Players and organisers alike are putting finishing touches on preparations for the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.
Novak Djokovic resumes his Grand Slam title race with Rafael Nadal from Monday, returning to what was his happiest hunting ground before the ugly controversy which led to his absence last year. Having arrived in Australia unvaccinated 12 months ago, the nine-times Melbourne champion was deported amid a backlash from angry Australians who had endured some of the world’s toughest lockdowns as COVID-19 infections surged.
Nadal pounced on the opportunity, vanquishing Daniil Medvedev in an epic final to capture his second title at Melbourne Park, and more importantly his 21st at Grand Slams, before adding one more major trophy to his tally at the French Open.
Second seed Casper Ruud made the most of Djokovic’s enforced absence at the U.S. Open by reaching his second Grand Slam final of 2022 and the Norwegian will continue to knock on the door in search of his maiden major.
The injury withdrawal of world number one and U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz robbed the year’s first Grand Slam of a genuine title contender.
There is depth at the top of men’s tennis and the likes of Medvedev, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime could all step up to loosen the old guard’s Grand Slam grip.
The race to fill the void in women’s singles left by the absence of the likes of last year’s home-grown champion Ashleigh Barty and seven-times winner Serena Williams should be spearheaded by Iga Swiatek, who looked unbeatable at times last season.
Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers rate powerful baseliners Aryna Sabalenka, champion in Adelaide last week, and Jessica Pegula, who helped the United States win the United Cup, as the best chances of taking the title after Swiatek. Charismatic American teenager Coco Gauff would be a popular champion, not least in the Australian Open marketing department.
The first round of the Australian Open is set to begin on Monday with finals taking place on the weekend of January 28, 29.
