Zverev, Djokovic, Thiem, Swiatek - five questions before the Australian Open
One more week, then the Australian Open 2023 will start. The favorites are clear. But we still have a few questions...
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 09, 2023, 04:24 pm
Question 1: Will Novak Djokovic get bored from the tournament?
Defeats in exhibition fights are such a thing. And someone like Novak Djokovic couldn't care less. The Grand Slam events are the most important. And after Djokovic's performances in Adelaide you have to ask yourself: who should stop him on the way to his 22nd major title? Except for himself, of course. Because sometimes the grandmaster feels a little too safe on the road to victory. Just like last year in the Roland Garros quarter-finals, when Rafael Nadal pulled one last rabbit out of his sleeveless shirt. On the other hand: The last defeat in Australia dates from 2018: Djokovic lost to Hyeon Chung in the round of 16. And against Sebastian Korda in the final in Adelaide, the Serbian grandmaster has just shown again that he is not willing to give up easily.
Question 2: How fit are Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev?
no Even with the second check of the tableaus in Auckland and Adelaide 2, the name Dominic Thiem does not catch your eye. And so Austria's number one goes into the first major of the year with a whopping 17 games of match practice, which he collected in the 4: 6 and 1: 6 against Soonwoo Kwon in the Adelaide 1 qualifier. can be fine But it can't go well with the notorious frequent player Thiem either. After all, Thiem will open another show fight this week - in Kooyong. After all, Alexander Zverev has two serious matches in his legs. And two losses against Jiri Lehecka and Taylor Fritz at the ATP Cup. According to his own statements, Zverev is not quite back to the top of his creativity. A good draw is necessary.
Question 3: Who will still have to do without a start?
Carlos Alcaraz would not have started as the actual favorite - that is certainly Novak Djokovic - at the Australian Open. It hurts that the number one on the ATP charts will be missing from the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. Does Jannik Sinner face the same fate? And what about Iga Swiatek, who surprisingly lost her last match at the United Cup against Jessica Pegula? And then decided not to start in Adelaide … Things are not looking good for Emma raducanu after the fall in Auckland.
Question 4: What are the young, supposedly savages doing?
To do this, the group of players to whom this can apply must first be narrowed down: Linda Noskova, the week-one sensation in Adelaide, must first struggle through qualifying for Melbourne. According to his Instagram feed, Holger Rune, who can be said to be young and a certain wildness, trains obsessively. In Adelaide, however, it was already over in round one, Rune pulled out of the tableau in Auckland. And otherwise? Is there more potential for youthful surprises on the part of women? About by Linda Frühvirtova. But the same applies here: It depends on the draw.
Question 5: What is local hero Nick Kyrgios capable of?
A nice question, isn't it? Kyrgios is hiding from the public eye due to what his manager said was a legitimate injury. And in addition to great ambitions in singles, he also has to defend the title in doubles. Will the body keep up with the first single title in a Grand Slam tournament for Kyrgios? Suspicion: no. Will the nerves hold up? Suspicion: also no. Ultimately, it's like this: there are too many players in the tableau who can play tennis better than Nick Kyrgios. And are in better physical shape.