I am excited. I have not been this excited for a long time and I am sure so are a lot of tennis followers.  

The landscape is changing.

Picture this: the world number 1 is not Federer.

The defending champion is not Federer.

The championship favorite is not Federer.

The in-form player is not Federer.

And what do you see: The promise of a rich serving of scintillating tennis.

That is what is going on down under.

Not since the coronation of King Roger, have tennis followers have it so good (in viewing terms) and personally, I am very excited and can’t wait for next week when the going will get even tougher.  He held court for 273 weeks until the seemingly indefatigable Rafa wrestled the crown off his head, but he paid a heavy, heavy price for it. 

Ok, what do we have at the moment:  Rafael Nadal as Numero uno in the world.  Djokovic as the defending champion, Andy Murray as the inform player and championship favourite (at least by pundits and book makers), in my opinion based only on his results against the top 2 in the world.  Is that enough to make him favorite?  Well, I’ll leave you and time to answer that.

But for me the most interesting thing is that the former king is actually rattled, and so is the defending champion. This is very unusual, not even Rafa, while quietly sitting behind the throne forever and constantly harassing Roger was he ever really ruffled.  But No, not this time.  And why: The flying Scotsman: Andy Murray has got his number.  I tell you what: he has a good reason to be: The last six times they have met, Murray has won 5 times. These are very worrying for times for Roger indeed. 

Enough on those 4 though, because waiting in the wings, are the face of the future of men’s tennis and runner up last year: Wilfred Tsonga. 

Nadal’s conqueror in the heat of Abu Dhabi, Gils Monfils.

The powerhouse from Chile (beaten finalist): Gonzales.

The smiling Cypriot assassin, (beaten finalist): Bhagdatis and a few others like Roddick (who can serve anyone off court on a good day, which does not come often).

I would gladly go with the bookmakers here and tip Murray as a potential winner, but only if he was not billed to meet Wilfred Tsonga.  Tsonga is the only one amongst all those mentioned that has the key to unlock his game.

Who is Next?

Let me know what you think?

The same is happening in the women’s game where there is no longer any dominant force to reckon with.  Where the title of number one in the world is like playing the game of musical chairs, I can’t keep track anymore.  

The current chair person: Jankovic has been fully exposed and double handed out of the competition, by Bartoli. The former number one Ivanovic was dumped out by Klevbanova (who? no disrespect) and 2 times winner Venus Williams errored her way back to the states.  So what are we left with: another Russian invasion? Come back kid: Dokic and in my opinion a potential winner: Dinara Safina.  I am sure you are wondering why I am not going for Serena, which I would have done under normal circumstances, but the circumstances are nowhere near normal anymore. I don’t think she plays enough tennis and like in all sports, you pay the price.  However, I would love for her to surprise me (again).

At the end of the competition, no one is sure who will be the women’s number 1, or who will win the men’s trophy. If Roger does not win it this time NOW, then I am afraid he will be stuck on unlucky 13.  However, one thing is certain: Slowly, but surely the World Tennis landscape is changing.