Pat Cash- “It's very hard to say who’s going to win the Australian Open. Nadal will come back strong, Federer’s always there, Murray’s got something to prove and then Del Potro’s probably the danger guy of the whole lot of them. So, one of those guys will win it.
- I think the next two new number ones will probably be Del Potro and Murray.”
Champions Picks - The Australian Open 2010
The new year begins with the first Grand Slam tournament of the year - the Australian Open - and the stars of the ATP Champions Tour will be watching with interest while preparing to compete themselves in Delray Beach and Zurich.
Stefan Edberg has been there and done it, winning the Australian Open twice in 1985 and 1987. The Swede will open his 2010 campaign on the ATP Champions Tour at the BNP Paribas Open in Zurich in March, but who does he think will conquer Melbourne?
Goran Ivanisevic will also play in Zurich, and while he didn't go all the way in Melbourne, he knows what it takes to win a Grand Slam title. So does Pat Rafter, who launches his ATP Champions Tour year at Delray Beach in February. Here, the Australian joins Edberg, Ivanisevic, Mark Philippoussis and Henri Leconte in predicting the men's singles champion at the 2010 Australian Open.
Goran Ivanisevic- “Wow. I have no idea. It’s going to be a very open Australian Open. Lets say Andy Murray. I don’t think it will be a big, big surprise, one of the five or six guys at the top. If it was to be a surprise, there is Davydenko who is always there and there are the two French guys, Gael Monfils and Jo Wilfried Tsonga. I also like Marin Cilic who is coming through strongly. But I will say Murray.”
Pat Rafter- “Ooh, I’m going to say Juan Martin Del Potro. He’ll definitely be in the mix there. But I don’t think he’s necessarily going to dominate all the Slams. I think Murray will win a Slam in 2010, I think Federer will probably also win one and then Del Potro as well so I think it will be a really mixed bag. I could be completely wrong about all that but you asked me for a prediction!”
Stefan Edberg- “I’m sticking with Roger Federer. That may be a little bit of a surprise but I think he’s got nothing to lose. He’s won so many Slams, he usually loves playing in Australia and he’s won there a few times before. There’s obviously Nadal, Del Potro, Murray and Djokovic as well who I see as a little bit of a dark horse for 2010. Even a guy like Robin Soderling. He can probably do some damage and win a Grand Slam.”
Mark Philippoussis- “I don’t think that Nadal will win it again. I think Juan Martin Del Potro is one who will be pushing for that event. Federer obviously also has a chance, and I also have a feeling that Murray is going to have a good run, but Del Potro for me.
- Del Potro is someone that you’d have to say is going towards that Number One spot.”
Henri Leconte- “I will go for Roger Federer. I think Roger is going to come back strong, and he’s going to work hard. He had a tough year last year - he won the French, he won Wimbledon and he became a father so at the end of the year he had to slow down a bit and be with his family. I hope he is going to be ready for the Australian Open. He doesn’t have anything to prove, except maybe to himself. I will go with Andy Murray as my second choice.”