Rafael Nadal, the man with the most Grand Slams in history, and Novak Djokovic, a nine-time champion in Melbourne, seek to enlarge their legend at the Australian Open, although they will have to stifle the incipient revolution of young talents on the circuit.
Although the prince of this new batch of talents, the number one in the Spanish world Carlos Alcaraz, will be out due to injury, there are many aspirants to end the tyranny of the so-called “Big Three”: Nadal, Djokovic and the now retired Roger Federer. .
It may be the time of the Norwegian Casper Ruud, world number 2 and finalist at Roland Garros and New York, but the Danish Holger Rune, the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime or the Italian Jack Sinner are also on the lookout.
But since 2006, only the Swiss Stan Wawrinka in 2014 was able to question the dominance of Federer, Nadal and especially Djokovic in Australia, who returns to his favorite tournament after the dramatic deportation in 2022 for not being vaccinated against covid.
“If we talk about favourites, on the Saturday before the start of the tournament, there is no doubt that Djokovic is the top favorite to win the title. But the tournaments are not won the Saturday before”, said Nadal himself.
The 36-year-old man from Manacor not only defends the title he won epically the previous year, but also the record of 22 Grand Slams, which Djokovic would equal if he won in Australia.
However, the Spaniard admitted to feeling “vulnerable”, having gone on a losing streak of just one win in the last seven matches.
“I have been losing more than usual. I need to build my momentum again, I need to build this trust with myself again through victories,” he acknowledged.
In addition, in the first round he had one of the most difficult crosses for the seeded teams, the young and powerful British Jack Draper.
“If I am able to win the first game, I will have my options,” predicted Nadal, who would not meet Djokovic until a hypothetical final.
In contrast, the 35-year-old Serbian arrives in Melbourne full of joy: winner of the ATP Finals and the previous tournament in Adelaide, euphoric to return to the venue where he keeps “the best memories” of his career.
Affected in the hamstrings since Adelaide, Djokovic acknowledged having suffered “with that a bit in the last seven days”, but he was confident that he would be able to play normally in his debut on Tuesday against the Spanish Roberto Carballés.
Djokovic, who has fallen to number 5 in the world after a season excluded from the Australian and United States Opens, faces the Open with the clear objective of matching Nadal’s 22 grands.
“That’s why I continue to play tennis professionally, because I want to be the best, I want to win the most important tournaments in the world. It’s no secret,” said the Serb, who has received a warm welcome from the Australian fans.
“There are many young people who are very hungry, who want to win. They want to skin you in the big stadium. I know”. But “at this track, I have a chance against anyone,” he said.
However, the new batch is willing to accelerate the change that began in 2022 which, for the first time in 19 years, ended without Nadal, Djokovic, Federer or the Scotsman Andy Murray at the top of the ATP ranking.
“I think this year will be a new opportunity for many more new players to demonstrate their authority, to leave their mark on tennis and reach the elite of the sport,” warned the young Australian Alex de Miñaur, with a Uruguayan father and a Spanish mother.
And between both generations, other names emerge to take into account such as the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (number 4 in the world), the Russian Andrey Rublev, the controversial local idol Nick Kyrgios or the German Alexander Zverev, who returns from the chilling ankle injury in the semifinals in Paris.
And without forgetting the Russian Daniil Medvedev who, after losing the 2020 and 2021 finals to Djokovic and Nadal, hopes to make good the saying “third time’s a charm” to win his second Grand Slam after the United States in 2021 . (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
