The Djokovic Section: My Personal Favorite

Though the other sections may have more star-power or intrigue, my favorite section of the draw is the Djokovic Section because they put just about every player that I enjoy watching in the same section.

EARLY ROUNDS:
Djokovic (3)
Becker
Ram
Bolelli
Though he drew B. Becker from Germany in the Opening Round, Benjamin is no Boris.  Becker’s highlight of his career was defeating Andre Agassi in his last ever professional match.  It should remain the highlight, as Djokovic begins what should be a phenomenal year for this incredible talent.

Querrey
Rochus
Malisse
Tursunov (32)
Though I think Tursunov and Malisse are the 2 best players of these four, I am picking Olivier Rochus to make it to the 3rd Round because the Tursunov-Malisse match might be a war, and Rochus should breeze by the young American, Sam Querrey, thus giving him more of a chance to rest going into the 2nd Round match.

Hewitt (19)
Darcis
Istomin
Lacko
My all-time favorite athlete, in any sport, is Lleyton Hewitt.  I absolutely LOVE watching him play and root for him as hard as I root for the Eagles or Phillies.  And, I couldn’t be more happy with his early draw.  None of the above players will even give Hewitt a match (especially in his native Australia), which means he should be completely rested going into his first test.  (Don’t worry, there should be plenty more on Lleyton Hewitt as long as I am still writing for BSB.)

Gulbis
Safin
Johansson
Baghdatis (15)
Another example of why I love this section so much.  Marat Safin and Marcos Baghdatis are two of my favorite players on tour and I would love to see them duke it out in Round 2.  However, Baghdatis better bring his game in Round 1 because Thomas Johansson has been a force on the tour (ranked as high as #7) and is one of only 3 players in the field that has actually won this tournament (2002).  Because of this brutal first-round matchup for either Johansson or Baghdatis, I think Safin (the other non-Federer player in the draw to have won this tournament) will be in better shape to move on to Round 3.  It is unbelievable that, though there are only three players in this draw that have won this title before, 15th-seeded Marcos Baghdatis will probably have to beat TWO of them just to reach the 3rd round!  I like Safin to advance.

Nalbandian (10)
Smeets
Zabaleta
Luczak
David Nalbandian is another one of my favorite players on tour and, despite a pretty solid Zabaleta in the 2nd round, should have no trouble moving on to Round 3.

Jones
Montanes
Kiefer
Ferrero (22)
I know this is getting crazy, but I love watching Juan-Carlos Ferrero play and he, too, is in this draw.  Though Nicolas Kiefer is a grizzled veteran, Ferrero is in the best shape he has been in since a rash of injuries has hobbled him in the past 3 or 4 years.  Ferrero should advance.

Stepanek (30)
Spadea
Gremelmayr
Roitman
This is really going out on a limb, but I like Vincent Spadea not only to beat 30th-seeded Radek Stepanek, but to move on again and reach Round 3.  Spadea is a wily veteran, who is playing in his 11th Australian Open.  Either way, that first-round matchup with Stepanek is one of the most intriguing first-round matchups.

Ventura
Del Potro
Roger-Vasselin
Ferrer (5)
And just when you were getting tired of me saying how much I loved this section, we come to the “Next Lleyton Hewitt.”  With Hewitt getting older and his skills are deteriorating, I needed someone to whom he could pass the torch and become my tennis rooting interest.  Well, David Ferrer (whose game strongly resembles Hewitt’s in his prime) is the guy.  I will be rooting hard for Ferrer, as he should cruise through the first two rounds.

ROUND 3:
Djokovic (3) over Rochus
No problem for Novak, as he should reach the Round of 16 without even being threatened of dropping a set.

Hewitt (19) over Safin
Probably my most anticipated match of the 3rd Round, regardless of whether it’s Safin, Baghdatis or even Johansson.  This should be a war, but Hewitt always seems to do well against Safin because he gets quickly frustrated by Lleyton’s quickness.  Baghdatis, on the other hand, probably has a better chance to beat Lleyton when all is equal, but he should be coming off wars with Johansson and Safin, whereas Hewitt should cruise to this round.  Regardless, I like the Aussie to advance to the Round of 16 in front of his home fans.

Nalbandian (10) over Ferrero (22)
In another match that I can’t wait to watch, I think David Nalbadian should edge Ferrero, strictly on fitness.  Expect 5 hard-fought, brutal sets, but Nalbandian just may be in better shape at this point in their careers.

Ferrer (5) over Spadea
Ferrer should cruise through this round as well, even if it is Stepanek.  A relatively easy trip to the Round of 16 is exactly what David Ferrer is looking for to go after his first Grand Slam title.

ROUND OF 16 QUALIFIERS FROM THIS SECTION:
Djokovic (3)
Hewitt (19)
Nalbandian (10)
Ferrer (5)