Australian Open: Djokovic chasing tenth title, Swiatek first. Berrettini and Sinner aim to be protagonists

We broke up in September with Carlos Alcaraz king of New York and fresh n. 1 in the world and Djokovic once again forced to watch a Grand Slam rehearsal from home for not having been vaccinated against Covid. Just 4 months have passed and the landscape has completely reversed. In Melbourne, for the first Major of 2023 (16-29 January), the 19-year-old Spanish talent will not be there due to an injury to his right leg sustained in training. On the other hand, after being expelled from the country last year for failing to comply with the rules for the pandemic, the Serbian who has not lost in the Australian Open since 2018 and is hunting for a historic 10th title that would allow him to cut first the goal of double digits (second in Grand Slam tournaments after Nadal, unattainable with his 14 victories at Roland Garros). The 10th trophy would have a fourfold meaning: because, in addition to snatching the scepter of outgoing champion from him, it would simultaneously allow Nole to reach the Majorcan in the lead at 22 in the absolute ranking of the Majors and to detach him in successes in ATP tournaments, where they are now even (92-92).

We see Zverev again, draw on Thursday morning

Djokovic, who will be the fourth seed behind Nadal, Ruud And Tsitsipas, knows he has a great opportunity and that’s why he didn’t want to overlook the slightest detail. Dominated the ATP Finals, he restarted this year from the success in Adelaide, obtained after having liquidated Medvedev in the semifinals and canceling a match-point in the final in Korda. In the list of rivals, Djokovic will find himself Alexander Zverev who is making his comeback after the serious ankle injury he suffered at Roland Garros which forced him to miss the entire second part of last season, without being able to celebrate the conquest of 2nd place in the world rankings. The draw, scheduled for Thursday at 6pm local time (8am in Italy) will certainly help to better compile the list of favourites.

Berrettini, Sinner and Musetti among the top seeds

In the list of the 32 seeds there are also 3 Italians, for the first time simultaneously among the top 20 in the ATP ranking: Berrettini, sinner And musetti. The Roman, number 13, aims to make a great start after the bitterness for the semifinal knockout against Nadal last season, the forced withdrawals in Paris (due to the hand injury) and Wimbledon (due to Covid) and the quarterfinals in New York . At the United Cup, however, he was among the protagonists of Italy’s silver medal, obtaining 3 victories, two of which were heavy against Ruud and Hurkacz, and losing narrowly with Tsitsipas and Fritz. sinner, n. 15, still has to digest the daring knockout with Alcaraz in Flushing Meadows. The doubts about the South Tyrolean are exclusively of a physical nature. Having overcome the hand problem that had forced him to desert the Davis Cup at the end of the year, he had a little hip discomfort in Adelaide. If the physicist will support him, he will be able to easily say the part about him. A speech that also applies to Lorenzo musetti, n. 18, who was forced to retire at the United Cup due to pain in his right shoulder which risks seriously compromising his participation in Melbourne. From the other two Italians currently in the draw, Sonego And Fogniniit is legitimate to expect at least one high note.

Ladies, Swiatek dreams of a first triumph in Melbourne

In the women’s tournament the most awaited is Iga Swiatek who, after having won the titles in Paris and New York in 2022, is looking for his first success at the Australian Open. After the withdrawal of Serena Williams and defending champion Ashleigh Barty and the forfeit of 2021 winner Naomi Osaka, the rivals will be Jabeur (2), finalist in the last two Grand Slam rounds, Pegula (3), Garcia (4), Sabalenka (5), Sakkari (6), Gauff (7) and the Russians Kasatkina (8) and Kudermetova (9). For Americans Collins (finalist) e Keys (semifinalist) it will be difficult to repeat last season’s exploits. Among the outsiders seem the most fearsome Badosa (11), Halep (12) and bencic (13).

Trevisan seeded, first of 5 blue in the draw

Among the top seeds there is also an Italian, Martina Trevisan (No. 22). At the United Cup he underwent probative training sessions racking up 6 games with Swiatek and Pegula but also a good victory in 3 sets with Sakkari which should give her the right energy to try not to look bad. With her on the draw there will also be 4 other blues: Lucia Bronzetti (50), Jasmin Paolini (65), Elizabeth Cocciaretto (67) and Camila Giorgi (69) whose objective remains to reach the round of 16 for the first time.

End of Covid restrictions, higher jackpot

The Australian Open, after the restrictions due to the pandemic, will try to return to normal: players, in fact, will not be required to make any positivity to Covid public. An extra help for the athletes who will thus be able to hunt for the richest prize money ever: 48.3 million euros to be distributed among all the main draws (doubles included) and those qualifying for men’s and women’s singles. The increase is 3.4% compared to 2022 and marks an uninterrupted growth trend since 2003, when the total was less than AUD 20 million.

Where to see the tournament on TV and in streaming

The tournament will be televised exclusively by Eurosporton the Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 channels, visible both for subscribers to Sky (channels 210 and 211), than to those who own Dazn or TIM Vision Plus. In streaming, the coverage of the fields will be total on the platform Discovery+.