We take a look into some of the big names ahead of the upcoming Australian Open.
novak djokovic
#1
World number one Novak Djokovic has a gulf between him and the rest of the ATP Tour from a points perspective and that makes him the deserved favourite to win an unprecedented ninth Australian Open crown.
He comes into the tournament having won both of his ATP Cup lead-up events against Alexander Zverev and Dennis Shapavalov.
Djokovic did have a bit of a hiccup prior to those two wins with blisters on his hand forcing him to rest prior to his ATC Cup wins, but that won’t prove a deterring factor to the champion.
The $2.24 will become odds-on as the tournament progresses.
Rafael Nadal
#2
Intrigue surrounds the 34-year-old Spanish veteran and his fitness heading into his 18th Australian Open.
Currently ranked number two in the ATP rankings, Nadal has not played in a match since the ATP World Tour Finals back in November 2020.
There are a heap of question marks about the fitness of the 20-time grand slam champion but he is set to line-up in his first round clash against Laslo Dere.
Nadal has only won this grandslam once in his career and that was back in 2009 when he began to hit the peak of his powers.
If he wins he will become the the first player in the ‘Open era’ to have won multiple grand slams at each of the four grand slam events and will become the outright leader in career grand slams won.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
#5
He’s the tennis version of ‘The Greek Freak.’
Stefanos Tsitsipas has used 2019 and 2020 as a building block from becoming one of the best tennis players on the planet.
The 22-year-old, who hails from Athens, sits sixth on the ATP rankings heading into the Australian Open.
He’ll be looking to make a vast improvement on last year’s Australian Open after he was bundled out in the third round by big hitting Canadian Milos Raonic.
Tsitsipas boasts a strong record on his Australian Open resume after reaching the semi-finals in 2019 where he was well beaten by Spanish champion Rafael Nadal.
His lead-up form this year has been very strong too.
Straight set victories against Roberto Bautista-Agut and Alex De Minaur in the ATC Cup continue to prove why he has to be considered a genuine threat to win his first career grand slam.
Jannik Sinner
italy
Intrigue surrounds the 34-year-old Spanish veteran and his fitness heading into his 18th Australian Open.
Currently ranked number two in the ATP rankings, Nadal has not played in a match since the ATP World Tour Finals back in November 2020.
There are a heap of question marks about the fitness of the 20-time grand slam champion but he is set to line-up in his first round clash against Laslo Dere.
Nadal has only won this grandslam once in his career and that was back in 2009 when he began to hit the peak of his powers.
If he wins he will become the the first player in the ‘Open era’ to have won multiple grand slams at each of the four grand slam events and will become the outright leader in career grand slams won.
ashleigh barty
#1
It’s time for Ashleigh Barty to bring the ‘Barty Party’ to Melbourne Park and win her first home grand slam.
She threatened to do so last year but was halted in the semi-final by the eventual 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.
There was much criticism of Barty at the time given Kenin won in straight sets but Barty has not let that deter her since.
She currently holds sway at the top of the WTA rankings and with good reason too.
Barty claimed the Yarra Valley Classic over the weekend with a comprehensive straight sets win over world number 15 Garbine Murguruza.
sofia kenin
#4
Sofia Kenin is one the hardest hitting players in that WTA tour and is a danger to anyone who plays her.
However, the 2020 Australian Open champion heads into Melbourne Park with an injury cloud hanging over her after being dispatched by Garbine Murgurza in the Yarra Valley Cup.
Kenin pulled up with a leg injury that hampered her in the loss to Muguruza but confirmed she will be right to go ahead of Round 1 clash against Maddison Inglis.
If the 22-year-old American shows no signs of that leg complaint giving her any trouble early in the tournament then she has a massive chance to make it back to back grand slams wins in Australia.
Serena Williams
#10
She’s a mother. She’s nearly forty years old and she’s the greatest women’s player of the modern era.
Serena Williams has not won a grand slam since her Australian Open triumph in 2017 which was her 23rd career grand slam win, but discount her at your own peril.
It’s an uncommon sight to see her outside the top 10 as she currently sits 11th in the WTA rankings but she was in good touch in the lead-up matches to her Round 1 clash against Laura Siegemund.
Williams forfeited from her match against Ashleigh Barty after a grinding three-set win over Danielle Collins was followed by commanding victories against Tsvetana Pironkova and Daria Gavrilova.
