Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in motion throughout follow forward of the Australian Open
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters
Novak Djokovic will launch his bid for Grand Slam historical past on the Australian Open in opposition to an 18-year-old qualifier after Jannik Sinner got here by way of a testing opener in fashion.
Ladies’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka begins her personal title defence in sunny Melbourne, whereas males’s fifth seed Andrey Rublev can be in motion.
World primary Djokovic is gunning for his eleventh Australian Open title and twenty fifth main, which might take him away from Margaret Courtroom on the all-time listing.
The Serbian, with 24 Grand Slams, is already the most-decorated participant within the males’s recreation — two away from the injured Rafael Nadal and 4 forward of the retired Roger Federer.
Djokovic got here inside a whisker of finishing a calendar Grand Slam final 12 months, successful three majors and shedding an exciting Wimbledon closing to Carlos Alcaraz.
The 36-year-old, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in final 12 months’s title match in Melbourne, is the new favorite once more and might be fancied to breeze by way of his opener in opposition to Dino Prizmic.
The age hole of 18 years and 75 days between the 2 is the best in an Australian Open males’s match since Ken Rosewall downed qualifier Cary Stansbury in 1978.
“I’m simply hoping I can begin the season in a approach that I’ve been beginning my seasons, most of my seasons, all through my profession, with a win right here in Australia, in Melbourne,” mentioned Djokovic.
“It’s my favorite place, little doubt — the courtroom the place I’ve carried out nice issues and achieved my biggest Grand Slam outcomes.”
Sinner, who opted to not play any warm-up tournaments, overcame Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 within the opening match on Rod Laver Enviornment.
The Italian fourth seed, one in all a brand new era of younger weapons in search of to dethrone mighty Djokovic, didn’t have all of it his personal approach in opposition to his Dutch opponent however raised his stage in the important thing moments.
“Bodily I really feel good in fine condition, the primary spherical isn’t straightforward so I will be proud of in the present day,” he mentioned.
Krejcikova survives
It was more durable for former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who survived a scare to beat Japanese wildcard Mai Hontama 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Czech ninth seed, who triumphed at Roland Garros in 2021, dug deep when trailing 3-1 within the second set after shedding the opener and ultimately turned the tables.
Belarusian star Sabalenka, scheduled on courtroom within the night session, loved a breakthrough 2023 during which she gained in Melbourne, completed runner-up on the US Open and made the semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
In doing so, she grew to become the primary lady since Serena Williams in 2016 to succeed in at the least the semi-finals of all 4 Grand Slams in a calendar 12 months.
Presently ranked quantity two behind Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the 25-year-old, who faces unseeded German Ella Seidel, mentioned she was in fine condition mentally and bodily.
Former champion Caroline Wozniacki, granted a wildcard to compete, returns to the scene of her biggest triumph 4 years after her final look at Melbourne Park.
The 2018 Australian Open winner has joined a gaggle of tennis mums juggling on-court commitments with the duties of motherhood, together with Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.
The 33-year-old, who performs Poland’s Twentieth-seed Magda Linette, nonetheless believes she will combine it with one of the best regardless of her lengthy absence from the tour.
