Haven't had a tennis thread on here for awhile, I believe.

Very happy that Tennis Australia was able to put on this major despite the pandemic. The Aussie Open has really grown in stature over the past couple of decades, both in the hearts of tennis fans and players. (In the 70s and 80s, it wasn't uncommon for top-10 players to skip the event [and the long flight] altogether). For me, I like that it's the fast hardcourt major, contrasting itself with the relatively slow hardcourt major that is the U.S. Open. (Didn't always used to be this way, of course, as in the 90s, the US Open played fast).

Anyway, the matches start Sunday evening (for USA viewers).

Draws are here:
Men's - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_A...en%27s_Singles
Women's - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_A...en%27s_Singles

The bottom of the women's draw (where Serena, Osaka, Halep, etc) reside is loaded. Osaka's draw is particularly awful. Australian Barty got a comparatively great draw in the top half, which has raised some eyebrows.

In the men's draw, I think of the top 4, Medvedev probably has the easiest draw and pretty smooth sailing to the SF. Djokovic, Thiem, and Nadal all have their work cut out for them. Nadal potentially getting Tsitsipas in the QF probably makes his draw the toughest.