18 January 2019

Your Grand Slam predictions and our Australian Open update!

Last week we asked you for your 2019 Grand Slam predictions. Here, with a recap of what's been going on in the Austalian Open, is what you said!

The Grand Slam winners of 2019 have been up for discussion this week with Andre Agassi tipping Novak Djokovic to surpass Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slams, starting with a win at the Australian Open, whereas Federer now believes Rafael Nadal is the favourite for the majors this year, including what would be an 18th Grand Slam title for the Spaniard in Melbourne.

Your AO picksLast week we asked you to predict your Grand Slam champions for this year and with 63% and 43% of the votes, Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber were your favourites for the Australian Open crown. We take a look at how your picks are faring so far...

It’s been a drama-free passage for your top choices up until now, with both Djokovic and Kerber cruising past their opponents to reach the third and fourth round respectively. The same can’t be said for defending women's champion Caroline Wozniacki, who became the first big name casualty on the women’s side of the draw, losing to a resurgent Maria Sharapova in a thrilling three setter in the third round. Roger Federer however continues his title defence and looks to be in imperious form on his quest for his 100th title. 

Also on the men's side, no.5 seed Kevin Anderson and no.7 seed Dominic Thiem are out, while unseeded Tomas Berdych, who beat Kyle Edmund in the first round, is making strides through the draw on his return from injury. It has been a tough and eventful week for the British players with all eight in the main singles draw out after the second round. Elsewhere in the action: 

  • Andy Murray put up an incredible fight in his epic five set defeat to Roberto Bautista Agut in possibly the final match of his career 
  • Katie Boulter forgot the rules in the first final set tiebreak at the Australian Open, celebrating when she reached seven points, but composed herself to make it through to the second round. 
  • Roger Federer described his match against Dan Evans as 'like playing myself in the mirror' after their second round encounter
  • Johanna Konta was knocked out by Murguruza in the latest match to ever start at the Australian Open.  The players finally left the court at 3:12am. 
  • There remains British interest in the doubles, and on Saturday British pair Luke Bambridge and Jonny O’Mara take on fellow Brit Jamie Murray and his Brazilian partner Bruno Soares in the second round. 

And what about your picks for the other three Grand Slams? 

French Open

Rafael Nadal (71% of votes) &  Simona Halep (60% of votes) 

Wimbledon

Roger Federer (60% of votes) & Serena Williams (55% of votes)

US Open

Novak Djokovic (40% of votes) & Naomi Osaka  (35% of votes) 

We'll check back with you after the US Open and see who, if anyone, got all the predictions right!