Australian Open 2023: Five burning questions featuring Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz

The 2022 season could really feel prefer it has solely simply completed (most likely as a result of it has), however the 2023 Australian Open is simply 50 days away.

Sure, the primary Grand Slam of the brand new season is drawing shut. In a month gamers will begin touching down in Australia forward of the inaugural United Cup, which begins on December 29. There are then a couple of warm-up occasions earlier than the motion begins in Melbourne on January 16.

Tennis

‘Part of my life left with Federer’ – Nadal remembers emotional goodbye to tennis legend

YESTERDAY AT 09:03

With 50 days till the primary ball is hit on the first Grand Slam of the 2023 season, we pick 5 burning questions forward of the match.

How will Djokovic deal with return?

Djokovic’s return to Melbourne goes to be attention-grabbing, to say the least.

He has been the king of the Australian Open over the past decade, successful the title seven occasions since 2012, however he’s unlikely to get a royal welcome subsequent month.

The controversy over Djokovic’s entry into Australia earlier this 12 months stirred up loads of frustration and anger amongst Melburnians. There was outrage that Djokovic had been given a medical exemption to play on the match regardless of being unvaccinated, whereas Australia had endured a number of the world’s longest lockdowns and strictest journey restrictions.

Regardless that Djokovic had his visa cancelled and was deported, what occurred received’t be forgotten.

Djokovic has at all times had loads of Serbian help in Melbourne and they’ll persist with him, however the majority of followers is probably not so beneficiant of their backing.

If there’s one one that is used to coping with partisan crowds, although, it’s Djokovic. He has confronted – and overwhelmed – Roger Federer in Wimbledon and US Open finals when the group has been loudly rooting in opposition to him. He has not often – if ever – had extra followers on his aspect when he has taken on Federer or Nadal. At occasions in his profession Djokovic has appeared to thrive in unfavourable atmospheres, however will that be the case in Melbourne or may the event show an excessive amount of?

He has been taking part in fantastically to complete 2022, successful three tournaments, together with the Nitto ATP Finals, and going 18-1. If he continues the shape he has proven over the past couple of months and handles any outdoors noise then he ought to be the favorite to win a tenth Australian Open title.

Can Swiatek keep excellent kind?

Barring harm, Swiatek would be the excellent favorite to win the 2023 Australian Open.

She has simply accomplished one of the spectacular seasons in historical past, successful eight titles, together with two Grand Slams, and pulling waaaay away from everybody else within the rankings. She is going to begin the brand new season with a 6,000-point lead over world No. 2 Ons Jabeur and, after a while away to chill out and recharge, will probably be interested by how she will be able to get even higher.

“There may be nonetheless plenty of work, challenges and studying, that’s for certain and I’m enthusiastic about it,” she stated after shedding within the semi-finals of the WTA Finals.

Can Swiatek presumably repeat her breathtaking 2022 kind or will she come again to the pack a bit? It is going to be an enormous problem with so many titles to defend throughout the 12 months, however in Australia she has the prospect for enchancment after making the semi-finals of the Adelaide Worldwide and Australian Open earlier this 12 months.

Jabeur seems the perfect of the remainder and confirmed she generally is a menace on arduous courts along with her run to the US Open remaining. Caroline Garcia ought to be stuffed with confidence after capping off a comeback 12 months with victory on the WTA Finals, and Maria Sakkari and Aryna Sabalenka each appeared to seek out some kind in Texas too. Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff is also contenders at a match that has seen two American ladies make the semis for the final two years, and an American champion in Sofia Kenin in 2020.

However can anybody cease Swiatek including a fourth Grand Slam title to her quickly-growing assortment?

Will Nadal be able to contend?

Nadal has confirmed a number of occasions over the past 12 months that it’s silly to put in writing him off. On the Australian Open he received in exceptional trend regardless of lacking the final 4 months of 2021 because of harm. The French Open he received regardless of doubts over if he would even play because of a foot downside. And at Wimbledon he reached the semi-finals regardless of questions over whether or not he may nonetheless problem on grass.

So it will be foolish to counsel that Nadal received’t win the 2023 Australian Open, however honest to say it appears like a troublesome problem proper now.

Nadal completed this season with a win over Casper Ruud on the ATP Finals to keep away from a fifth straight singles defeat. He stated he was not stunned by his outcomes having been attempting to recuperate from an belly harm that hampered his hard-court summer season, however there’ll clearly should be an enchancment if Nadal goes to contend in Melbourne.

“The one factor that I can do is simply hold working, hold doing the issues that I have to do to offer myself an opportunity to begin with actual possibilities in 2023,” he stated in Turin.

“Couple of constructive issues: I used to be capable of play two tournaments within the final three weeks, one thing that I used to be not capable of do it for some time. I don’t suppose I overlook play tennis and be sturdy sufficient mentally; I simply have to recuperate all these constructive emotions and all this confidence and all this sturdy mentality that I should be on the degree that I wish to be.”

Nadal has regarded a way under his finest degree in latest weeks however even on the ATP Finals he did present some enchancment. There have been doubts over whether or not he would play his final group match having already been eradicated, however he thought he wanted the time on courtroom and he regarded good in beating Ruud in straight units.

He will probably be getting extra courtroom time with Ruud over the following few weeks because the pair journey round South America for 5 exhibition matches. If that helps construct health and Nadal is wholesome for Melbourne then together with his expertise and combating qualities he may go far once more.

Will Alcaraz problem?

Equally to Nadal, Alcaraz’s kind and health are underneath the highlight heading into the brand new season.

The world No. 1 did not scale the identical heights after his gorgeous US Open victory, shedding to David Goffin on his return to the tour in Astana and taking place in straight units to Felix Auger-Aliassime. He then missed the ATP Finals after struggling an belly harm on the Paris Masters.

It has been reported that Alcaraz will not play any aggressive occasions earlier than the Australian Open as he appears to get again to full health.

Alcaraz definitely has the sport to be a contender in Melbourne, however may the 2023 Australian Open come a bit too quickly?

If he’s 100% wholesome then a second assembly with Djokovic can be one of the hotly-anticipated matches of the match.

Will Osaka, Thiem lead bounce-back gamers?

Naomi Osaka and Dominic Thiem have each loved earlier success on the Australian Open.

Osaka is a two-time champion in Melbourne and has performed a few of her finest tennis on the match. However she’s had a troublesome 18 months on and off the courtroom, and is now ranked at No. 42 on the planet. The final trophy she lifted was the 2021 Australian Open.

If she will be able to rediscover a few of her finest kind in Melbourne may that set the tone for a comeback 12 months?

Thiem, who made the 2019 Australian Open, is in a special place to Osaka.

He has been working his means again from a wrist harm and lately has proven promising indicators of enchancment. It’s most likely an excessive amount of to anticipate him to go far on the Australian Open but when he has a powerful low season then he could possibly be a harmful identify within the draw.

—