(6) Christmas in January?

I am this pumped.

The AUSTRALIAN OPEN is starting tomorrow! We'll shift our attention from HK to Melbourne, Australia as tennis fans around the world salivate on their TV screens and laptop monitors while watching the first major of the year. I've been dealing with a nasty cold lately, but large amounts of time in bed = dissecting the Aussie Open brackets, yay.

Before I give my picks, let's give a shout-out to the men and women who played in the Qualifying Tournament for the Australian Open. These are the people who rarely get on television or the big courts: Here's to you guys - may you break through the bracket someday, but please don't eliminate Andy Roddick before he wins another major (oh yes he will! Wimbledon 2010!)

The Australian Open is the most difficult major to project and predict. Here are my winners, final four, and "dark horses". Even though I had a pic of Federer for the title of this post, I will go out on a limb in the spirit of the new year.

Men's Winner: No. 5 Seed Andy Murray. He will conquer such stiff competition as Gael Monfils, and even Rafa Nadal (he is so good, but not this time) to win his quarter. Novak Djokovic made his breakthrough here in 2008, it's Murray's time.

Men's Final Four: [1] Federer, [3] Djokovic, [7] Roddick, [5] Murray
Men's Dark Horse: [10] Tsonga

Women's Winner: No. 15 Seed Kim Clijsters , she was very good at the U.S. Open, and she will have the perfect note to retire on (again) once she wins. I believe Serena will cruise into the semis easily, but she's primed to lose there to her sister due to the lack of a test.

Women's Final Four: [1] S. Williams, [6] V. Williams, [15] Clijsters, [14] Sharapova
Women's Dark Horse: [16] Li Na - GO CHINA!!!

These brackets are so much harder to fill than March Madness, so who wants in on an Australian Open pool? Haha. Comment on my own madness if you will, sports fans!

Next Episode: "...Back on My Feet"