By Adrien Bez
Published yesterday at 11:11, Updated yesterday at 12:13
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If Novak Djokovic, ten times winner in Melbourne, is the overwhelming favorite to succeed himself, the tennis editorial team of Le Figaro offers you five credible competitors for the first Grand Slam of the year 2024 (January 14-28).
Jannik Sinner
Côte : * * * *
Age : 22
ATP Ranking : 4
Result in 2023 : 8th final
Best result : quarter-final (2022)
Following on from his excellent end to 2023, the Italian asserts himself as the main outsider for this 2024 edition of the Australian Open. Here he is capable of winning titles, big titles. This is evidenced by his coronation at the Masters 1000 in Toronto, the ATP 500 in Beijing and his decisive participation in the Italian Davis Cup title. Without forgetting his incredible run at the Turin Masters where only an untouchable Novak Djokovic put an end to his dream. At 22, Jannik Sinner will have all the arguments to reach the Grand Slam. In Melbourne, where he has never done better than a quarter-final (2022), it was Stefanos Tsitsipas who eliminated him from the last two editions. With the Greek in the dark, it’s time for the Italian to come out of the woods.
Carlos Alcaraz
Côte : * * * *
Age : 20
ATP Ranking : 2
Result in 2023 : package
Best result : 3e tour (2022)
The Spanish prodigy is not at the top of his form and many unknowns surround his preparation for the first Grand Slam of the year. But Carlos Alcaraz remains a fierce opponent, in particular for Novak Djokovic who still has the painful memory of his defeat in the Wimbledon final in mid-July. Forfeited last year, the Murcian will be keen to show the extent of his talent to the Australian public. Seeded number 2, he will begin his journey against Richard Gasquet and could find Alexander Zverev in the quarter-final, then Holger Rune or Daniil Medvedev in the last four. So many players he has already beaten in the past.
Daniil Medvedev
Côte : * * *
Age : 27
ATP Ranking : 3
Result in 2023 : 3e tour
Best result : finale (2021, 2022)
Difficult to exclude the Russian from a list of favorites as a hard court tournament approaches. Daniil Medvedev has reached the final twice in Melbourne. In 2021, Novak Djokovic left him only crumbs (7-5, 6-2, 6-2). In 2022, he came close to the holy grail by leading two sets to nothing before suffering an incredible comeback from Rafael Nadal (2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5). If he did not have a memorable end to 2023, the former world number 1 nonetheless remains a hell of a client on hard court. In his last six Grand Slam tournaments played on this surface (Australian Open and US Open), he reached the final four times. You’ll have to be big, very big, to keep it out of its way under the Australian sun.
Alexander Zverev
Côte : * *
Age : 26
ATP Ranking : 6
Result in 2023 : 2e tour
Best result : semi-final (2020)
Beware of the sleeping Zverev. Stopped in his tracks by a serious ankle injury during the 2022 edition of Roland-Garros, the German only took a little over a year to return to the top 10. The former finalist of the The US Open arrives in Melbourne with an outsider status that suits it well. And with an Olympic gold medal (2021), two Masters titles (2018, 2021) and five in Masters 1000, his ability to beat the very best in major events no longer needs to be proven. In Melbourne, he arrived launched after winning the United Cup, a mixed team competition, with Germany. If Sascha has never particularly shone in Australia where his best result is a semi-final (2020), he has all the cards in hand to perform in this 2024 edition which does not (yet) distrust him.
Grigor Dimitrov
Côte : *
Age : 32
ATP Ranking : 13
Result in 2023 : 3e tour
Best result : semi-final (2017)
At 32, the fallen tennis genius lives again. The Bulgarian was already the author of a thunderous end to 2023 with two semi-finals in Asia (Chengdu and Shanghai) and a final at the Rolex Paris Masters. His start to 2024 does not weaken. The formerbaby Federer», an elegant but irregular player, regained astonishing solidity and won in Brisbane by beating Holger Rune, 8th player in the world, in the final. His first trophy since 2017. That year, the best of his career, Grigor Dimitrov reached the last four in Melbourne. He has also reached the quarter-finals three other times (2014, 2018, 2021). Proof, if any were needed, that the former world number 3 is capable of shining on Australian soil.
2024-01-13 01:11:34
#Australian #Open #Sinner #Alcaraz #Dimitrov #favorites #dethrone #Djokovic
