Dark Horses of Australian Open 2017

We are just few days away from the first Grand Slam of the year ,The Australian Open and already the top tennis players  sweat it out in ATP 250 tournaments held in Chennai, Brisbane,Doha  and also in Hopman Cup. While we saw players like Novak Djokovic , Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori   started the season well  where as other players like Rafael Nadal,Stan Wawrinka ,Marin Cilic and Roger Federer  looked to regain their form just few week before the first Grand Slam of the Year.

Here is the Preview of the dark horses who can trouble the top ranked players in Australian Open in Melbourne Park.

Rafael Nadal-

The Fourteen time Grand Slam Champion, Rafael Nadal had a tough last two years in ATP tour with consistent wrist problems and also form which saw him drop down to World Number 9.But still Rafael Nadal start as one of the dark horses and also one of the players which any top player will like to avoid. Rafael Nadal had shown shades of brilliance in Brisbane where he lost to Raonic in tough three setter. By getting many match practice and avoiding injury Rafael Nadal has every chance of reaching the second week of the Championship and may be winning it.

Roger Federer-

Just like Nadal, Roger Federer comes into this year’s  Championship just from career threatening knee surgery which saw him drop out of top 10 for the first since 2002.With age catching up and lack of match practice , many people counting Federer out. But still the current top 10 will be eagerly want not to be drawn with Federer in early rounds. The Seventeen times Grand Slam Champion has nothing to lose and can use all his experience to trouble the likes Thiem, Nishikori, Raonic and even Andy Murray who he had defeated in the past. But again, the main question Has Roger  got what it takes to win his 18^th Grand Slam?

Juan Martin Del Potro- 

One of the exhilarating stories of last year was the emergence of Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro to the tennis after suffering from wrist injury which took two years of tennis from him. The Argentine made an immediate Statement when he defeated Stan Wawrinka in Wimbledon and then defeated Novak Djokovic in the first round and Rafael Nadal in the Semifinal of the Rio Olympics. He also defeated Andy Murray in the Davis Cup playing for Argentina in a gruelling five setter and played a huge part for Argentina in winning the Davis Cup where he defeated Marin Cilic. With the tremendous crowd support and never say die attitude, he starts as one of the biggest dark horse who can trouble even the best in the world and all the top ranked player will look to avoid Del Potro in the Australian Open.

Grigor Dimitrov-

The 25 year Bulgarian had a tremendous start to the 2017 season in the Brisbane International Open where he won his first ATP title since 2014.The most impressive part of his play was the way he defeated Milos Raonic in two sets and then defeating Kei Nishikori in the finals in three sets. Dimitrov, once considered as one of the biggest talent along with Nishikori and Raonic, but consistent loss of form in last two season questioned many about his talent. Hopefully   Dimitrov carry his good form to the Australian Open and becomes  one of the dark horse to win the Australian Open.

Also read this article-AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2017-PREVIEW