In Melbourne, the “happy slam” which will benefit from the return of the public (30,000 spectators per day) hopes to put the tennis year on the right track.
By Jean-Julien Ezvan and Romain Schneider,
The public at the rendezvous
While all over the world, behind closed doors has become the norm for sporting events, due to the endless pandemic that is hitting the whole world, the Australian Open is booming. Daily gauges of 25,000 to 30,000 spectators will be allowed during the tournament, which begins Monday in Melbourne. This represents some 390,000 spectators in the space of two weeks, or half of the audience received last year. By way of comparison, Roland-Garros could only accommodate 15,000 spectators throughout the fortnight … It must be said that the very severe restrictions imposed in recent months by Australia on travel have enabled the island to maintain control over the epidemic. The very strict health bubble – fourteen mandatory days of quarantine – which surrounded the preparation of the tournament, is there to testify. This made Martin Pakula, Minister of Sport for the State of Victoria, say: “It will not be like in recent years but it will be the most important international event with an audience that the world has seen in many months” . What to offer the whole world a beautiful ray of sunshine in these gloomy times …
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Djokjovic-Nadal, ready for the record race
In the absence of Roger Federer (a first since his debut in Melbourne in 2000), Novak Djokovic (17 Grand Slam titles) and Rafael Nadal (20) who shared the poster for the Roland-Garros final on October 11 , take center stage in Melbourne. The Serbian, world No. 1 has made the Rod Laver Arena a garden that he cultivates with care. He collected 8 titles (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020), never lost in the final. The Spaniard, n ° 2, winner in 2009 played 4 unfortunate finals (2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019) in Australia. If successful, the Serbian would move closer to star duo Federer-Nadal. With one title, the Spaniard would overtake Federer in major trophy count and become the first player in the Open era to win every Grand Slam tournament at least twice. Djokovic and Nadal experienced a small alert at the end of the fortnight lived in Adelaide. Djokovic in poor shape and suffering from a blister in his right hand was upset during an exhibition; Nadal, suffering from his back, did not take part in the first two days of the ATP Cup with Spain. Their punctuality, their competitiveness, their desire to mark the history of the game and their ability to produce their best level whatever the conditions are important assets when it comes time to embark on the first major tournament. Roger Federer will follow from afar. The Swiss will make his comeback in Doha (1-8 mars).
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Zverev, Medvedev or Tsitsipas want to open their counter
Behind the inescapable Djokovic and Nadal, the pack is hungry. Dominic Thiem, 26 years old and now solid 3e world player, opened his counter with the US Open last September. Who’s next ? Daniil Medvedev, who will celebrate his 25th birthday next Thursday, was the man of the end of the season (doubled Bercy Masters), will he be the one of the start of the season? He will inevitably be one to watch even if he has never passed the knockout stages in a Grand Slam anywhere other than Flushing Meadows (finalist in 2019). The divisive Alexander Zverev, 23, clearly turned a corner last year with a semi-final in Australia and his final lost on the wire at the US Open. The 7e global remains a serious threat. At 22, Stefanos Tsitsipas is also looking for a first Grail. Semi-final at Roland Garros, where he jostled Novak Djokovic, he reached the last four in Melbourne in 2019. If he is still inconstant, the Greek has all the assets to go for a Major. Designated by his peers “to play the most progressed” in 2020, Andrey Rublev, 23, can play the spoilsport. Winner of five titles and double quarter-finalist in Grand Slam, in quick succession, at the US Open and Roland Garros, he can strike a blow in Melbourne.
Osaka en favorite ?
Crowned in Melbourne in 2019 and winner of the last US Open, Naomi Osaka is in favor of the predictions. The Japanese has won three of the last nine Grand Slams and proves that she quickly found the rhythm (qualified for the semi-final of a preparation tournament), she who had not played since her coronation in New York last September. She seems to offer more guarantees than the local star Ashleigh Barty, world number 1 and who comes out of a quasi-white season or Bianca Andreescu, long injured and who has not played in competition since… October 2019. The outgoing champion and finalist at Roland Garros Sofia Kenin is certainly one of the serious contenders. Simona Halep, Karolina Pliskova and Garbine Muguruza are to be watched. Iga Swiatek, crowned to everyone’s surprise in Paris last fall, must confirm her promises and Serena Williams, soon to be 40, can still go for Margaret’s record, she who has been chasing a title since the Open d ‘ Australia 2017.
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They could be talked about
High pitched, mobile, with a powerful strike from both sides, Jannik Sinner (19 years old; 36e world), a former skier and nugget of Italian tennis, is the prototype of the modern player. He relies on a calm that can enable him to resist the worst turbulence. On all surfaces. In the quarterfinals at Roland Garros he had, for two sets, jostled Rafael Nadal. He will enter against Denis Shapovalov… Carlos Alcaraz (17 years old; 146e), right-handed, armed with a two-handed backhand but is the youngest Spaniard to win a match on the circuit (aged 15), since Rafael Nadal in 2002. Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protégé, out of qualifying, is presented like the future of Spanish tennis when Rafael Nadal will have the end of sowing terror … Nadia Podoroska (23 years old, 47e), the first player from qualifying to reach the semi-finals at the last Roland-Garros, had helped bring a breath of fresh air to the Paris tournament. An autumn whirlwind that continues. Argentina defeated Petra Kvitova in one of the preparation tournaments for the Australian Open. The second victory of her career against a Top 10. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (22 years old; 7e), awaiting a first-choice Grand Slam performance could find fertile ground in Melbourne. History to continue to sow discord within the hierarchy of women’s tennis.
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Monfils, Humbert, Garcia and the discreet blue hopes
The Blues were not spared by the draw. Gaël Monfils (n ° 11) is one of the best French chances. In Melbourne, he often put on the show but had to settle for a single quarter-final (in 2016). The choice of his new trainer, the rigorous Günter Bresnik, is the assurance of total involvement. But his entry into the ATP Cup marked by a defeat against Matteo Berrettini recalled physical (right shoulder pain) and strategic limits (34 unforced errors). His desire will be an asset (“I feel like playing at least until the age of 40,” he told L’Equipe). Ugo Humbert (n ° 32), methodical, hardworking embodies the future of French tennis. He could quickly see Nick Kyrgios stand in his way, then Dominic Thiem. Formidable. At their side, the blue ambitions will rest mainly on the shoulders of the players. Caroline Garcia (only one Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros in 2017) and Fionna Ferro could register as surprises. The Australian Open has often revealed the best of French players (Nicolas Escudé in 1998, Amélie Mauresmo in 1999, Arnaud Clément in 2001, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2008 or Lucas Pouille in 2019) …
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