The Australian Open.  The French Open.  The US Open.  Many likely know that the word “Open” replaced the word “Nationals” at these major events to symbolize when they became “open” to amateurs and professionals alike.  Today, the elite level of the sport is littered with professional events contested by the cream of the crop from around the globe.  And yet, in recent years, a good number of competitors probably have not felt that they have really had a wide open opportunity to walk away with a major title.  The Big Four of the ATP and the top three of the WTA have been particularly greedy when it comes to gobbling up major crowns.

If a dark horse were looking for a prime opportunity to sneak in and win a major, the Australian Open would not be a bad bet.  After securing his 61st title in Doha, Rafael Nadal spoke about how “strange” it was that he would soon be playing the Australian Open and suggested that it would be better if the tournament were contested later.  The Spaniard’s argument is that, for Nadal and many others, the Australian Open will be just their second tournament of 2014.  For some, it is their first.  This lack of match play helps to slightly even the playing field, which is something a savvy dark horse could exploit.  This helps to explain why the Australian Open has produced its share of shocking winners over the decades.  And, as the 2014 edition draws near, there are signs that we may be headed toward crowning another surprising victor in a little over two weeks.

Headlines this week have been filled with a number of upsets, particularly on the women’s side.  Agnieszka Radwanska, Jelena Jankovic, and Caroline Wozniacki were just a few of the high seeds to tumble out early this week in Sydney.  Last week saw upsets of Andy Murray, David Ferrer, and Tomas Berdych in Doha, a tournament that only had two seeded players left by the time the quarterfinals were set.  And no one could forget Lleyton Hewitt’s surprising upset of Roger Federer in the final of Brisbane. 

Federer’s loss to Hewitt – a player that he has dominated 18-9 over the course of their respective careers – is just one example of a top player struggling to find his optimal form heading into the year’s first major.  There were plenty of other examples as well, even among the winners.  Serena Williams looked to be rusty, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka were pushed the distance, and more than once Nadal was forced to go three sets against qualifiers and journeymen.  Between these performances and upsets, there is a growing sense that this Australian Open could be an opportunity for someone outside of the top ranks to walk away with a coveted piece of hardware.

Of course, one could argue that this feeling could be illusory.  Just look at the list of this year’s early winners.  It includes among others Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Li Na.  Finalists and semifinalists include such names as Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, and Juan Martin del Potro.  Their play may have been less than inspiring as they struggled to zone in on their A-games, but at the end of the day, they once again proved their ability to get the job done even when they were having the proverbial “bad day at the office.”  Couple that competitive desire with their vast experience on a major stage, and they are going to be tough outs at this year’s Australian Open.

Irrespective of how this pans out, however, there are signs that the tide in tennis may be ready to start slowly shifting.  Young upstarts like Madison Keys (above) and Jack Sock or former major champions like del Potro, Petra Kvitova, and Ana Ivanovic may be ready to more consistently challenge for the top prizes in the sport.  Furthermore, a breakthrough by someone outside of the heavy favorites could breed confidence in others for the rest of the season to come.  It undoubtedly adds an element of intrigue, so it should be fun to sit back and enjoy the ride as the Australian Open kicks 2014 into high gear.