We've talked about it for weeks now but were just under two hours away from the start of the 2013 Australian Open. I've previewed both draws already and now I'm going to look at the first day's play and discuss who will be advancing and who might struggle. So let's get straight into it.
Last year's beaten finalist Maria Sharapova kicks off the tournament when she meets Olga Puchkova on Rod Laver. Sharapova needs to get off to a good start to dismiss the concerns over her fitness after she pulled out of the event in Brisbane. These two have never met before and I would expect Sharapova to win this one in two sets.
Second on Laver is home favourite Sam Stosur as she looks to get her campaign underway against Kai-Chen Chang who has a winning record against the Aussie. Chang beat Stosur in Osaka last year and will have confidence heading into this one especially with the way Stosur has played in Australia in recent years. I think Stosur will manage to get through this one but it could be a struggle.
Next up is men's defending champion Novak Djokovic who opens against talented Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. Djokovic has won their last three meetings, including one in Australia, but they haven't met since 2009. Mathieu is rising back up the rankings and has the talent to challenge the top players but Djokovic should be too strong for him. I expect some good tennis in this one but Djokovic will wear down his opponent and win in three.
The first night match of the tournament promises to be a marathon. Lleyton Hewitt and Janko Tipsarevic meet in the tie of the round in the men's draw. Tipsarevic is seeded eight here but Hewitt beat Raonic, Del Potro and Berdych last week to win in Kooyong. I think the crowd will have a huge influence on this one and get behind Hewitt. I expect the upset and Hewitt will get it done in five.
Ana Ivanovic opens what she hopes will be a strong two weeks against Melinda Czink in the final match on Laver Arena. Ivanovic has been playing well since the beginning of last year and I expect her to return to the top ten very soon. She has a good record against Czink and I expect her to win this one.
Venus Williams is first up on Hisense Arena and she takes on Galina Voskoboeva in their first meeting. Venus is still a tricky customer and I think she will be very tough to beat here. I think she will win this one with little fuss in two comfortable sets.
A very interesting match takes place after that with young David Goffin taking on Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco has had some joy here in the past but he isn't as good as he was when he almost beat Rafa Nadal a few years ago. I'm going to go with an upset here and pick the up and coming Goffin.
Aussie Ashleigh Barty would have been confident coming into this event but I don't think she got any luck in the draw when getting Dominika Cibulkova. Barty has a bright future in the game but I think she will lack the experience to deal with the aggressive Cibulkova.
Finally on Hisense, David Ferrer opens his account against Olivier Rochus. These two have met nine times but Rochus hasn't beaten Ferrer since 2006 and has lost their last six meetings winning only two sets. Ferrer should take this one in three.
Na Li has enjoyed success in Melbourne before and she should have no problems opening her account against Sesil Karantatcheva on the Margaret Court. Second on Margaret is Agnieszka Radwanska who should also have an easy time of it against Bojana Bobusic. Casey Dellacqua will try to take advantage of the home crowd when she faces Madison Keys on Margaret. I like Dellacqua but I'm going to go with the 17 year old Keys to get the win.
Mikhail Youzhny is also on this court when he faces Matthew Ebden. Youzhny is seeded here and heavily fancied to win this one but since I first saw the draw I've had a hunch Ebden will get it done. With home advantage I'm tipping an upset in this one.
Albert Ramos and Marcos Baghdatis have a night match and it should be worth watching. I see this going four or five sets but, the former finalist here in Australia, Baghdatis will get it done in the end.
The show court number 2 has got four matches containing some big names. Julia Goerges has a losing record against Vera Dushevina but I fancy her to avenge that loss tonight. Tomas Berdych should be a comfortable straight sets winner against Michael Russell. Angelique Kerber should be very comfortable in her match against Elins Svitolina and Juan Monaco should also win against Andrey Kuznetsov.
Nicolas Almagro will get a win over Steve Johnson on court 3. Marion Bartoli and Jelena Jankovic should win against Anabel Medina Garrigues and Johanna Larsson respectively. Young Camila Giorgi should win her match against Stephanie Foretz Gacon. Fabio Fognini and Roberto Bautista-Agut has got entertainment written all over it and Fognini will win in five. Petra Martic is a danger in the women's draw and she will beat Misaki Doi.
In the men's draw I think there will be wins for Sam Querrey, Kei Nishikori, Stanislas Wawrinka, Feliciano Lopez and Brian Baker. Ryan Harrison should get over Santiago Giraldo, while I fancy Grigor Dimitrov to get over Julien Benneteau. Radek Stepanek should overcome Viktor Troicki and Jerzy Janowicz should beat Simone Bolelli.
In the women's draw I see wins for Klara Zakopalova, Sorana Cirstea and Heather Watson. Irina-Camelia Begu is a talented Romanian but I'm tipping the left-handed Arantxa Rus to get an upset in that one. It should be a great opening day and hopefully we get some entertainment and good tennis.
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