Oz Open: Nadal, Clijsters touted as favourites to win
By ANISunday, January 16, 2011
MELBOURNE - A majority of tennis veterans associated with the Australian Open have predicted that Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Belgian Kim Clijsters as the favourites to win this year’s Grand Slam in Melbourne, given their form of the past year, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Former champion Pat Cash said: “We can’t look past the top four - Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic. If Rafa (Nadal) settles, he will be tough to beat. Most years have found him struggling early in the year so.”
However, he believes that Federer and Kim Clijsters will emerge as winners this year.
John Fitzgerald said: “It’s very hard to go past the first two [Nadal and Federer]. It’s wide open in the women’s. Kim probably starts favourite.”
Former doubles great Wally Masur said: “I would like Rafael Nadal to win the men’s tournament. It would be an unbelievable story as he would hold all the four majors concurrently, but I have a feeling that Roger Federer has been stung into action. Federer is my slight favourite. Kim Clijsters is my favourite in the women’s.”
Scott Draper pitched for Nadal and Clijsters, while Nicole Pratt went for Federer and Clijsters.
Wayne Arthurs said that he saw Nadal determined to complete the slam, while in the women’s, he tipped Justine Henin to be the winner. (ANI)
