at the least." We're saying the same thing; the only difference is that you don't like my phrasing of "too old," probably because you're ignoring the rest of the sentence. But again, read the specifics: I think it probable that he's too old to become a star (i.e. regular top 10 at least). I'm not even negating the possibility that he's the new Stan, I just think it unlikely and saying that rising to seeding would be impressive in and of itself.

As for Wawrinka, at the same age he had already been in the top 100 for a few years, and finished age 23 (2008) at #13. In other words, he had flashed upside and was considered a bit of an underachiever at that point. Spizzirri just popped into the top 100 for the first time at age 24. I haven't done an intensive study, but I'd guess that the number of players who didn't make the top 100 until 24 and went on to make the top 10 can be counted on one hand, and could be with none.

But again, if Spizzirri gets to seeding (top 30), that's a nice story in and of itself.

You're right...I'm not really arguing with you, even though I always sound like I am. LOL. I was, as you suspected, objecting to the phrase "too old," thinking of your arguments of where players need to be at what age to have really elite careers. I was thinking you were leaning into that, but maybe you weren't.

Otherwise, we agree that he's an interesting story of the tournament, and one to watch, but who knows, at this point. We've seen very little of him. He isn't ranked higher, in part because he graduated from UT Austin in 2024. Had a great college career, with some pro challengers, etc., in both singles and doubles, mixed in. So he's fairly new to being full-time on the tour and the rigors of that. Makes sense that he's starting to feature about now, or last fall, as I mentioned. Maybe get the ranking up around IW and Miami. With the new high profile of this match v. Sinner, perhaps pick up some WCs.

 

[Moxie]

if Roger's there as well, they'll probably have a few rounds of golf

Has Roger taken up golf??