A little after the fact, sure, but as Dimitrov takes the first set in his QF match against Goffin (and goes up 4-2 in the second – at publication), let’s consider for a second what could happen if Goffin wins this match. Pretty simple:

the horror.

Is this some kind of fluke, a kind of luck of the draw? No, no it’s not. Not at all, in fact.

Let’s take a look at the quality of each half of the draw.

The top half of the 2017 Australian Open draw contains the following “players:”

Top level (won a major): Andy (3), Roger (17), Stan (3) and Cilic (1)

Middle level (solid threats): Tsonga, Berdych, Nishikori

Lower level (worth mentioning): Isner, Querrey, Kyrgios, Sock, Tomic. . . Evans (not including Zverev despite his run)

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The bottom half contains the following “players:”

Top level (majors): Djokovic (12), Nadal (14)

Middle level: Monfils, Agut, Raonic, Gasquet

Lower level: Zverev, Ferrer, Thiem, Goffin and Dimitrov

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This is not a comedy sketch; the draw, folks, the balance of the two halves seems pretty startling (I almost said disturbing). If Raonic can deliver a trip to the SF and even the F, that helps; but currently he’s a middle man.

Can you imagine one SF consisting of Federer v Wawrinka and the other Nadal v Goffin?

You think they added-up the majors and said, ah ha, the bottom has 26 which is more than the top half’s 24? Ha. Murray and Wawrinka are probably the most dangerous players on tour right now and Cilic, if he remembers not to soil his shorts, can be very dangerous.

Of course, Nadal is hardly deep draw material anymore, but when you get a draw like that (solid win over Zverev, but he’s a five-set newbie), here he is with his first big-time test tonight vs. Raonic.

Saying the bottom lost Djokovic comes all square with the top’s loss of Murray.
And look at the middle levels of each half. Shit, look at the lower levels for that matter.

Just saying, folks. And you had one ignoramus calling the draw fixed because Roger played a couple of qualifiers.

While his idol got an already emasculated Verdasco in R1.

This is just my way of saying get the fuck out of here.

Carry-on. . .