Novak Djokovic speaks to the media forward of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
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A “pain-free” Novak Djokovic begins his Australian Open defence in opposition to a teenage qualifier on Sunday as he bids for an unprecedented 25th main crown, however girls’s prime seed Iga Swiatek faces a a lot trickier project.
The opening Grand Slam of the yr will get below manner as a 15-day occasion for the primary time, aimed at chopping down on late-night finishes.
World primary Djokovic is an amazing favorite, with a sore wrist that forged a shadow over his build-up now not troubling him.
He ought to have few issues progressing from his night conflict on Rod Laver Arena in opposition to 18-year-old Croat Dino Prizmic, who’s making his important draw Slam debut.
“It’s exciting to be a part of another Slam,” stated the 36-year-old Djokovic, who has not misplaced at the Australian Open since 2018.
“I’m just hoping I can start the season in a way that I have been starting my seasons, most of my seasons, throughout my career, with a win here in Australia, in Melbourne. My favourite place, no doubt.”
The Serbian’s first actual take a look at may come in the third spherical, with a possible blockbuster showdown in opposition to fellow veteran Andy Murray.
Scotland’s Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, begins in opposition to Argentine thirtieth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Djokovic surged to the title final yr with a three-set victory over this yr’s seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who faces a tricky first-round take a look at from former prime 10 Italian Matteo Berrettini.
If the Serb wins once more, he’ll move Australian Margaret Court’s all-time Slam record and be a part of Court (Australian Open) and Rafael Nadal (French Open) as the one gamers ever to win 11 occasions at a single main.
Adding to the intrigue, the primary rating is at stake, with Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev all in rivalry.
Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon remaining final yr, is a unique participant from the one who final graced the Australian exhausting courts as an 18-year-old ranked exterior the highest 30.
After lacking final yr’s occasion with a hamstring harm, he’s now a two-time main champion and world quantity two.
“I am looking at reaching the final and hopefully playing a final against him (Djokovic),” stated the 20-year-old Spaniard, who will meet French veteran Richard Gasquet first.
Russia’s Medvedev, a Melbourne finalist in 2021 and 2022, kicks off in opposition to qualifier Terence Atmane, vowing to show over a brand new leaf and tone down the on-court tantrums.
“I want to change, I want to mature,” he stated.
Not simple
Former champions Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki make their return to Grand Slam tennis after having infants, amongst a clutch of moms in the ladies’s draw.
But world primary and prime seed Swiatek is evident favorite, having been a dominant drive since Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement after successful the 2022 event.
The Pole is on a 16-match win streak, gunning for a fifth Grand Slam title and first in Australia.
She opens with a rematch of the 2020 Roland Garros remaining in opposition to Sofia Kenin that earned her a primary main title.
“I know she’s been playing some solid tennis. It’s not going to be easy. I’ll just get prepared the same way as usual,” stated Swiatek of the American, now ranked 38.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who final yr grew to become the primary lady since Serena Williams in 2016 to succeed in at least the semi-finals of all 4 Grand Slams, will likely be an enormous menace.
She is gunning for a second title after beating Elena Rybakina in the 2023 remaining and faces German qualifier Ella Seidel in a night match on centre courtroom Sunday.
“I did really a great pre-season. We worked a lot. I felt like we improved a lot,” she stated after warming up by making the Brisbane International remaining, the place she misplaced to Rybakina.
Third seed Rybakina faces a bumper showdown first in opposition to former world primary Karolina Pliskova, whereas Osaka has a frightening activity after being pitted in opposition to French Sixteenth-seed Caroline Garcia.
