In search of 7th heaven

Melbourne, January 13 

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are both gunning for a record seventh Australian Open crown from Monday, but Andy Murray will make his last appearance in Melbourne as the era of the “Big Four” draws to a close.

World No. 1 Djokovic and third seed Federer face a stern challenge from the likes of youthful force Alexander Zverev, seeded four, who is still looking for a first Major to cement his place as torch-bearer for the next generation.

But Murray dropped a pre-Grand Slam bombshell, breaking down during a tear-filled press conference as he revealed chronic hip pain means he will retire after Wimbledon — if he can carry on that long. And question marks remain over the fitness of world No. 2 Rafa Nadal who pulled out of his Brisbane warm-up but arrived in Melbourne professing he was “fully fit” and promising to unleash a remodelled serve.

It all means the era of the “Big Four” is almost over after a season in which Federer — who opens his title defence against Denis Istomin on Monday — rolled back the years on Rod Laver Arena to win an emotional 20th Grand Slam. It put him on a par with other six-time Australian Open winners Djokovic and Roy Emerson — although the Australian great’s victories all came before the Open era.

By contrast, the 31-year-old Djokovic endured a miserable early Melbourne exit in 2018, followed by elbow surgery and a string of disappointing results that saw him drop outside the top-20.

But since winning a fourth Wimbledon in July, the Serb rose inexorably back to number one by losing only three further matches — one of which was to Zverev at the ATP Finals. Djokovic won his third US Open in September to put him on 14 Grand Slams — three behind Nadal and six behind Federer.

And Djokovic said that he was delighted to be back in Melbourne where his rise to greatness all began in 2008 with his first Grand Slam win. “It was my first Major trophy, that obviously served as a great springboard for my career,” Djokovic said as he prepared to open his assault on a seventh crown against American Mitchell Krueger on Tuesday.

Nadal ‘feels good’ 

Federer, now 37, remains the chief threat to the Serb and he sounded a warning on Sunday. “I’m playing good tennis. I’m confident that I think it needs a good performance by my opponent probably to beat me,” said the Swiss, who warmed for Melbourne with victory in Perth’s Hopman Cup.

Second-ranked Nadal, 32, pulled out of Brisbane with a thigh strain although he returned for an exhibition in Sydney and insisted at the weekend his fitness woes were behind him. “I feel good. If I am not feeling good, I will not be here,” he said before revealing he had remodelled his serve. “There are always things to improve,” said the Spaniard, who faces Australian wildcard James Duckworth on Monday.

Djokovic picked young guns Zverev of Germany, Borna Coric of Croatia, Karen Khachanov of Russia and Greece’s Stefano Tsitsipas as key threats to the top-three. — AFP

Youngest Slam

While Wimbledon (established in 1877) is the oldest of the four Grand Slams, the Australian Open is the youngest. It started in 1905 and was named the Australasian Championship in the beginning.

Hottest Slam

The tournament is set during peak summer in Australia. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C, while high humidity adds to the players’ difficulties. The Extreme Heat Policy was introduced in 1988, under which the referees stopped play if the temperature reached 40°C. But last year, the policy was criticised by several players. Alize Cornet and Simona Halep needed treatment. So, the organsiers have made changes to the heat policy. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, which combines air temperature and humidity, will be replaced by a heat stress scale. Air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed will be taken into account under the new system. A score of 1 on the 5-point scale is regarded as temperate playing conditions. Players will get a longer break at 4. Play will be suspended on the outside courts and the roof shut on the main courts at 5. A 10-minute break between the third and fourth sets will be introduced in the men’s singles matches.

Fifth-set tie-breaks

The 2019 edition will see final-set tie-breaks for the first time in the Australian Open history. The US Open was the first Grand Slam to introduce final-set tie-breaks. While the US Open has a standard first-to-seven-points system, at the Australian Open, winner will be decided by a first-to-10-points tie-break. Wimbledon also announced a switch to final-set tie-breaks from the 2019 edition, but the British Major will have a first-to-seven-points tie-break when the scores reach 12-12 in the final set.

Defending champions

Men’s singles: Roger Federer

Women’s singles: Caroline Wozniacki

Men’s doubles: Oliver Marach & Mate Pavic

Women’s doubles: Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic

Mixed doubles: Gabriela Dabrowski & Mate Pavic

Monday’s main matches

Women: 30-Maria Sharapova (Russia) vs Harriet Dart (Britain); Polona Hercog (Slovenia) vs 2-Angelique Kerber (Germany); Alison Van Uytvanck (Belgium) vs 3-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark); 5-Sloane Stephens (US) vs Taylor Townsend (US); 8-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) vs Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 

Men: James Duckworth (Australia) vs 2-Rafa Nadal (Spain); Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) vs 3-Roger Federer (Switzerland); 6-Marin Cilic (Croatia) vs Bernard Tomic (Australia); 22-Roberto Bautista Agut (Spain) vs Andy Murray (Britain)