The 2012 Australian Open...

[tennis_chiro]

Go ahead! Make your picks!

I put together the jpeg below (I think you can see it if you click on it a couple of times) for 10sballs as soon as the draws came out, but they haven't used it. I thought some of you might enjoy this condensed view of the draw. I don't know the women well enough to really pick that draw beyond a few favorites, but I put my picks for the quarters to finals down here for the men's draws (and yes, Stotty, I did pick Murray; and after the way he won his second round, I might be right). I did this summary for the women too, but I don't even know the seeds much less the floaters. But if you want me to put it up, let me know.

The idea of the Roman numerals is a list of 15 choices to fill the spots from quarters through finals. 1 pt. for quarters, 2 points for semis, 3 pts for finals and 5 pts for the champion. Put down your picks and keep track of your points earned. Your entry in the forum will be time stamped. If you think your list is a leader, point it out to us with your total as we go through the tourney.

So far, I didn't see Failla coming. Otherwise, my picks are still alive.

Sorry. No prizes. Just for the hell of it!

don

[stotty]

Over here in the UK we are rather hoping tennis_chiro's tip for stardom in 2012, Andy Murray, might just emerge to be the champion.

[don_budge]

This major does not seem to get the same attention that the others do. But the one thing so far that has blipped the radar screen is Nadal bad mouthing Federer about his lack of motivation as President of the players association. A real lack of class.

I can only pray that this will serve as motivation for the Swiss Maestro to shut the mouth of one of the biggest Hot Dog's to reign as a top player in the tennis world. Is that too much to hope for? Complaining about job conditions Raphael? Get a real job! It's amazing what millions of dollars can do to warp your sense of reality.

The Spanish ingrate as quoted:

"His (position) is easy: do not say anything, all positive, I am a 'gentleman,' others get burned. We each have our opinion and maybe he likes the circuit. Me too, I like it, and I think it's better than most sports. That does not mean you cannot be better and that you should change things that are bad," the 25-year-old said.

"I say a lot of good things about tennis, because thanks to this sport I have had experiences in my life I could never have dreamed of, but to finish your career with pain in all areas of your body is not positive."

"He finishes his career as fresh as a daisy because he is physically privileged, but neither Murray nor Djokovic and I are fresh as a daisy."

I guess it is Roger's fault that he plays with effortless grace and balance, seemingly gliding around the tennis court which probably, like a well oiled machine, saves wear and tear on his body...while Nadal plays like a bronco busting rodeo rider. It's no wonder that he is always injured or faking injury, the way he is flailing away on his forehand and stampeding around the court with his perma sneer painted on his face.

Americans Mardy Fish, Sam Querry and Donald Young all sent packing and on their way home. Ryan Sweeting up against 5th seed, David Ferrer (bottle's man) and let's see if he's gotten any of the kinks and quirks out of his service motion. Andy Roddick meets Lleyton Hewitt...talk about big quirky serves against a great, but aging, returner. They have history you know. Roddick leads 7 to 6 winning the last six matches and all of them close. Hewitt will have the Australian crowd behind him if he can challenge it may make a difference to the sensitive Roddick. Roddick also leads in career money earnings...20 mil to 19 mil. Any serve and volley going on? Perhaps Michael Llodra dares to be different.