CNN
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The primary grand slam of the brand new tennis season will get underway on January 16 in Melbourne and the 2023 Australian Open is about to supply no finish of intriguing storylines.
Chief amongst them is the return of Novak Djokovic one yr from his deportation debacle, because the Serb seems to match Rafael Nadal’s report of twenty-two grand slam titles.
Djokovic’s preparation for the Australian Open acquired off to the very best begin, profitable the Adelaide Worldwide warmup occasion to safe his 92nd ATP singles title and go degree with Nadal in joint fourth place within the all-time rankings.
Solely Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl have received extra Tour singles titles.
Nevertheless, Djokovic suffered an damage scare on Wednesday and was pressured to withdraw from a follow match in opposition to Daniil Medvedev.
The world No. 5 advised advised 9News Melbourne it was the identical hamstring problem he had throughout final week’s Adelaide Worldwide and that his withdrawal in opposition to Medvedev was only a precaution.
“I simply felt it pulling and I didn’t need to danger something worse,” he stated. “I performed a set and apologized to him [Medvedev] and he was understanding. I simply need to keep away from any greater scares earlier than the Australian Open.
“There was a whole lot of care going into as we speak’s match in regards to the hamstring. It was all proper. A couple of occasions within the match, I felt the muscle was tightening up, however nothing that might fear me for my efficiency.”
Djokovic is the bookmakers’ clear favourite to win the title Down Beneath and will get his bid for a record-extending tenth Australian Open crown underway in opposition to Spain’s Roberto Carballés Baena on Monday.
“All of us surprise how is that hamstring damage of his, the place he stated he didn’t need to play that match in opposition to Medvedev and he additionally reduce just a few practices brief,” Barbara Schett, a former skilled and present broadcaster, advised CNN’s Amanda Davies. “However he had an awesome begin to the season, he received a event in Adelaide and he’s hungry.
“He wasn’t allowed to play in Australia, wasn’t allowed to enter Australia and it was very onerous for him to digest. I believe now he’s over it and he simply desires to begin from scratch. He had a lot success previously on the Australian Open, he received the title there 9 occasions so he feels actually comfy there and the attention-grabbing factor is how he’s going to be obtained.
“In Adelaide the folks have liked him, hopefully it’s going to be the identical factor in Melbourne as effectively. When he walked out onto the courtroom the opposite day for his first follow he was kissing the courtroom in order that exhibits you the way a lot it means to him.
“I believe he’s hungry, he had an excellent relaxation final yr as a result of he solely performed 11 tournaments and he performed some unbelievable tennis that prolonged his profession … so he’s my heavy favourite going into this yr’s Australian Open, that’s for positive.”
Sadly for tennis followers, significantly these from Spain, males’s world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz can be lacking from the event in Melbourne resulting from a proper leg damage suffered in coaching final week.
The Australian Open would have been Alcaraz’s first grand slam since profitable the 2022 US Open in September, however his place on the prime of the rankings is now beneath risk with Djokovic, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas all in a position to take the No. 1 spot from him.
Final yr, Alcaraz received 5 ATP titles and have become the youngest No. 1 in males’s tennis when he received his first grand slam title in New York. He’s the youngest man since Rafael Nadal to enter the highest 10 and win an ATP 1000 title.
On the age of 19 years and 214 days, Alcaraz additionally turned the youngest year-end No. 1 within the historical past of males’s tennis, surpassing Lleyton Hewitt’s report set in 2001.
Happily, the damage doesn’t look like too severe as Alcaraz introduced in a tweet on Wednesday that he can be returning to the courtroom for the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, which will get underway on February 11.
Flying the flag for Spain on the prime finish of the rankings as an alternative can be Nadal, who can be hoping to defend the title he received in 2022.
Nevertheless, the world No. 2 – the No. 1 seed in Melbourne in Alcaraz’s absence – has struggled with accidents and has made a gradual begin to the yr, dropping his solely two matches to this point, on the United Cup.
Nadal has been given a tricky draw within the opening spherical and can face thrilling British teen Jack Draper, who made a blistering begin to the season by reaching the semifinals of the Adelaide Worldwide.
“With Rafa Nadal you by no means know,” Schett stated. “We all know that many occasions he’s had struggles with accidents after which instantly he pops up and wins a grand slam title.
“It was fairly related final yr the place he hasn’t performed a lot tennis and he rocks up right here on the Australian Open and wins the title, so I wouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into it that he misplaced two matches on the United Cup.
“In fact, dealing with Jack Draper within the first spherical isn’t a straightforward draw however with Rafa Nadal, by no means write him off as a result of he has the expertise, particularly on the grand slam degree, and I believe he’s eager for extra grand slam titles.”
Different notable first spherical ties within the males’s draw embrace world No. 14 and final yr’s semifinalist Matteo Berrettini taking over three-time grand slam winner Andy Murray, in addition to the field workplace dwelling favourite Nick Kyrgios, aiming to turn out to be the primary Australian champion in 47 years, in opposition to Roman Safiullin.
Iga Światek can be hoping so as to add an Australian Open title to her already spectacular resumé, which incorporates two French Open titles and a US Open crown.
Nonetheless simply 21 years of age, Światek was tipped by many to be the game’s dominant pressure following Ash Barty’s shock retirement from the game final yr whereas occupying the world No. 1 rating.
Światek now stands atop the rankings and, on the US Open on the finish of final yr, dispelled any doubts that her grand slam success on clay couldn’t be transferred over to onerous courts.
The Polish star loved an absurdly profitable 2022, profitable a staggering eight titles, together with the French Open, US Open and WTA 1000 occasions in Rome, Miami and Indian Wells.
Światek’s success final yr has put her in one other stratosphere on the prime of the ladies’s rankings, sitting virtually 6,000 factors away from world No. 2 Ons Jabeur.
Światek is definitely the favourite heading into the Australian Open and can be assured of bettering on final yr’s semifinal look, however has been given a difficult opening spherical tie in opposition to Germany’s Jule Niemeier.
The 23-year-old made waves final yr by reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals and US Open round-of-16 with some massive hitting and, now ranked No. 68 on the earth, is making her first important draw look on the Australian Open.
One in every of Światek’s important contenders for the title in Melbourne can be world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who beat the Pole within the semifinals of final week’s United Cup earlier than occurring to win the title.
It was the third Tour win of Pegula’s profession, the spotlight being the WTA 1000 occasion in Guadalajara, Mexico, final yr, and the US star has turn out to be one of many extra constant performers within the Tour.
Pegula additionally performed a key function in Workforce USA’s victory within the inaugural blended gender group occasion, the United Cup, and her blistering begin to the yr will rightly make her assured of securing a primary grand slam title Down Beneath.
Among the many different names more likely to go deep on the Australian Open is Jabeur, who loved a breakthrough yr in 2022 by reaching two grand slam finals.
Although she misplaced in each the Wimbledon and US Open finals, Jabeur did win two WTA titles final yr, together with the Madrid 1000 occasion, so as to add to her solely earlier title from Birmingham in 2021.
Jabeur’s success in 2022 helped her climb to a career-best No. 2 on the earth and her diversified sport, harmful on all surfaces, makes her an actual risk in Melbourne, with the skilled gained from reaching two main finals little doubt being of profit.
Teenage celebrity Coco Gauff can be one other participant hopeful of breaking her grand slam duck after additionally reaching her maiden last in 2022.
Gauff misplaced to Światek within the last of the French Open however impressed on clay, a floor that’s certainly not her favourite, which can little doubt give her elevated confidence she will go one higher on her most well-liked floor in Australia.
Although she didn’t win a singles title in 2022, Gauff continued her rise as one of the crucial spectacular doubles participant on the earth by profitable three WTA titles with fellow American Pegula.
Nonetheless simply 18 years of age, Gauff completed 2022 ranked inside the highest 10 in each singles and doubles – seventh and fourth respectively – and will definitely be a severe contender in any respect 4 grand slams in 2023.
