Tournament Preview: Australian Open 12 - 29 January 2006

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2006 - BRING IT ON!

The weather isn't the only thing that's hot at the moment: it's January in Australia and that can only mean one thing...the 
Australian Open! The culmination of the Australian tennis swing, this Grand Slam tournament makes up the first cornerstone 
of the tennis season along with the French Open in May, Wimbledon in June and the US Open in September. There is rarely 
anything better in tennis than a Grand Slam event with its multicultural flavour. The Australian Open is renowned for its 
party atmosphere and people from all over the world flock down to Melbourne to escape the cold northern hemisphere Winter 
and soak up the Aussie sun. 

Last year saw Russia's Marat Safin finally win his second Grand Slam title after reaching the final in Melbourne on two 
previous occasions in 2002 and 2004, losing to Thomas Johansson and Roger Federer respectively. In 2005 he was up against 
Australia's Lleyton Hewitt after defeating Federer in a thrilling semifinal where he faced match points and eventually won 
9-7 in the fifth set. Playing Hewitt in the final, he was up against not only one of the most feisty, tenacious players on 
the tour, he was up against a whole nation who wanted their man to win. However, a flagging Hewitt had run out of gas and 
Safin, after a shaky start, was finally able to triumph in 4 sets. 

This year, Safin's participation is in doubt due to a knee injury he has been suffering since mid-2005 which sidelined him 
for the rest of the season and also forced him out of his usual pre-Australian Open preparation at the Hopman Cup in Perth 
a few weeks ago. Another top player in doubt is Spanish teen, Rafael Nadal. The world number 2 who had a stellar 2005 
season, which included winning the French Open, has been suffering an ankle injury since October. He was forced to pull out 
of the Chennai tournament in early January and remains in doubt of playing in Melbourne. After his 2 memorable matches 
against Hewitt at the Open in 2004 and 2005, Australians have a soft spot for Nadal, and it would be a shame if he is 
missing in 2006. World Number 1 and 2004 champion, Roger Federer, will, however, be back in Australia, a country he holds 
very dear, given his previous mentor, the late Peter Carter, and current coach, Tony Roche. Australian favourite, Lleyton 
Hewitt, will be raring to go at his home Slam and hoping to go one step better than last year now that he has wife Bec and 
baby daughter Mia Rebecca by his side. Andy Roddick also has possibilities to do well here, with his best performance being 
the semifinals. In 2006 there will also be new challengers such as Nikolay Davydenko and Ivan Ljubicic, both of whom broke 
into the top 10 for the first time in 2005; David Nalbandian, a consistent performer at Grand Slams who beat Federer in the 
final of the Masters Cup in Shanghai in November; Robby Ginepri, who had a breakthrough US Summer season which culminated 
in a semifinals appearance at the US Open and rising Spaniard, David Ferrer, who reached the top 20 for the first time in 
2005. Grand Slams are also a chance to see rising stars develop and at the 2006 Australian Open, it is fair to say there 
will be many people paying attention to newcomers such as world number 17, Richard Gasquet; Paris Masters champion, Tomas 
Berdych; France's Gaël Monfils; exciting Cypriot, Marcos Baghdatis, who reached the 4th round here last year; promising 
Brit, Andy Murray and Serb, Novak Djokovic. 

All the action takes place at Melbourne Park, Australia's premier sporting complex, which houses 2 world class arenas: Rod 
Laver Arena, seating 15 000 and Vodafone Arena, seating 10 500, both with retractable roofs in the case of rain or 
excessive heat. Tickets may be purchased online through Ticketek. There are various tickets available, one of the most 
common being Rod Laver Arena Single Session tickets, which give you a reserved seat in Rod Laver Arena and access to all 
outside courts (but not Vodafone Arena), starting at AU$40, with prices increasing as the tournament goes on. The other 
extremely popular choice of ticket is the Ground Pass which costs AU$27 until 23 Jan. It gives you access to all outside 
courts and unreserved seating at Vodafone Arena. Rod Laver Arena matches may be watched on the big screen in Garden Square. 
The Ticketek website has more detailed information on prices, other types of tickets and seating plans. The great location 
of Melbourne Park, just minutes from the CBD means it is easily accessibly by tram, train or bus. If you are taking the 
tram (which is the best form of public transport), you can either get off at Rod Laver Arena station or Vodafone Arena 
station. Being a Grand Slam, there is not one official tournament hotel. However, many choose to stay either at the 
Grand Hyatt Melbourne or the Crown Towers on Southbank.

Melbourne is one of Australia's most cosmopolitan and stylish cities. It is a thriving, vibrant metropolis which plays host 
to major sporting and entertainment events all year round. If you are planning on coming down to the Australian Open, be 
sure to take in all that Melbourne has to offer. Visitvictoria.com has all the travel information you will need. 

I have attended the Australian Open since 2002 and, having been lucky enough to travel to other tournaments around the 
world as well, I can truly say, the Australian Open is one of the best. Its superb facilities; laid-back, friendly 
atmosphere and impeccable organisation make it a high class event that is always enjoyable to be part of. I look forward 
to it again in 2006 and hope you do too...bring it on!

Singles Main Draw Players:
Federer, Roger SUI 
Nadal, Rafael ESP 
Roddick, Andy USA  
Hewitt, Lleyton AUS 
Davydenko, Nikolay RUS 
Nalbandian, David ARG 
Agassi, Andre USA 
Coria, Guillermo ARG 
Ljubicic, Ivan CRO  
Gaudio, Gaston ARG 
Gonzalez, Fernando CHI  
Safin, Marat RUS  
Johansson, Thomas SWE 
Ferrer, David ESP 
Ginepri, Robby USA 
Gasquet, Richard FRA 
Ferrero, Juan Carlos ESP 
Hrbaty, Dominik SVK 
Robredo, Tommy ESP 
Stepanek, Radek CZE  
Ancic, Mario CRO 
Kiefer, Nicolas GER  
Blake, James USA 
Berdych, Tomas CZE 
Grosjean, Sebastien FRA 
Andreev, Igor RUS 
Rochus, Olivier BEL  
Nieminen, Jarkko FIN 
Dent, Taylor USA 
Monfils, Gael FRA 
Moya, Carlos ESP 
Verdasco, Fernando ESP 
Lopez, Feliciano ESP 
Mirnyi, Max BLR 
Hanescu, Victor ROM 
Henman, Tim GBR 
Volandri, Filippo ITA 
Chela, Juan Ignacio ARG  
Acasuso, Jose ARG  
Rochus, Christophe BEL 
Srichaphan, Paradorn THA 
Verkerk, Martin NED 
Youzhny, Mikhail RUS 
Sanguinetti, Davide ITA 
Haas, Tommy GER  
Mathieu, Paul-Henri FRA  
Malisse, Xavier BEL 
Novak, Jiri CZE 
Serra, Florent FRA  
Martin, Alberto ESP 
Calleri, Agustin ARG 
Melzer, Jurgen AUT  
Wawrinka, Stanislas SUI  
Baghdatis, Marcos CYP  
Beck, Karol SVK 
Santoro, Fabrice FRA 
Zib, Tomas CZE 
Tursunov, Dmitry RUS 
Vik, Robin CZE 
Bjorkman, Jonas SWE  
Murray, Andy GBR 
Moodie, Wesley RSA 
Massu, Nicolas CHI  
Carlsen, Kenneth DEN 
Goldstein, Paul USA 
Seppi, Andreas ITA 
Clement, Arnaud FRA  
Karlovic, Ivo CRO 
Montañés, Albert ESP  
Bracciali, Daniele ITA  
Mayer, Florian GER 
Minar, Ivo CZE 
Hernych, Jan CZE  
Spadea, Vincent USA 
Muller, Gilles LUX 
Djokovic, Novak SCG 
Berlocq, Carlos ARG  
Pavel, Andrei ROM 
Pashanski, Boris SCG 
Zabaleta, Mariano ARG 
Horna, Luis PER 
Monaco, Juan ARG  
Kohlschreiber, Philipp GER  
Lapentti, Nicolas ECU 
Phau, Bjorn GER 
Schuettler, Rainer GER  
Behrend, Tomas GER  
Saulnier, Cyril FRA 
Garcia-Lopez, Guillermo ESP 
Norman, Dick BEL 
Dlouhy, Lukas CZE  
Reynolds, Bobby USA 
Vliegen, Kristof BEL 
Daniel, Marcos BRA 
Ascione, Thierry FRA 
Arthurs, Wayne AUS 
Vanek, Jiri CZE 
Wang, Yeu-Tzuoo TPE 
Kim, Kevin USA 
Lisnard, Jean-Rene FRA  
Gimelstob, Justin USA 
Starace, Potito ITA  
Sluiter, Raemon NED  
Lee, Hyung-Taik KOR 
Philippoussis, Mark (AUS) (WC)
Guccione, Chris (AUS) (WC)
Istomin, Denis (UZB) (WC)
Kimmich, Mark (AUS) (WC)
Delic, Amer (USA) (WC)
Llodra, Michael (FRA) (WC)
111. (WC)
112. (WC)
113. (Q) 
114. (Q) 
115. (Q) 
116. (Q) 
117. (Q) 
118. (Q) 
119. (Q) 
120. (Q) 
121. (Q) 
122. (Q) 
123. (Q) 
124. (Q) 
125. (Q) 
126. (Q) 
127. (Q) 
128. (Q) 

Alternates :
Vicente, Fernando ESP 
Mello, Ricardo BRA 
Sabau, Razvan ROM 
Almagro, Nicolas ESP 
Udomchoke, Danai THA 
Waske, Alexander GER 
Gicquel, Marc FRA 
Simon, Gilles FRA 
Berrer, Michael GER 
Marach, Oliver AUT