Mercury Rising: Australian Open Preview

And just like that, the 2025 Australian Open is nearly underway. It’s the 40th major we’ve covered as a podcast, and our draw previews are still as prediction-free as always. We touch on a few of the themes to watch out for in Melbourne – Sinner’s emotional state, Rybakina’s coaching situation, Novak as #7 seed and poisonee – but mostly this is a lighthearted preview with draw breakdowns and our most intriguing first rounds.  GoFundMe: help fund our 2025 season! 3:15 Stories to follow: heavy metals, jumping ants 13:50 Comebacks and withdrawals 18:50 Women’s draw analysis: a tough one for Coco 27:40 Women’s bottom half: will Iga reverse her luck in Australia? 38:05 Men’s draw analysis: the top tier and the middlemen 54:50 Men’s bottom half: Djokovic as a #7 seed sounds wrong