Australian Open 2012 After One Week

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The Australian Open 2012 are down to the last 8 - and while there are few surprises on the men's side, the ladies' tournament looks wide open and may well produce a new Ozeki - or two.

In the men's tournament, the Yokozuna (=Grand Champions) Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have been crusing through the early rounds, as has been Ozeki (=Champion) Andy Murray. The "Big 4", who secured 14 out of 16 semifinal sports in 2011, have so far lost a total of 2 sets - Andy Murray in the first round against young American Ryan Harrison, and Djokovic in the 4th against an inspired ex-Ozeki and local favorite Lleyton Hewitt. The main upset thus far has been the 4th round loss of Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to up-and-coming Japanese Kei Nishikori. Tsonga will be demoted to Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) as a result. Komusubi (and ex-Ozeki) Tomas Berdych defended his rank by beating Nicolas Almagro in a testy 4th round match.

With the quarterfinals coming up, who stands the best chnace of breaking into the phalanx of the "Big 4"? I rank first ex-Ozeki Juan Martin de Potro (picture), who's been looking better with every round and will meet Federer in the quarterfinals - the very Federer he beat in the 2009 U.S. Open final, before a wrist injury forced del Potro into a long pause from the tour. Berdych may also have some chance against Nadal, especially as there are question marks about the latter's knee. Nishikori and David Ferrer (ex-Sekiwake) are outsiders against Murray and Djokovic, respecitvely.

None of the quarterfinalists outside the Big 4 is on an Ozeki run, unless del Potro wins his second Grand Slam title.

The ladies' tournament could not be more different. Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) Serena Wiliams exited early, hampered arguably by a foot injury. The other Yokozuna, Kim Clijsters, barely survived her 4th round match in a repeat of last year's final against Sekiwake (and ex-Ozeki) Na Li (Li drops to Komusubi as a result). Clijsters injure her ankle in the match, it is not clear yet whether she can play her quarterfinal. Maria Sharapova defended Ozeki rank with a hard fought 4th-round victory over ex-Komusubi Sabine Lisicki.

The field appears wide open, with no less than three ladies having a chance of becoming the 31st female Ozeki of the open era: Wimbledon champion, Komusubi and ex-Sekiwake Petra Kvitova if she reaches the semifinals (in her way is unheralded Italian Sara Errani), world #1 and Sekiwake Caroline Wozniacki if the reaches the final, and Komusubi Victoria Azarenka if she wins the tournament. All three have looked very strong in the early rounds.