Rafael Nadal opens his Australian Open title protection Monday feeling susceptible and in opposition to a harmful younger opponent, with girls’s high seed Iga Swiatek additionally going through a difficult encounter as she targets a maiden crown.
The first Grand Slam of the yr kicks off at Melbourne Park with the boys’s world No. 1 rating at stake and a brand new girls’s champion set to be topped after Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement following her win final yr.
Spanish nice Nadal, 36, has misplaced six of his previous seven matches, together with his opening two this yr, forward of a tough afternoon conflict on Rod Laver Arena in opposition to Britain’s in-form Jack Draper.
“Probably one of the toughest first-round (games) possible, being seeded,” stated the 22-time Grand Slam winner and high seed. “Young, powerful, growing very, very fast on the ranking, playing well.”
The fast-improving Draper, 21, made the semifinals of the Adelaide International this week and stated he wouldn’t be overawed, regardless of Nadal being an idol.
“I want to go and compete hard and really play well and I want to go and win the match, of course. So that will be the plan,” he stated.
Nadal surged to the title final yr with an exhilarating five-set win over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who faces American Marcos Giron on heart court docket in a night match.
His run to a primary Australian crown since 2009 got here within the absence of nine-time champion Novak Djokovic, who’s again this yr and a heavy favourite after lacking the 2022 occasion when he was deported over his COVID vaccination stance.
The 35-year-old Serbian begins Tuesday in opposition to Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena, bidding not only for a tenth title and to equal Nadal’s 22 Slams, however to reclaim the highest world rating.
“I like my chances,” stated Djokovic, who’s in type, profitable at Adelaide final week after ending 2022 with one other ATP Finals triumph.
He can return to the highest by lifting the trophy. So can Norway’s Casper Ruud and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, in keeping with the governing physique ATP.
World No. 3 Ruud may turn into world No. 1 by reaching the ultimate, as lengthy neither Djokovic nor Tsitsipas win the title.
If none of these situations play out, the reign of Carlos Alcaraz, who is just not enjoying in Melbourne on account of harm, will proceed.
Tsitsipas opens his marketing campaign in opposition to France’s Quentin Halys on Margaret Court Arena, with Ruud in motion on Tuesday.
‘Intense’ opener for Swiatek
Top seed Swiatek is a transparent favourite having dominated girls’s tennis following the retirement of Barty in March final yr.
The Pole secured eight WTA titles in 2022 and have become the primary lady in six years to win two Grand Slams in the identical season – at Roland Garros and New York.
With retired nice Serena Williams and two-time Melbourne winner Naomi Osaka additionally lacking, it’s nearly sure that there will likely be a brand new title on the Daphne Akhurst trophy.
The solely former title-holders within the draw are out-of-sorts Sofia Kenin, who gained in 2020, and Victoria Azarenka, whose second Australian Open triumph was a decade in the past.
Swiatek begins on Monday in opposition to Jule Niemeier, the German world No. 68 who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon final yr.
More lately, the pair clashed within the final 16 on the U.S. Open, the place Swiatek needed to dig deep after dropping the primary set earlier than happening to win the match.
“It’s not going to be easy,” she stated of Neimeier.
“But any match in a Grand Slam is always more intense and more stressful than other tournaments. I’ll be ready for it.”
American world quantity three Jessica Pegula can even fancy her possibilities.
The 28-year-old performed a central position for the victorious USA crew on the United Cup to proceed her red-hot type from the tip of the 2022 season, which included lifting a second singles trophy on the WTA 1000 in Guadalajara.
She performs Romania’s Jacqueline Cristian first up.
Sixth seed Maria Sakkari and seventh seed Coco Gauff are additionally in motion Monday, as is Azarenka – in opposition to Kenin.
