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2010 Season Kicks Off

January 5, 2010

Happy New Year! That little 4 week break is over and the 2010 tennis season is upon us. Rafael Nadal got a win in Abu Dhabi, I know it’s an exhibition, but still his first victory in 8 months had to feel good for the confidence. Fed and Nadal headline a Doha event this week that is fairly low on depth. It would be cool to see a Fed Nadal final, it’s been awhile!

Didn’t take Henin very long to announce her presence back on the WTA tour in Brisbane, as she took out Petrova. Henin said she was a little rusty, which is maybe an ominous sign for the rest of the women as she had little difficulty dispatching a top 20 player. Maybe its just me, but it throws these tournaments a little out of whack when players like Henin and Clijsters come back and aren’t seeded, if it was me I would give Henin a top 4 seed in all upcoming tournaments to make the draws more even.

Andy Roddick, at the same event in Brisbane, in his first match back in about three months, said the knee felt fine in his first round win, and getting some matches under his belt will do him a world of good getting ready for the OZ Open.

Ryan Harrison, young 17 year old American who trains at Nick’s, won the wild-card event to get a spot in the main draw of the OZ open, beating Donald Young and Lil Scrapper Jesse Levine to win the title. Hes 6’1’’, 170, but packs a very big game with a bright future. He comes into 2010 ranked #362, and I think he will easily break into the top hundred by year’s end. Interestingly, no teenager in ‘09 finished in the top hundred for the first time in seven years. But I definitely think Harrison will change that this year. I think it could be a really good year for young American men and women, at least better than it has been in the last few.

Along with Harrison, Querrey, Isner and Oudin should all continue to improve, and I would love to see a breakthrough from one of these players at the Oz Open. T-13 days to the OZ Open, can’t wait!