Now a tradition of the Australian summer, this week sees the return of the Australian Open playoff with 16 of Australia’s best players competing for a spot in the first Grand Slam of the year.
On offer to the winner of the AO playoff is a lucrative wildcard into the Australian Open and the opportunity to compete in Sydney without being tied down to qualifying in the second week of the new year.
Unlike the women’s field, the men’s field isn’t as strong as in previous years after a strong season on the ATP tour for many of Australia’s stars.
Four men have already qualified for the first Grand Slam of the year with Bernard Tomic, Lleyton Hewitt, Marinko Matosevic and Matthew Ebden already in the main draw for the event.
Nick Kyrgios, James Duckworth and Sam Groth – the respective number five to seven in Australia – also opted not to compete in the event.
Kyrgios is still suffering from a niggling elbow injury he suffered in the United States and was advised not to compete.
Duckworth didn’t compete last year and after his heroics in the Australian Open this year – losing to Blaz Kavcic in five epic sets in Round 2 – he should gain a wildcard.
Groth has decided to train more after a long season which only finished a few weeks ago at the ATP Challenger event in Toyota.
If I’m honest, all three players will probably gain a wildcard for the Australian Open, based on their performances this year.
Australian number eight, John Millman, is also out with a shoulder injury and there is severe doubt over his Australian summer campaign.
Young South Australian, Thanasi Kokkinakis, is also out of the event as he is in the United States training with Sam Querrey and Tommy Haas in preparation for a big tilt at the Australian summer.
From that, the field suffers with the Australian number nine, John-Patrick Smith, the number one seed for the event.
He is one of the favourites for the event with last year’s winner, Ben Mitchell, also in strong contention for the wildcard into the Australian Open.
Last year the Queenslander defeated Matt Reid in the final – in four sets – to claim his first AO Playoff title.
Reid is also involved in this week’s playoff and will capitalise if Mitchell and Smith fail to fire this week.
These three players are the only ones to compete at Grand Slam main draw level but Mitchell and Smith are the only two to compete at the Australian Open.
Smith has the easiest of the draws with the Queenslander only likely to face either Reid or Mitchell in the final, if both of them make it.
Awaiting Smith though will be a tough challenger with young Marc Polmans to be his round 1 opponent.
The 16 year old represented Australia at the recent Junior Davis Cup and has made the 2nd round of two ITF pro events in Australia this year.
He’ll be competitive against Smith but question marks are raised over whether the youngster can survive five sets.
For the second year, the AO Playoff is five set matches, in order to make the players prepared for potential Grand Slam matches in the future.
This will test all the players, and at some time throughout the event, it will force players to be eliminated from the event.
If Smith gets past Polmans – which I expect he will – he will face a quarter final against Dane Propoggia or Gavin Van Peperzeel.
Smith hasn’t played either of those players but he should do enough to make the semi-finals of the event with ease.
The other half of Smith’s draw looks very interesting with up to three players capable of making the semi-final.
Headlining the opening round of matches is the battle between Jordan Thompson and Blake Mott.
The two New South Welshmen have had stellar seasons on the ATP circuit.
12 months ago, Jordan Thompson didn’t have an ATP ranking, and was bundled out of the under 18’s with 3 straight losses.
The 19 year old is now ranked 315 in the world and has won two ITF events this year.
Looking to stop him will be Blake Mott, who has also risen in the rankings this year.
A quarter finalist at the Melbourne Challenger, the 17 year old has slashed his ranking by over 900 spots this year.
The two have met already this year with Blake Mott the victor at the Melbourne Challenger in three tough sets.
This re-match has five sets written all over it and I couldn’t pick the winner. It will be close.
Awaiting one of these two in the quarter final will be either Alex Bolt or Oliver Anderson.
Another consistent year for Alex Bolt has seen him maintain a place in the top 400 in the world.
He will face a challenge in Oliver Anderson but he should defeat him in three or four sets.
Alex Bolt is a dark horse for the event.
He has the talent to trouble most of these players but whether his mentality can survive these matches is another question entirely.
If Thompson and Mott play five sets, and make themselves exhausted for their next match, then Bolt can take advantage of that.
He then faces Smith and anything could happen against him.
The other side of the draw looks to be between Ben Mitchell and Matt Reid, who could meet in the semi-final.
Mitchell faces Harry Bourchier in the opening round and will be heavily favoured to win the match.
Bourchier was the runner-up in the recent under 18 championships and will be looking to impress on the big stage.
Mitchell shouldn’t have too many problems though and faces a likely meeting with Andrew Whittington in the quarter final.
Whittington, who has won two ITF titles this year, faces 15 year old Max Purcell in the opening round.
It’s an incredible effort for Purcell to be invited for the tournament with the youngster impressing last week in the under 18’s.
He was even listed to compete in the under 16’s this week.
Whittington though will comfortably beat him and set up a big clash with Ben Mitchell.
Mitchell has won both clashes between the two in head to head meetings. While Whittington has improved immensely this year, Mitchell should still beat him in four or five sets.
The other side of the draw is interesting with Matt Reid to face young Queenslander Akira Santillan in the opening round.
Santillan competed at the recent Junior Davis Cup and was a semi-finalist at the under 18 championship last week.
Reid should have no problems with Santillan but does have a habit of making things difficult for himself in the opening few rounds of the AO Playoff.
Last year he required five sets to win his opening round match against Jacob Grills.
Reid faces a potential re-match with Luke Saville, who he faced in the 2012 edition.
Saville faces fellow South Australian, Brad Mousley, in the opening round of the event.
Mousley won the under 18 championships and is half a chance against his fellow Croweater.
While Saville has improved in the last few months – including a win at the Sydney ITF event – he has struggled to find consistency in 2013.
Mousley could capitalise on that after gaining a good week of tennis on the same courts which will be used for the event.
I predict this match will be a four or five set match with Saville to just defeat his fellow South Australian.
Saville will then look to reverse the result in 2012 against Reid when he lost in straight sets to the New South Welshmen.
Overall I believe the semi-finals will be John-Patrick Smith v Alex Bolt and Ben Mitchell v Matt Reid.
The playoffs look almost identical to the 2012 edition and I can see Mitchell repeating his performance from last year.
He has the best form coming into the event and has a great record against those he could compete against.
Mitchell will win his second successive AO Playoff and make the main draw of the Australian Open for the third time in a row.
Australian Open Men’s Playoff Draw:
1 – John Patrick Smith v Marc Polmans
2 – Matt Reid v Akira Santillan
3 – Ben Mitchell v Harry Bourchier
4 – Jordan Thompson v Blake Mott
5 – Alex Bolt v Oliver Anderson
6 – Andrew Whittington v Max Purcell
7 – Dane Propoggia v Gavin Van Peperzeel
8 – Luke Saville v Bradley Mousley
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Former Wimbledon champion, double grand slam winner and Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 30.…
Rafael Nadal has hailed the brilliance of Alex de Minaur, calling him "a great player" after the Australian forced the Spanish legend to say…
The clay season promises to be one of high level and tight margins. With the Monte Carlo open just around the corner, it will…
In incredible scenes, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells was halted abruptly due to a "bee invasion." Less…
Marathon man Jordan Thompson has finally clinched his first ATP Tour title, with the Australian upsetting Norwegian Casper Ruud to lift the trophy in…
Alex de Minaur has earned the perfect 25th birthday present, booking a place in the final of the Rotterdam Open with an emphatic revenge…
