Novak Djokovic returns to subsequent week’s Australian Open as heavy favorite and along with his ominous form in stark distinction to the struggles of defending champion Rafael Nadal.
Serbian tennis participant Novak Djokovic hits a return throughout his first spherical match towards France’s Constant Lestienne on the ATP Adelaide International event in Adelaide on 3 January 2023. Picture: Brenton EDWARDS/AFP
MELBOURNE – Novak Djokovic returns to subsequent week’s Australian Open as heavy favorite and along with his ominous form in stark distinction to the struggles of defending champion Rafael Nadal.
A yr in the past Djokovic was consumed by a authorized battle over his COVID vaccination stance which he in the end misplaced and was deported on the eve of the Grand Slam.
It opened the door for nice rival Nadal on the Melbourne Park hardcourts, his thrilling five-set win over Daniil Medvedev in the ultimate incomes the Spaniard a report twenty first main crown.
The 36-year-old made it 22 when he clinched the French Open.
Serbia’s Djokovic, who’s a yr youthful, can draw stage on 22 Grand Slam triumphs if he turns into Australian champion for a record-extending tenth time.
He introduced a follow match towards Medvedev to an early conclusion on Wednesday to guard a hamstring niggle, however previous to that referred to as his preparations spot-on.
“I couldn’t ask for a better preparation and lead-up to the Australian Open,” stated Djokovic.
“I love playing in Australia. My results are a testament to that.”
Djokovic’s latest exploits, coupled with Nadal’s iffy form, the absence of injured world primary Carlos Alcaraz and final yr’s retirement of Roger Federer, undoubtedly make him the person to beat.
After ending a turbulent 2022 by profitable the ATP Finals, he got here via 5 powerful matches to raise the Adelaide International trophy on Sunday.
His fears of a hostile reception in Australia after the deportation saga have been alleviated by a heat welcome in Adelaide.
Djokovic faces Spain’s Seventy fifth-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena in his opening match.
NADAL STAYING POSITIVE
Nadal has been written off earlier than however is dealing with recent questions on whether or not age and damage are catching up with him.
The high seed faces a tough opening to the defence of his title towards promising 21-year-old Briton Jack Draper.
Spanish nice Nadal has misplaced six of his previous seven matches together with each on the latest United Cup, taking place to Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur.
Nadal, who’s striving to hitch Federer and Ken Rosewall as males’s main winners aged 36 or older, insisted he was not involved by his latest struggles.
“It’s true that the last couple of months I was not able to play much tennis and at the beginning of the season I lost two matches in Sydney,” he stated.
“But honestly, I am not unhappy with the preparation. I need to win matches, for sure, but the preparation is going quite well, practising a lot and I think I am in good shape.”
‘NO-ONE IS INVINCIBLE’
Russia’s Medvedev, runner-up in 2021 and 2022, is prime amongst different contenders.
The 2021 US Open champion has a love-hate relationship with the Melbourne crowd however pushed Nadal all the best way in final yr’s last.
World quantity 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas additionally poses a risk, with the Greek star eager to higher the Melbourne semi-finals he made in three of the final 4 years.
Still looking for an elusive first Grand Slam, Tsitsipas received all 4 matches on the United Cup, together with beating harmful Italian Matteo Berrettini.
Norway’s world quantity three Casper Ruud is one other seeking to snap the Djokovic-Nadal stranglehold after a breakthrough 2022 that noticed him make the French and US Open finals.
And there’s Nick Kyrgios, the house favorite and Wimbledon finalist who boasts huge expertise however has typically been let down by his temperament.
“No-one is invincible,” stated Djokovic, who defeated Kyrgios in the Wimbledon decider and will meet him in the final eight in Melbourne.
“We’ve seen the biggest tennis players in the history of the game lose some big matches.”
