At 01:00 in the Spanish morning from Saturday to Sunday (Eurosport), the day of the week on which the tournament begins for the first time, the curtain opens on the 112th edition of the Australian Open, although it could be called the Australian Open. Djokovic. Because the Serbian, who debuts at 09:00 against the Croatian from the previous round, Dino Prizmic (18 years old and 178º), has been champion 10 times, more than any other man, the last one last year. Since 2019, he has won all the titles in Melbourne, except for 2022, when he did not compete due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID, a mandatory requirement at that time to compete. Rafa Nadal took the trophy with that memorable comeback in the final against Daniil Medvedev, one of the main contenders along with Carlos Alcaraz, who makes his debut on Monday or Tuesday against the Frenchman Richard Gasquet. This Friday he defeated the Norwegian Casper Ruud in an exhibition match played at the Open headquarters (6-4 and 6-2).
The Balearic Islands are the big absentee this season. Just a few days ago he returned after a year of inactivity. He did it in Brisbane, with very good feelings and two victories. But he suffered in the quarterfinal match against the Aussie Jordan Thompson and a micro muscle tear in the left hip area will prevent him from playing again on the same court, the Rod Laver Arena, where he played for the last time before injuring his psoas. iliac and lose against the American Mackenzie McDonald. According to tournament director Craig Tiley, Rafa will return “if he is playing, feels good and is not injured.” Thus, Novak Djokovic is presented with a new opportunity to further distance himself from his main rival in the fight for supremacy in the Grand Slams and, at the same time, become the tennis player, man or woman, with the most titles at 25. in the category, ahead of Margaret Court, who finished at 24. Nadal continues with 22. He would also be the one who would have the most hard court (71), one more than Roger Federer. And a fact for those nostalgic for the golden era of the Big Three: this will be the first Australian Open in 25 years without the Spaniard and/or the now retired Swiss in the men’s draw.
It will not be easy for Djokovic, who on Thursday demonstrated that he is the boss at his foundation’s charity exhibition, to equal or improve a year like in the past, with three of the four majors won (he lost the Wimbledon final with Alcaraz, his only defeat in 28 Slam matches), two Masters 1,000 titles (Cincinnati and Paris) and his seventh ATP Finals. Furthermore, he finished the season as number one in the world. If he is declared the winner in three Sundays, the Belgrade native will be the third player, after Nadal (14 Roland Garros) and Margaret Court (11 Australian Open), to win the same major 11 times. His path in the capital of the state of Victoria, beyond the beginning, is not easy, especially since the round of 16, when he could meet, before a hypothetical duel for the crown with Alcaraz, with Ben Shelton, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner . The Italian, fourth in the ranking, beat him in the Davis Cup Finals. He will open the activity in the center (02:00) against the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp, an uncomfortable opponent. “You always have to believe in yourself. That is perhaps the most important thing for a tennis player,” says the redhead.
Swiatek, favorite in the women’s draw
Iga Swiatek, number one, is the big favorite in a women’s draw with many attractions, in which Aryna Sabalenka is the defending champion. The Belarusian plays around 11:00 against the German qualifier, Ella Seidel. The Pole, finalist with her country in the United Cup, faces (Monday or Tuesday) the American Sofia Kenin, winner of the Oceanic Slam in 2020. And Naomi Osaka returns, two-time champion, who will have a tough obstacle against the French Caroline Garcia. Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki, who won her only major in the Rod Laver six years ago, are other names that attract. Like Paula Badosa’s for Spain. The one from Begur opens on Monday against the American Taylor Townsend. Sara Sorribes will do it this Sunday (around 05:00) against the Russian qualifier Alina Korneeva. On the opening day, Jaume Munar will also represent the Armada, who will face another Russian tennis player, Alexander Shevchenko (01:00).
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2024-01-13 02:10:25
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