The Nadal Section: Heading Towards a Showdown

The intrigue in this section is probably going to be delayed a week or so.  There are two big guns at the top and bottom of the section and then a whole lot of road bumps on the way to a possible Roddick-Nadal quarterfinal.

EARLY ROUNDS:
Roddick (6)
Diouhy
Young
Berrer
Watch out for the 19-year old American Donald Young.  The Atlanta native who is the first of probably a wave of inner-city African-Americans who watched the Williams sisters their whole lives and are ready to burst onto the American tennis scene.  Young is incredibly gifted and ready for the big-time.  Unfortunately, he draws Roddick in Round 2…oh, that and he’s only 19.

Korolev
Granollers-Pujol
Karanusic
Kohlschreiber (29)
There is a real stir about Philipp Kohlschreiber, coming off his performance in Auckland.  Because of this hype and the fact that I know absolutely nothing about any of the other three players in this portion, I expect Kohlschreiber to cruise through on to Round 3.

Nieminen (24)
Dancevic
Levine
Vassallo Arguello
Jarkko Nieminen has been around long enough to know how to get through the players he is supposed to beat.  Don’t expect an upset in either of his first two round matches.

Fish
Pashanski
Zverev
Roberdo (11)
You always have to root for Mardy Fish because of his demeanor and how much he loves the game of tennis.  However, Tommy Robredo is just a whole lot better at it and should move on.

Moya (16)
Koubek
Horna
Calleri
How much longer can Carlos Moya prolong this “rejuvenation.”  The former world’s #1 has no made a comeback longer and better than most people would have expected.  However, you have to think that he will eventually actually show his age and the miles on that body will take their toll.  But, until I see it, I will continue to believe in Carlos Moya and his “Spanish Courage.”

Capdeville
Klein
Hanescu
Mathieu (23)
The French tennis revolution should continue on schedule, as I don’t see anyone capable of upsetting Paul-Henri Mathieu in either of the first two rounds.

Simon (28)
Reynolds
Clement
Schuettler
A couple more Frenchman will be on display in this grouping.  The young gun, Giles Simon and the old veteran, Arnaud Clement.  However, I like the German, Rainer Schuettler, to crash the party, beat both of the Frenchman (young and old) and make it out of this grouping.

Serra
Mayer
Troicki
Nadal (2)
With my patented courage, I am picking Rafael Nadal not only to get out of Round 1, but also to advance through Round 2.  The surprises never end, huh?

ROUND 3:
Roddick (6) over Kohlschreiber (29)
As well as this Kohlschreiber may be playing and as vulnerable as Andy Roddick always is in Australia, I just think that Roddick has matured enough to avoid the Down Under Upset that seems to plague him every January.  I like Roddick to advance to the Round of 16.

Robredo (11) over Nieminen (24)
I credited Nieminen’s experience with his avoiding the early round upset, and now I credit his “experience” for his rolling over against Tommy Robredo.  The younger, faster, better Robredo should advance to the Round of 16.

Moya (16) over Mathieu (23)
Again, until I see some sign of age on Carlos Moya, I will continue to believe that he is on his way back to prominence.  I look for Moya to move past Mathieu, in a hard fought 3rd Round match.

Nadal (2) over Schuettler
As much as I like Rainer Schuettler, Rafa should have no problems here.

ROUND OF 16 QUALIFIERS FROM THIS SECTION:
Roddick (6)
Robredo (11)
Moya (16)
Nadal (2)