[TICKLE_ME_ELMO]

Originally Posted by yerwanthere123

Very odd indeed.

I bet Andy is secretly delighted though

I don't know, it means he'll probably slip down the rankings a bit, could be a QF opponent for one of the top 3 at RG! Not what any of them would want, I'm sure.

There's lots of speculation flying around that he's using the virus as an excuse, that he's trying to avoid playing on hard courts at all anymore, that he won't actually come back until clay season, etc. etc. But sure that would mean pretty much playing for a little over a month then having to try to get out of the post Wimbledon swing too.

EDIT: Apparently today is like the Spanish equivalent of April Fools Day, or something, so a lot of things coming out of Spain today are to be taken with a pinch of salt. However, Rafa called a presser and it's been confirmed by the Aus Open themselves, so this one looks legit.

[wadacrack]

Im pretty confident andy murray will win one or maybe two grand slams this year. Maybe he can avenge his Wimbleton defeat of last year. He may start off the yaer slowly imo due to the heights of last year

[RosyLily]

I think Nadal will drop out of the top 4 now that he'll miss Australian Open. First time since 2005 apparently! If he defends his clay season points and stays No.4 for Roland Garros he could be a SF opponent for Djokovic or Federer (if their ranking stays the same).

Makes sense not to come back until the clay court season imo; the surface would be softer on his knees.

[yerwanthere123]

Dunno if people have seen the ads or not, but it looks like Eurosport will be showing WTA tennis this year after all. They've been advertising the impending coverage as "all season long", so it's looking good

Also, Brisbane draw is out! A packed field, it should be a really good week of tennis. That was a really short off season

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Br...en%27s_Singles

[TICKLE_ME_ELMO]

Good win for Tomic over Haas in the Hopman Cup. Haas was up 6-1 in first set TB, lost it. Then up a break in the 3rd, served for the match, got broken, then got broken while serving to stay in it!
Quite a thing to choke against Tomic who spent most of last year making no effort what so ever.

Sad news for Andrea Petkovic though who had to retire from her match at Hopman Cup with a knee injury. Poor girl just has the worst luck. Hope it's nothing too serious, it's been almost a full year now since she played properly.

[RosyLily]

Petko looked so promising at the U.S. Open in 2011 then just got a horrid string of injuries. What crappy luck!! Hope the scan on her knee is clear and she can climb back up the rankings in 2013.

Andy Murray will be awarded an OBE in the New Year for his services to tennis. If he wins Wimbledon in the future, I'm sure he'll nab a knighthood.

[Rjd2]

Originally Posted by RosyLily

Andy Murray will be awarded an OBE in the New Year for his services to tennis. If he wins Wimbledon in the future, I'm sure he'll nab a knighthood.

And maybe even more important than that, BBC Sports personality of the year

[TICKLE_ME_ELMO]

Edit: Just noticed the 2013 In Between... thread.