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Tennis
Is this the real rivalry?
The Australian Open final will be the eighth Grand Slam in a row won by either Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal. It's the third final in a row that will pit them against each other.
Are we in a golden age of tennis?
Either Djokovic, Nadal or Roger Federer won 26 of the past 27 Grand Slam titles (the lone outlier being Juan Martin del Potro in the 2009 U.S. Open).
Does No. 1 have something to prove?
Djokovic had a year for the ages in 2011, winning three Grand Slam titles, but do you need to see a strong start to 2012 to believe he's the best?
History on the line for Sharapova?
Maria Sharapova owns three Grand Slam titles, good for 15th in the Open era. One more would mean a tie for 12th with Kim Clijsters, among others, while four more would mean top 10.
The next women's tennis star?
Petra Kvitova won Wimbledon last year. Caroline Wozniacki spent more than 60 weeks ranked No. 1. But is Victoria Azarenka (above) the real rising star in the women's game?
Sound and fury signifying something?
Azarenka and Sharapova are two of the best players in the sport. They're also two of the loudest. While they may cancel each other out here, does grunting provide an unfair advantage?
Are all Grand Slams created equal?
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Monday morning; time-zone confusion aside, we're almost certain the tournament hasn't happened yet.
Who will win the men's title?
Novak Djokovic is the defending champion in Australia, as is also the case at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open (hence the hardware above).
What would be the marquee match?
If Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet, it will be in a semifinal, not the final. But is that rivalry still the must-see match in tennis?
Who will win the women's title?
Maria Sharapova last won a Grand Slam in 2008, but that title came in Australia. After reaching one final and another semifinal in 2011, is she due?
Will Serena Williams keep winning?
Serena Williams made headlines recently by saying she needs tennis but doesn't love it. Complicated motivation aside, does the 30-year-old legend still have multiple titles in her?
Will Caroline Wozniacki ever win?
Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki may not be ranked No. 1 by the time the Australian Open starts, but she's still the top seed. Will her Grand Slam drought end in 2012?
Novak Djokovic is clearly the best tennis player in the world this season, but is he better than John McEnroe, Rod Laver or a younger version of Roger Federer? Djokovic's U.S. Open win was his third Grand Slam title this season and improved his 2011 record to 64-2 in all matches. McEnroe was 82-3 with two Slams in 1984. Federer was 81-4 with two Slams in 2005. And Laver won all four Slam titles in 1962 and 1969.
- "I always said Rafa would be done before he hits 29 or 30. And if Novak keeps beating him and if he gets hurt again, then we may see it soon." -- SN commenter pac7196033
- "After John McEnroe's amazing 1984 season, where he only lost 3 matches, he was never the same player. He won just about everything that year, just like Novak did this year. He was around the same age as Novak is now. Very interesting to see how Novak responds next season. I would expect him to do well. We'll see." -- SN commenter Steven66305
In the midst of making history?
Novak Djokovic isn't done yet in 2011, but with the calendar's final Slam in the books, is he in position for the greatest season ever?
A trend or an aberration?
Djokovic clearly has bragging rights for 2011, but will Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer take back the throne in 2012?
Do wins equal popularity?
Djokovic went through Federer and Nadal in the U.S. Open, but do the two losers in the Big Apple still win the rivalry debate?
Novak Djokovic or Rory McIlroy?
Rory McIlroy won one major title to Djokovic's three this season (not to mention the one Djokovic already had). But given golf longevity, who will come out ahead in the long run?
Rain continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. Open tennis schedule and players have begun to stand up to officials trying to rush them back onto the court in sometimes questionable weather. Should players get the final say on when to resume play, and how big of a deal would it be to have to play matches on four consecutive days?
Ready, set, play tennis?
Andy Roddick, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal expressed their frustration at the U.S. Open after returning to the courts before they were in playable condition.
Has rain ruined the fun?
Snow days were great as a kid, but having those days tacked onto the end of the school year, not so much. Will a jam-packed schedule be fun to watch or a chore?
Is this what they trained for?
Tennis players are some of the most well-conditioned athletes on the planet, but even gym rats can be worn down by multiple long sets on back-to-back days.
Translated to NCAA tournament terms, the No. 28 overall seed in the U.S. Open is equivalent to a No. 7 seed in March Madness. Well, with apologies to Temple, Texas A&M, UCLA and Washington, Serena Williams is not a No. 7 seed. But because the U.S. Open uses the WTA rankings, Williams is seeded behind 27 competitors in the Big Apple. Is she also the favorite? SN: Rank women's contenders | What about the men's field?
Is there something wrong with these seeds?
No. 28 Serena Williams could face No. 4 Victoria Azarenka in the third round because the U.S. Open relies on WTA rankings in determining seeds.
Is Caroline Wozniacki's time coming?
The good news is Caroline Wozniacki has compiled a remarkable run at No. 1 at a young age. The bad news is Grand Slam disappointments are beginning to pile up for the Dane.
Is uncertainty a good development?
One of the final four at Wimbledon, Sabine Lisicki is one of what could be a dozen or more viable championship contenders in the U.S. Open. Is that a sign of prosperity or trouble?
What about the other Williams sister?
Speaking of Lisicki, she could meet unseeded Venus Williams in the second round. Will it be a quiet fortnight for Williams or one more chance to make some noise?
Last year marked the first time since 2003 that Roger Federer wasn't a part of the final match at the U.S. Open. Was that the beginning of a trend, or a one-year break from normalcy? With Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both nursing ailments, could the last chance be the best chance for Federer to continue his streak of years with at least one Grand Slam win? SN: Rank men's contenders
Will Novak Djokovic shrug off shoulder?
Novak Djokovic has lost just twice this season, but one came when he retired in the final in Cincinnati in his last Open tuneup, citing a right shoulder injury.
Roger Federer or Andy Murray?
Roger Federer recently turned 30, and tennis players rarely win Slams past that point. Then again, at least in recent times, neither do Brits like Andy Murray, who is still looking for a first Slam.
What about Andy Roddick?
Djokovic is ailing, Rafael Nadal has blisters on his feet and burned fingers, and Federer is old. Do we hear a door opening for No. 21 Andy Roddick?
What's the perfect match?
Djokovic is ranked No. 1, won the Australian Open and Wimbledon and has generally owned 2011. But is he the player you want to see in a marquee match?
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