The first "Grand Slam" of the new tennis season begins on January 16 in Melbourne, and the Australian Open 2023 is full of interesting stories.
Chief among them is the return of Novak Djokovic after a year's absence, as the Serb attempts to equal Rafael Nadal's record 22 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic's preparations for the Australian Open got off to a good start as he won the Adelaide International to win his 92nd ATP singles title and join Nadal in fourth place overall.
Only Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl have won more singles titles.
However, Djokovic was injured on Wednesday and had to forfeit his match against Daniil Medvedev.
The world number 5 told 9News Melbourne he had the same problem at the Adelaide International last week and his withdrawal against Medvedev was just a precaution.
© Contributed by CNN Novak Djokovic wins the Adelaide International for his 92nd ATP title. -Lauren Elliott/Reuters
"I felt like I was being dragged and didn't want to risk worse," he said. "I played a set and apologized to him (Medvedev) and he understood me. I just want to avoid the big fear of the Australian Open.
"We focused a lot on the hamstrings during the game today. Everything was fine. Sometimes I feel my muscles are tight when I play, but nothing can stop me from playing.
Djokovic is the bookmakers' clear favorite to win Down Under and he delivers his 10th Australian Open title against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Bena on Monday.
"We're all wondering what his hamstring injury looked like when he said he didn't want to play that match with Medvedev and stopped training," former pro and current host Barbara Sheth told CNN's Amanda Davis. . "But he's had a good start to the season, he won the Adelaide tournament and he's hungry.
"He wasn't allowed to play in Australia, he wasn't allowed to come into Australia and it was very hard for him to digest. I think he's done with that now and just wants to start over. He's had so much success at the Australian Open before, he's won the title there nine times, so he's really comfortable there and what's interesting is how he's been received.
"People love him in Adelaide, I hope it will be the same in Melbourne. When he came out on the pitch for his first practice the other day he was kissing on the pitch, so that shows to how much you mean to him.
"I think he's hungry, he was well rested last year as he only played 11 tournaments and played amazing tennis which boosted his career… So this is my favorite for the Open d 'Australia this year for sure." :
The world number 1 has disappeared
Unfortunately for tennis fans, especially in Spain, men's world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz will miss the tournament in Melbourne after injuring his right foot in training last week.
The Australian Open would have been Alcaraz's first Grand Slam since winning the 2022 US Open in September, but his place at the top of the rankings is now under threat as Djokovic, Kasper Rudd and Stefanos Tsitsipas could all take his place. first place.
Last year, Alcaraz won five ATP titles and became the youngest No. 1 in men's tennis to win his first Grand Slam title in New York. He is the youngest since Rafael Nadal to reach the top 10 and win an ATP 1000 title.
At 19 years and 214 days, Alcaraz also became the youngest No. 1 in men's tennis history at the end of the year, surpassing Lytton Hewitt's record in 2001.
Luckily, the injury isn't too serious, as Alcaraz announced on Twitter on Wednesday that he will be back on court for the Argentine Open in Buenos Aires, which kicks off on February 11.
Nadal, who wants to defend his title in 2022, will fly the Spanish flag at the top of the table.
However, the world No 2 – Melbourne's No 1 in Alcaraz's absence – has struggled with injuries and started the year slowly, losing just two United Cup matches so far.
Nadal suffered a tough first-round draw and will face young Briton Jack Draper, who made a brilliant start to the season by reaching the semi-finals of the Adelaide International.
"You never know with Rafa Nadal," Seth said. "We know he had a lot of injury problems and then all of a sudden he jumped up and won a Grand Slam title.
"It was like last year when he wasn't playing a lot of tennis and here at the Australian Open he lost and won the title so I wouldn't read too much that he lost two games at United Cup…
"Obviously it's not an easy draw to meet Jack Draper in the first round, but never rule him out against Rafa Nadal because he has experience, especially at Grand Slam level, and I think he is hungry for more Grand Slams for many titles."
Other notable clashes in the first round of the men's draw include world number 14 and last year's semi-finalist Matteo Berretti taking on three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray and favorite Nick Kyrgios, who is aiming for a turnover. Against Roman Safiulina, the first Australian champion in 47 years.
Swiatek's success
Iga Sviatek is looking to add Australian Open titles to her already impressive track record, which includes two French Open titles and a US Open crown.
Sviatek is just 21 years old and has been considered by many to be the dominant force in the game since Ash Barty's sensational exit last year when he was ranked No. 1 in the world.
Sviatek is currently at the top of the rankings and at the US Open late last year he dispelled any doubts that his Grand Slam success on clay could not be transferred to hard courts.
The Polish star has had a very successful 2022, winning an impressive eight titles including the French Open, US Open and WTA 1000 tournaments in Rome, Miami and Indian Wells.
Sviatek's success last year catapulted her into the stratosphere at the top of the women's rankings, overtaking world No. 2 Ounce Jaber by nearly 6,000 points.
Svatek is the undisputed favorite at the Australian Open and is confident of improving on last year's semi-final but suffered a tough draw against Germany's Jules Niemeyer in his opener.
Last year, the 23-year-old impressively reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and the last 16 of the US Open and is currently ranked second. Ranked 68th in the world, he made his first appearance in the Australian Open main draw.
One of Swatek's top title contenders in Melbourne will be world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who beat Paul in the United Cup semi-finals last week before winning the title.
It was Pegular's third win on the tour, culminating at last year's WTA 1000 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the American star has become one of the most consistent entries on the tour.
Pegula was also instrumental in winning Team USA at the United Cup, Team USA's first mixed team event, and his strong start to the year will give him confidence to win his first Grand Slam title. Down Under.
The best of the rest
Other names heading to the Australian Open include Jaber, who hit his stride in 2022 by winning two Grand Slam finals.
Despite losing in the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, Jaber won two WTA titles, including the Madrid 1000 last year, adding to her only previous title at Birmingham in 2021.
Jaber's success in 2022 has seen him rise to world No. 2, and his varied and dangerous game on all surfaces makes him a real threat in Melbourne, and the experience of reaching two major finals definitely gives him an edge.
Teenage superstar Coco Goff will be another player to duck her Grand Slam when she reaches her first final in 2022.
Gauff lost to Sviatek in the French Open final but impressed on clay, a surface which is by no means his favourite, which will no doubt give him more confidence that he can do better in his Australia well. -loved.
Although she didn't win a singles title in 2022, Goff continued her rise as one of the world's most impressive doubles players, winning three WTA titles with American Pegula.
At 18, Goff finished 2022 in the top 10 in singles and doubles, ranked seventh and fourth respectively, and will no doubt be a strong contender for all four Grand Slams in 2023.
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