2016 Australian Open

**Sir David Gray** · 15-01-2016 11:55 AM

As always, I'm looking forward to the Australian Open starting, which begins at 12am on Monday UK time.

Andy Murray looks to have a pretty decent draw on paper. The highest seed he'll play before the quarter finals is Bernard Tomic, which won't be a problem for him. He starts against the German Alexander Zverev in round one.

As for the other Brits who have qualified, Aljaz Bedene has a tough first round tie against the 31st seed Steve Johnson and Kyle Edmund has a decent chance in his tie with Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic plays South Korean Chung Hyeon in round one so I don't anticipate any problems for him there. Roger Federer plays Nikoloz Basilashvili and Rafael Nadal has a very interesting opening match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Incidentally, Murray can't meet Djokovic or Federer until the final.

**Hibee87** · 15-01-2016 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Trig

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As always, I'm looking forward to the Australian Open starting, which begins at 12am on Monday UK time.

Andy Murray looks to have a pretty decent draw on paper. The highest seed he'll play before the quarter finals is Bernard Tomic, which won't be a problem for him. He starts against the German Alexander Zverev in round one.

As for the other Brits who have qualified, Aljaz Bedene has a tough first round tie against the 31st seed Steve Johnson and Kyle Edmund has a decent chance in his tie with Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic plays South Korean Chung Hyeon in round one so I don't anticipate any problems for him there. Roger Federer plays Nikoloz Basilashvili and Rafael Nadal has a very interesting opening match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Incidentally, Murray can't meet Djokovic or Federer until the final.

Looking forward to it. Im off Monday-Wed so hoping to catch a couple of Murrays matches live

**Sir David Gray** · 15-01-2016 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Hibee87

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Looking forward to it. Im off Monday-Wed so hoping to catch a couple of Murrays matches live

I'm looking forward to it too although I tend to just manage with the highlights package for the early rounds.

The time difference is a killer.

**Sir David Gray** · 16-01-2016 08:30 AM

Also a big well done to Dan Evans who has come through qualifying to make the main draw.

He now has a tough first round match against Feliciano Lopez.

***PatHead*** · 17-01-2016 09:59 PM

What channel is it on?

**Pretty Boy** · 18-01-2016 08:43 AM

Some interesting news breaking today about potential match fixing in tennis and a decision to sweep it under the carpet being made.

This one's going to run and likely be a bit embarrassing for a few people.

**Sir David Gray** · 18-01-2016 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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Some interesting news breaking today about potential match fixing in tennis and a decision to sweep it under the carpet being made.

This one's going to run and likely be a bit embarrassing for a few people.

This is a nightmare for the sport. They must not have enough evidence to name anyone or else you would have thought they would have by now.

Hopefully this will be fully investigated.

**Sir David Gray** · 18-01-2016 06:37 PM

Andy Murray begins his Australian Open campaign against Alexander Zverev and he's the second match on Margaret Court Arena meaning that he should be on around 2am UK time.

Not fantastic timing for a British audience.

**jodjam** · 19-01-2016 07:05 AM

Murray through. Nadal out

**Treadstone** · 19-01-2016 05:13 PM

Watched the Konta match. She was superb. Wobbled a bit at the end of both sets but the usually weak forehand stood up. Watson and Robson could take a lead regarding the hard work she has put in the last eighteen months.

**Sir David Gray** · 19-01-2016 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

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Watched the Konta match. She was superb. Wobbled a bit at the end of both sets but the usually weak forehand stood up. Watson and Robson could take a lead regarding the hard work she has put in the last eighteen months.

She's putting in some very impressive results right now and seems to have a very good attitude as well.

Good luck to her.

Great result for Murray today and he should be safe enough in his next match against Sam Groth.

Not overly surprised by Verdasco's win over Nadal either.

**Pretty Boy** · 19-01-2016 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Trig

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She's putting in some very impressive results right now and seems to have a very good attitude as well.

Good luck to her.

Great result for Murray today and he should be safe enough in his next match against Sam Groth.

Not overly surprised by Verdasco's win over Nadal either.

Agree about Verdasco. I wasn't at all surprised when I saw that result. On his day he's a fine player and Nadal is not the force he was.

**Sir David Gray** · 19-01-2016 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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Agree about Verdasco. I wasn't at all surprised when I saw that result. On his day he's a fine player and Nadal is not the force he was.

Being a non-seed, he was going to be a dangerous opponent for anyone that he played in the first round.

He's really in a false position of 45 in the world, he should be much higher than that. It wasn't that long ago that he nearly beat Murray at Wimbledon.

His forehand is huge when he's on his game and his serve is extremely powerful as well. I saw a bit of the match this morning as I was getting ready for work and Nadal couldn't cope with the power in his shots. He had him all over the place.

He's unlikely to challenge the top few guys but he'll maybe fancy his chances of getting into the quarter finals now.

**Sir David Gray** · 21-01-2016 07:35 PM

Another great win for Murray this morning against Sam Groth - winning 6-0 6-4 6-1.

He now plays Joao Sousa in round three.

I also have to mention the retirement of Lleyton Hewitt after his straight sets defeat to David Ferrer.

I loved watching him when I was growing up, his fighting spirit and determination to win was so impressive.

He came along at the right time as he managed to win his two majors just before Roger Federer started to dominate the sport.

Unbelievable fighter on the court and he'll be a big miss.

**DaveF** · 21-01-2016 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Trig

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He's unlikely to challenge the top few guys but he'll maybe fancy his chances of getting into the quarter finals now.

Beaten by Dudi Sela today\yesterday.

**Sir David Gray** · 21-01-2016 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by DaveF

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Beaten by Dudi Sela today\yesterday.

Typical.

***Speedy*** · 22-01-2016 07:42 AM

Has Dimitrov had an injury?

Seems to have dropped down the rankings.

**Treadstone** · 22-01-2016 03:09 PM

Looking forward to watching Konta tonight. Should've beat this girl in the French last year but choked a little. This a better surface for her and better form since that defeat. Mentally a far stronger proposition too.

**Sir David Gray** · 22-01-2016 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by MB Crunch

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Has Dimitrov had an injury?

Seems to have dropped down the rankings.

Just out of form I think.

***lord bunberry*** · 22-01-2016 09:18 PM

This Kyrgios geezer is deranged, every time I see him he loses the plot. He's quite entertaining

**Sir David Gray** · 22-01-2016 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by lord bunberry

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This Kyrgios geezer is deranged, every time I see him he loses the plot. He's quite entertaining

He's an idiot.

Unfortunately he seems to fancy himself as being a bit of a John McEnroe figure but without the talent.

Andy Murray will be on at 8am UK time tomorrow in his match against Joao Sousa, for anyone who fancies getting up early.

**Treadstone** · 23-01-2016 12:19 AM

Well done Konta. Easy 6-2 6-2 served superbly. Probably Makarova next. Think it might end there but wouldn't rule her out. Muguruza probably going out too that bottom half of the draw has opened right up.

Bed now, up for Andy.

**DaveF** · 23-01-2016 08:31 AM

News that Murrays father in law has been taken to hospital and the game he was watching postponed. Not sure what impact if any that will have but its now 1 set all in Murrays game.

***Speedy*** · 23-01-2016 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by DaveF

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News that Murrays father in law has been taken to hospital and the game he was watching postponed. Not sure what impact if any that will have but its now 1 set all in Murrays game.

Murray through.

Ivanovic lost after going back on.

Probably should have suspended it.

**Sir David Gray** · 23-01-2016 07:05 PM

Good to see that Nigel Sears appears to be ok after his health scare earlier.

Good win for Murray today although he'll be annoyed at dropping a set.

He should have a comfortable victory against Bernard Tomic in the next round.

**Sir David Gray** · 24-01-2016 10:15 AM

Tough match for Djokovic today eventually coming through in five sets against Gilles Simon.

He now plays Kei Nishikori in the quarter finals after he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.

It's going to be a late start for Roger Federer as he is on after the women's match which is currently half way through the final set.

It's already 10:15pm in Melbourne.

**Treadstone** · 25-01-2016 09:06 AM

Well done Jo Konta. Gutsy win. This will probably make the main news bulletins and deservedly so but will serve to show how much Andy is taken for granted. Quarter finals are pretty much routine and expected and only covered in dedicated news channels and Scottish regional broadcasts.

We'll miss him when he's gone.