Novak Djokovic is poised to commence his quest for Grand Slam history at the Australian Open this Sunday, facing an 18-year-old qualifier after Jannik Sinner triumphed in a challenging opening match.
In sunny Melbourne, women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka embarks on her title defense, and men’s fifth seed Andrey Rublev is set to make his mark.
The world number one, Djokovic, has his sights set on an 11th Australian Open title and a 25th major, surpassing Margaret Court on the all-time list. With 24 Grand Slam victories, the Serbian already holds the record as the most decorated player in the men’s game; two titles clear of the injured Rafael Nadal and four ahead of the retired Roger Federer.
Djokovic narrowly missed achieving a calendar Grand Slam last year, securing three majors but losing a thrilling Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz. The 36-year-old, who defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s title match in Melbourne, is the favored contender and is expected to navigate through his opening match against Dino Prizmic.
The age gap of 18 years and 75 days between Djokovic and Prizmic marks the most significant difference in an Australian Open men’s match since 1978 when Ken Rosewall defeated qualifier Cary Stansbury.
“I’m just hoping I can start the season in a way that I have been starting my seasons, most of my seasons, throughout my career, with a win here in Australia, in Melbourne,” expressed Djokovic. “It’s my favorite place, no doubt; the court where I’ve done great things and achieved my greatest Grand Slam results.”
Sinner, opting out of warm-up tournaments, overcame Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena. The Italian fourth seed, part of the emerging generation challenging Djokovic’s dominance, faced a tough challenge but elevated his performance in crucial moments.
Barbora Krejcikova, the former French Open champion, faced a formidable test but survived to beat Japanese wildcard Mai Hontama 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. The Czech ninth seed, triumphant at Roland Garros in 2021, rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the second set to turn the tables.
In the evening session, Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka, ranked number two, begins her campaign against unseeded German Ella Seidel. Sabalenka had a stellar 2023, winning in Melbourne, finishing as the runner-up at the US Open, and making the semi-finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open winner, returns to Melbourne Park four years after her last appearance.
Granted a wildcard, the 33-year-old, now part of a group of tennis moms juggling on-court commitments with motherhood duties, faces Poland’s 20th-seed Magda Linette. Despite her extended absence from the tour, Wozniacki remains confident in her ability to compete at the highest level.
Source: AFP
