Australian Open 2022: Heat and Upsets Like Usual.

Sorry for creating this thread so late. ESPN's coverage has been greatly reduced this year. ESPN's coverage isn't as good this year. They've reduced the hours of TV coverage, and are diverting matches to streams. Also, a lot of matches aren't even on ESPN3, they're on ESPN+. Which I don't have. I'm not signing up for a temporary subscription, because I'll then have to do this several times a year. It's going to suck if they do this for the other majors too. First of all, I don't want to leave a match that started on the DVR, to go to a stream. They used to show....

These were my predictions. Most of my Womens semifinalists are out.

All of my Men semifinalists are in.

Men's Draw:

Top 1/4: This is such a weird bracket, I don't think anyone has a good chance to make the 1/4. Can't see a standout player.

Maybe Berrettini.

Berrettini vs. Querrey quarters: Anything can happen with this kind of a draw. Berrettini in 4.

Zverev's Quarter:

Nadal vs. Zverev Quarter: Nadal in 4.

Tsitsipas' Quarter:

Tiafoe vs. Tsitsipas 4th round: Hopefully it's close, but this could be Tsitsipas in 3.

Tsitsipas to the SF.

Medvedev's Quarter:

Cilic vs. Rublev 3rd round: Hope for a comeback, Cilic in 3.

Cilic vs. Auger-Aliassime 4th round: Don't think Cilic can handle this. Auger-Aliassime in 3.

Isner vs. Medvedev 4th round: I know Isner doesn't do that well here. Plus this is a hard opponent. Medvedev in 3.

Auger-Aliassime vs. Medvedev QF: This might be one of the best matches. Medvedev in 5.

Berrettini vs. Nadal SF: Nadal in 3.

Tsitsipas vs. Medvedev SF: Rooting for Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas in 4.

Nadal vs. Tsitsipas Finals: Nadal in 3.

Women's Draw:

Osaka vs. Barty 4th round: Don't know why, Barty in 2.

Barty to the SF.

Second 1/4: I have no idea who is coming out of here.

Kevin vs. Azarenka QF: Rooting for the older player. Azarenka in 3.

Muguruza's QF:

Halep vs. Muguruza 4th round: I always pick Halep. Halep in 2.

Halep to the SF.

Sabalenka's QF:

Kerber vs. Kvitova QF: I think Kvitova wins this, Kvitova in 3.

Barty vs. Azarenka SF: I'll keep picking Azarenka, Azarenka in 3.

Halep vs. Kvitova SF: Kvitova in 2.

Azarenka vs. Kvitova Finals: Kvitova in 3.

Thanks for creating this nuraman- always enjoy talking tennis with you. Sucks about the ESPN issues- they really want people to get into signing up for ESPN+ streaming. Hope you're right about Nadal vs Berrettini in the SF- really hope Rafa can get that #21. That Djokovic situation is such a debacle for the guy that I've lost most respect for him. Too bad uger-Aliassime couldn't beat Medvedev.

Barty has been playing extremely well. I hope Keys can knock her off, but doubt it. Great job by the 2 American women in Keys & Collins making it into the semis though. It'd probably be a Barty vs Swiatek final.

What do you think about Kyrios/Kokkinakis so far? Man it's kind of hard to watch them play with all of Kyrios antics and taunting. The guy is so talented but so immature to the point that he should be fined or suspended for some of that stuff.

Congrats to Collins for making it to the Finals.

Great tense match so far.

Medvedev up 2 sets to love.

Are there still player challenges at the Australian Open? I don't remember any this tourney.

That was arguably the greatest match of Nadal's career. Hard to believe he hadn't come back from down 0 - 2 since 2007.

I paused it at the end of the 2nd set live this morning, and watched the rest today.

He looked like he was struggling to win most points in the first few sets, although he was up a break twice in the 2nd and lost it both times, then was up a break in the tiebreaker and lost that too.

This is another reason why I've liked the AO the best since 2012. Somehow, I think it just produces the best matches.

I liked how they brought a chair out again for the trophy ceremony, just like in 2012

I've never seen Nadal use drop shots this frequently, like he did for the second half of this match. I just don't remember another time when this was one of his main strategies.

Kind of weird that Nadal served to Medvedev's backhand so often in the second half, but it didn't seem to hurt him.

That was incredible for Nadal to comeback. Medvedev seemed to be in complete control. Just the heart and fight of a champion. Yeah that was interesting for Rafa with use those drop shots, but if properly executed it works because Medvedev is so far behind the baseline.

Congrats to Barty as well- she is pretty much playing like the female version of Roger Federer. That slice, the much improved serve, the inside-out or inside-in forehand.

Barty reminded me of Graf at times.

It's just interesting for Nadal to use drop shots, because he's rarely done that in his career. So for him to be willing to do it, and have confidence, is interesting.

I'd like to see an Osaka vs. Barty match.

Yes- now that you mention it. That would've been interesting Barty vs Osaka, but Barty did defeat all these power players so advantage Barty there IMO. She keeps playing like that she can win many more Grand Slams. Not sure about the French though.

Well Barty has already won the French.

USO is the one she hasn't won yet.