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Djokovic, Nadal remain favourites among old guard as NextGen eyes top prize | Barty, Osaka stand in way of Serena’s record Grand Slam win

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Melbourne, January 19

Old stagers Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will aim to keep the younger generation of players waiting in the wings as Grand Slam tennis enters a new decade at the Australian Open on Monday.

After recent bushfire smog largely cleared in Melbourne, the view is all too familiar with Djokovic and Williams, who is seeking a record-equalling 24th Major title, installed as the bookies’ favourites. Top seed Rafael Nadal, 33, is celebrating becoming world No. 1 in a third decade, while Roger Federer, 38, is trying to defy the ageing process and stay ahead of his rivals with a 21st Grand Slam win.

The start of 2020 is not dissimilar to 2010, when Federer and Nadal shared the four Grand Slam titles and Williams won in Melbourne and Wimbledon. Ten years later, the men’s Big Three — who have won all but two Australian Open titles since 2004 — occupy the top three rankings, and Williams is one step away from Margaret Court’s record for Grand Slam victories.

The men’s dominance is stark: since Federer won his first Grand Slam title in 2003, only five Major finals have not featured one of the Swiss, Nadal or Djokovic. Several challengers have come and gone but there is increasing hope for the men’s up-and-comers, while nine women have won Grand Slam titles since Williams, 38, claimed her 23rd in Melbourne in 2017.

Very close

While Djokovic and Nadal split last year’s Grand Slams, Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Fabio Fognini won their first Masters trophies and Stefanos Tsitsipas, 21, became the youngest ATP Finals champion in 18 years.

The clash between old and new will be epitomised in the first round on Monday, when Venus Williams, who turns 40 this year, plays 15-year-old rising star Coco Gauff — who wasn’t even born when her fellow American lifted her first Grand Slam trophies in 2000.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka, 22, is defending a title for the second Grand Slam in a row after her repeat bid at last year’s US Open fell flat in the fourth round. World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, fresh from winning the Adelaide International on Saturday, carries Australian hopes of seeing the first home-grown women’s winner since 1978.

‘Moderate’

The tournament is taking place against the backdrop of a bushfires emergency that has swept the nation and ramped up fears over global warming — and billowed choking smog across Melbourne and other cities. After player anger during qualifying and practice, when several were hit by coughing fits and breathing problems, air pollution returned to ‘moderate’ levels over the weekend, with rain forecast for the start of the tournament. — AFP


Oz Open in numbers

Most titles

  • Men’s singles: Before 1968: Roy Emerson (6) | Open Era: Novak Djokovic (7)
  • Women’s singles: Before 1968: Margaret Court (7) | Open Era: Serena Williams (7)

Prize money

  • Singles winners: A$4.12 million | Total prize pot: A$71 million

Man to beat

Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

  • Ranking: 2 | Age: 32
  • Major titles: 16 | Career titles: 77
  • Best at Oz Open: Winner
  • (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019)

The rubber-limbed Serb has dominated in Melbourne throughout the last decade and after his heroics at the ATP Cup, he begins a new one looking primed to claim a record-extending eighth title. Djokovic’s laser-like groundstrokes are at their most dangerous on Melbourne’s fast hardcourts while his defensive skills drive opponents to distraction. A mouthwatering potential semifinal with Roger Federer looms.

"I don’t think that’s miles, miles away maybe as it was some years ago. I think they are definitely hungry. They’re challenging. They’re knocking on the door"— Novak Djokovic, on NextGen


Raging Bull

Rafael Nadal (Spain)

  • Ranking: 1 | Age: 33
  • Major titles: 19
  • Career titles: 84
  • Best at Oz Open: Winner (2009)

The Australian Open has not always been kind to Nadal and it is more than a decade since he won the trophy in memorable fashion against Roger Federer. But he arrives this time apparently free of injury niggles and with the gas tank full. Playing much more offensively in latter years, Nadal’s action-man style will be tough to contain and it will take an inspired player to stop him if he stays fit.


Still going

Roger Federer (Switzerland)

  • Ranking: 3 | Age: 38
  • Major titles: 20 |
  • Career titles: 103
  • Best at Oz Open: Winner (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018)

While Federer continues to wield a racquet he can never be discounted. His age is against him, but his ability to conjure shots that other players can only dream of endures, as does his incredible athleticism and stamina. The hunger remains too, and if he can play quick and smooth and avoid wasting energy in a kind-looking draw for the early rounds he will approach the second week believing he can win the title for the third time in four years.

"I got to really make sure I get out of the gates quick. Practice has been going well. Had plenty of time to pace myself, I hope it’s enough" Roger Federer


Machine

Daniil Medvedev (Russia)

  • Ranking: 4 | Age: 23
  • Major titles: 0 | Career titles: 7
  • Best at Oz Open: Round 4

Medvedev has catapulted himself to the front of the queue for the most likely player to take a maiden Grand Slam this year. The occasionally volatile Russian has one of the best brains on Tour with remarkable composure under pressure and packing a punch with his serve and forehand. Perhaps not a 10 out of 10 for style, Medvedev has an incredible ability to change his approach during matches, happy to serve and volley or go toe-to-toe in 30-stroke rallies. Djokovic recently called him a “machine”.

Greek flair

Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece)

  • Ranking: 6 | Age: 21
  • Major titles: 0 | Career titles: 4
  • Best at Oz Open: Semifinals (2019)

The polar opposite to Medvedev in many ways. Tsitsipas does everything with panache and there are few more spectacular sights than the dashing Greek in full flow. There is substance too. In winning the ATP Finals title, beating Federer in the semifinals before downing Dominic Thiem, he showed he thrives on the big stage. He will enjoy strong support in Melbourne from the large Greek community and if there was ever a ‘home’ Grand Slam for him it is this one.


Still fighting, still searching

Serena Williams (US)

  • Ranking: 9 (8th seed) | Age: 38
  • Major titles: 23 | Career titles: 73
  • Best at Oz Open: Winner (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017)

Williams kicked off the new season in style by claiming her first WTA title in almost three years and she will hope it is a stepping stone on her path to an elusive 24th Grand Slam title. The American, now in her fourth decade as a professional, has lost her last four Grand Slam finals. Williams may not need statistics to prove her standing in the game but she still remains the player to beat in Melbourne.


Home favourite

Ash Barty (Australia)

  • Ranking: 1 | Age: 23
  • Major titles: 1 | Career titles: 7
  • Best at Oz Open: Quarterfinals (2019)

Not many players in recent years have shown as impressive an ability as Barty to block out outside noise and stay focused on the tennis court. Her varied game means she has more options than most on court but her mental toughness will be put to the test again as she looks to become first homegrown winner of an Australian Open singles title since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

"My face is everywhere a little bit, isn’t it? I’m a bit sick of it, to be honest.(But) there’s no extra pressure, I don’t read the papers... It’s amazing to have so much support and so much love from the Australian public" Ash Barty 


Troubled champ

Naomi Osaka (Japan)

  • Ranking: 3 | Age: 22
  • Major titles: 2 | Career titles: 5
  • Best at Oz Open: Winner (2019)

When Osaka sealed her second Grand Slam title triumph in Melbourne last year and clinched the top ranking, she looked set to become the new dominant force in the women’s game. But struggling to cope with injuries and expectations, she suffered early exits at Wimbledon and US Open before wrapping up the season on a positive note with back-to-back titles in the Asian swing.


Fighter

Simona Halep (Romania)

  • Ranking: 4 | Age: 28
  • Major titles: 2 | Career titles: 19
  • Best at Oz Open: Runner-up (2018)

Despite losing the number one spot in the WTA rankings and having to deal with a lingering back injury, the Romanian captured her second major at Wimbledon last season. Although Halep has revealed that her main priority for 2020 is the Tokyo Olympics, she vowed to give her “maximum” to win her third career Grand Slam in Melbourne, with former coach Darren Cahill back in her corner.

"I just feel like I’m experiencing so many things in my life and ... and I’m trying to take it all into perspective that these are things that I’ve never thought I was going to be able to do" — Naomi Osaka


Final curtain

MELBOURNE: While most of her rivals are looking for a strong showing at Melbourne Park to kickstart their seasons, a defeat for Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open will bring an end to 15 years of hitting a ball over a net for a living. Keen to move on to the next stage of her life with her husband of seven months, former NBA All Star David Lee, Wozniacki has decided that the 108th Australian Open will be her last tournament. A loss to American Kristie Ahn on Monday, however unlikely, would therefore bring down the curtain on a career that has earned her more than $35 million from winnings alone. “I’ve just approached it like any other tournament but obviously it’s different since it’s my last one,” the 29-year-old Dane said. “I’m just enjoying being out there. I have my family here, which is great. I’m sure once the last ball is hit, it’s going to be a bit emotional.” reuters

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