Andy Murray Vs Fernando Verdasco - 2nd Round - Australian Open 2007
As previously mentioned, Murray has met Verdasco (35) once before at a challenger back in 2003.
Verdasco was a straight sets winner on that occasion but you can expect things to go down a little differently tomorrow.
Murray is due out in the Vodafone Area third after two Women's matches. This means 2am (UK time) is the absolutely earliest you can expect, but sometime between 2:30 and 3:30 is a safer bet.
If you're a night owl then you should be able to catch this on British Eurosport or BBCi. I have work tomorrow, so I'll be finding out the result when I get up tomorrow - hopefully it'll be good news.
Here's a quick update on how the draw is progressing. My original predictions are in black and the updates are in red.
1st Round:
Andy Murray Vs Alberto Martin
This is their first meeting. Unless Murray gets off to a slow start anything less than a straight sets victory would be a surprise.
Got this one right, although I didn't expect it would be quite so comprehensive.
2nd Round:
Fernando Verdasco (35) or Paul-Henri Mathieu (47).
Murray played Verdasco in a challenger back in 2003. Verdasco won in straight sets, but thats hardly an indicator of how a re-match would play out. No idea who I'd prefer in this match-up. Neither would be a cinch, but with Murrays form there's no question he would be favourite.
Verdasco it is then.
3rd Round:
The seeded player for this section is Jarko Nieminen (18).
Murray won their match in last years Canada Master Series, two sets to one. This should be the first real test for Murray.
Nieminen is still in the draw - so this still looks likely.
4th Round:
Finally! This could be the tournament when Murray plays his first match against Nadal (2).
Nadal is carrying a slight injury which could favour Murray, but this would be a really exciting match-up.If Nadal's injury gets the better of him before the fourth round then Wawrinka (40) or Vliegen (37) could be the opposition.
No problems for Nadal so far. Wawrinka is still in the draw, but if Nadal doesn't get to the 4th round it would be a shock.
Qtr-Finals:
If Nadal does go out early then Murray could reach the Qtr-Finals without playing anyone ranked above him. This stage, however, could be James Blake (5), Lleyton Hewitt (19) or Fernando Gonzalez (9).
Murray has yet to play Blake, so this is a match I would like to see. Of course, a meeting with the home favourite Hewitt would also be a crowd pleaser.
Hewitt is making hard work of things and Blake is cruising. I'd go for Blake at this stage.
Semi-Finals:
64 possible opponents for Murray by this stage, but you'd expect it to be one of the top seeds.Davydenko (3), Nalbandian (8), Haas (12) or Berdych (13) are all possibilities.
Murray has yet to play Haas, but I'd prefer Nalbandian. It's about time Murray reversed THAT Wimbledon result.
All the above are still in the draw and, yes, I'm still routing for a Nalbandian match-up.
Final:
Take a wild guess. Don't let Roddick's victory in last weeks exhibition tournament fool you - this will be Federer (1) all the way.If by some miracle it's not Federer, then expect Roddick (7) or even last years runner-up, Baghdatis (11).
Federer is still the obvious choice, but no chance of meeting Baghdatis. He lost to Monfils in four sets today.
Verdasco was a straight sets winner on that occasion but you can expect things to go down a little differently tomorrow.
Murray is due out in the Vodafone Area third after two Women's matches. This means 2am (UK time) is the absolutely earliest you can expect, but sometime between 2:30 and 3:30 is a safer bet.
If you're a night owl then you should be able to catch this on British Eurosport or BBCi. I have work tomorrow, so I'll be finding out the result when I get up tomorrow - hopefully it'll be good news.
Here's a quick update on how the draw is progressing. My original predictions are in black and the updates are in red.
1st Round:
Andy Murray Vs Alberto Martin
This is their first meeting. Unless Murray gets off to a slow start anything less than a straight sets victory would be a surprise.
Got this one right, although I didn't expect it would be quite so comprehensive.
2nd Round:
Fernando Verdasco (35) or Paul-Henri Mathieu (47).
Murray played Verdasco in a challenger back in 2003. Verdasco won in straight sets, but thats hardly an indicator of how a re-match would play out. No idea who I'd prefer in this match-up. Neither would be a cinch, but with Murrays form there's no question he would be favourite.
Verdasco it is then.
3rd Round:
The seeded player for this section is Jarko Nieminen (18).
Murray won their match in last years Canada Master Series, two sets to one. This should be the first real test for Murray.
Nieminen is still in the draw - so this still looks likely.
4th Round:
Finally! This could be the tournament when Murray plays his first match against Nadal (2).
Nadal is carrying a slight injury which could favour Murray, but this would be a really exciting match-up.If Nadal's injury gets the better of him before the fourth round then Wawrinka (40) or Vliegen (37) could be the opposition.
No problems for Nadal so far. Wawrinka is still in the draw, but if Nadal doesn't get to the 4th round it would be a shock.
Qtr-Finals:
If Nadal does go out early then Murray could reach the Qtr-Finals without playing anyone ranked above him. This stage, however, could be James Blake (5), Lleyton Hewitt (19) or Fernando Gonzalez (9).
Murray has yet to play Blake, so this is a match I would like to see. Of course, a meeting with the home favourite Hewitt would also be a crowd pleaser.
Hewitt is making hard work of things and Blake is cruising. I'd go for Blake at this stage.
Semi-Finals:
64 possible opponents for Murray by this stage, but you'd expect it to be one of the top seeds.Davydenko (3), Nalbandian (8), Haas (12) or Berdych (13) are all possibilities.
Murray has yet to play Haas, but I'd prefer Nalbandian. It's about time Murray reversed THAT Wimbledon result.
All the above are still in the draw and, yes, I'm still routing for a Nalbandian match-up.
Final:
Take a wild guess. Don't let Roddick's victory in last weeks exhibition tournament fool you - this will be Federer (1) all the way.If by some miracle it's not Federer, then expect Roddick (7) or even last years runner-up, Baghdatis (11).
Federer is still the obvious choice, but no chance of meeting Baghdatis. He lost to Monfils in four sets today.
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