ATP Week Ahead: Auckland, Sydney

Auckland

Draw here.

To my eyes, and despite the absence of del Potro, this is definitely the more interesting draw. Headlined by a quartet of Spaniards – Hopman Cup winner Robredo, Boss, Nicolas Almagro and Ferru – all eyes will be on the returning David Nalbandian, playing his first tournament since Barcelona 2009, who has been unlucky enough to draw Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round, with the winner meeting either Thomaz Bellucci or Marco Chiudinelli in the second. Nothing like a nice, gentle return to the tour. While Boss’ quarter is relatively qualifier-packed and therefore should be smooth, Robredo has to contend with John Isner and the winner of an all-Argentine clash between Challenger machine Horacio Zeballos and Juan Monaco, while Almagro has Nalby and the aforementioneds in his quarter. Ferru, tucked in at the bottom, should have a relatively smooth ride unless Chardy or Jurgen Melzer can pull off a surprise. Ferru or Nalby to win – although that’s not so much a prediction as a heartfelt wish …

Sydney

Draw here.

With defending champion David Nalbandian not returning (apparently he didn’t get a wildcard), the top four seeds are Brisbane semifinalists Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych, Chennai finalist Stanislas Wawrinka and, well, Lleyton Hewitt. Monfils has a possible third-round encounter with Richard Gasquet but otherwise looks pretty safe, as does Wawrinka. Rusty will have to contend with Troicki and Baggy in his quarter and probably Tomas Berdych in the semifinals. Winner definitely to come from the top half of the draw (unsubstantiated prediction #1) …