The story starts here! The Australian Open presents the first opportunity for Grand Slam glory in 2023 and from 16-29 January the world’s best players will descend on Melbourne to get their title charges underway.
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DJOKOVIC’S REDEMPTION
What a difference a year makes. This time last year Novak Djokovic was embroiled in a deportation dispute with the Australian government as he prepared to defend the Australian Open title for a third consecutive time. The enigmatic Serb though would lose his battle with the authorities over his Covid-19 vaccination stance and was unceremoniously booted out of the country.
Fast forward 12 months and the 21-time Grand Slam champion has the chance to redeem himself in front of the crowds that have cheered him on to nine Australian Open titles. The current world No 5 heads to Melbourne Park in fine form, having claimed the ATP Finals crown at the end of November before warming up for the opening Grand Slam of the year with a title in Adelaide.
If Djokovic continues his form, very few will bet against him claiming his 10th title at Rod Laver Arena but there are a couple of others in the draw who will be out to ruin his redemption tour.
DEFENDING CHAMP
Rafael Nadal battled through injury to claim his second Australian Open title in 2022 but this year he seems to be heading to Melbourne injury free.
Form however will be a concern for the world No 2, having lost his only two warm-up encounters at the United Cup.
Nadal will be the No 1 seed at the first Grand Slam of the year after the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz through injury, and with Djokovic seeded fourth in Melbourne the two tennis greats are on course for a semifinal showdown.
THE PRETENDERS
Nick Kyrgios’ run to the final of Wimbledon in 2022 was as close as the mercurial Aussie has come to fulfilling his abundant potential. With the experience of a Grand Slam final under his belt the home crowd will be hoping to celebrate a native winner for the second consecutive year after Ash Barty won the women’s title in 2022. Questions remain around Kyrgios’ fitness but fully fit or not, if he is on court he will put on a show.
Casper Ruud’s two Grand Slam final appearances in 2022 will have whet his appetite for glory even more and he will be hoping that Melbourne is the place where he is finally able to convert his chance.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Felix Auger-Aliassime are all yet to break their Grand Slam ducks and will be hoping that Melbourne is the place they etch their names on the honour role.
Last year’s losing finalist Danill Medvedev will be hoping to get back into the swing of things and return to the championship match at Rod Laver after a tumultuous 2022.
QUEEN OF TENNIS
Women’s tennis belongs to Iga Swiatek at the moment, with the Pole dominating the WTA scene in 2022. Much will be expected of the three-time Grand Slam champion, who inherited the mantle of the best female tennis player when Ash Barty retired, after winning the 2022 Australian Open, and Swiatek will be looking to add a fourth Grand Slam title to her trophy cabinet in Melbourne.
EYES ON THE CROWN
2022’s other Grand Slam champions, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, will be on the hunt to add to their major hauls by challenging Swiatek for glory.
Africa’s greatest hope, Ons Jabeur, will be out to go one better than her two final appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open last year. Jabeur is ranked second in Melbourne and is on course to meet Swiatek in the final at Rod Laver, which would be a repeat of the final at Flushing Meadows in 2022.
Coco Gauff’s stock continues to rise with the 18-year-old picking up the third title of her career in Auckland in the build-up to the Australian Open. Last year the young American had a fantastic season, climbing into the top-10 of the WTA rankings on the back of a final appearance at Roland Garros. Having come so close to glory, the seventh seed in Melbourne will be hoping to go one step further and become the fifth youngest Aus Open women’s champion; unseating Steffi Graaf from fifth on the list.
SLAM FEST
With three SuperSport channels broadcasting the action from Melbourne Park, DStv subscribers will be treated to a smorgasbord of tennis from the Australian Open.
