The women’s champion was less surprising, in the form of the now retired Li Na.
With this year’s opening grand slam starting Monday, here are seven things to watch as the tennis season bursts into life.
Rafa’s comeback
If Rafael Nadal wins in Melbourne, he might cherish his second title more than his first.
That’s because after beating Roger Federer in a thrilling five-set final in 2009, Melbourne Park has been less than kind to the 14-time grand slam champion on the health front.
Check out this list: In 2010 he retired with a knee injury, a year later he suffered a hamstring injury in his quarterfinal and last year a back problem surfaced while warming up for the final.
It was the clear turning point and Wawrinka took advantage. It was his long-time rival Federer who wept after losing to Nadal in 2009 , but it was the Spaniard’s turn to cry in 2014.
Nadal hasn’t competed at a grand slam since Wimbledon, having skipped the U.S. Open with a wrist complaint, and his buildup has been marred by two bad losses in the Middle East.
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A high-profile home hope
Who is the top Australian hope?
The rankings will tell you it’s Samantha Stosur, who like Del Potro is a U.S. Open winner. She’s the world No. 20 on the women’s tour.
But Stosur has never really flourished at the Australian Open, and she hasn’t been shy to admit that nerves have been a huge factor. Only once since 2007 has Stosur — armed with arguably the best second serve in the women’s game — exceeded the third round.
Australians are probably banking on Nick Kyrgios, the athletic 19-year-old who stunned Nadal at Wimbledon, to have an extended run.
Kyrgios chose to take a break in September, saying he was “burnt out,” and injuries have crept up. He missed the Hopman Cup with a sore back. So expecting too much from Kyrgios may be a mistake.
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