Predicted Winners in BOLD

Leonardo Mayer (ARG) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [2] – Mayer is a good player, but the four-time Australian Open champion is not going to lose this one.  Nole advances.

Matthew Ebden (AUS) vs. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) [28] – An intriguing match-up, but I like Pospisil’s upside in 2014.  I think a solid start keeps his momentum rolling and his ranking rising.

Tomas Berdych (CZE) [7] vs. Kenny De Schepper (FRA) – The Big Czech should advance.

Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs. David Ferrer (ESP) [3] – If the heat makes fitness an issue, Ferrer may benefit more than any other player.

Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) [23] – My head says Gulbis, but even for a non-jingoistic person such as myself it is hard to see how much US men’s tennis has fallen.  This pick is based on hope of a US player in the round of 32.

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) [8] vs. Alejandro Falla (COL) – Falla is a tricky opponent for most players and could be for Stan.  Still, Wawrinka seems to be in a new phase of his career.  I think Stan has a good run down under.

Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA) [9] – Based on my old Gasquet rule, I would have to take Davydenko.  I think Gasquet gets through, but this match is hard to predict as both guys have thrown some clunkers out there over the years.

Tommy Robredo (ESP) [17] vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA) – 50-50 match to my mind.  Robredo is fit and professional.  Over 5 sets, that may be the difference.

Pablo Andujar (ESP) vs. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) [20] – I love Andjuar.  JJ showed a lot of guts in coming back from 2 sets down.  If Jerzy plays well, he wins.  The match is on his racquet.  I think the big man handles that pressure well enough to advance.

Fabio Fognini (ITA) [15] vs. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) – Fabio quit on his match in Cincinnati last summer and that makes me hesitate a bit. Still, the age gap has to make Fognini the favorite here.

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) [29] vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) – Chardy played well in Brisbane and could easily win this match.  Still, he is defending points from last year, and that pressure may make him play tight.  Dolgopolov, who knows?  He has done well in Melbourne so I will take him as the ever so slight favorite.

Kevin Anderson (RSA) [19] vs. Dominic Thiem (AUT) – Anderson, like Janowicz had to dig deep to reach the second round.  I think that helps him to advance here.

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) [14] vs. Florian Mayer (GER) – Mayer in a mild upset.  I just hope Youzhny does not bloody himself.

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) [30] vs. Denis Istomin (UZB) – Russia is not going to love my last two picks, but I think Tursunov is the underdog here despite the computer ranking.

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) vs. Ivan Dodig (CRO) [32] – Dodig is a solid player.

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) – I liked what I saw out of Lopez in person.  I think this could go either way, but I will go with the player I have seen more of in this prediction.