The 2023 Australian Open begins on Monday with some of the biggest tennis stars to fight it out to win the first grand slam of the year. In what will be one of the most open tournaments in Australian Open history, there is a strong likelihood that we will see maiden grand slam winners at Melbourne Park. Here are my predictions for how the happy slam will play out.
Men’s Competition:
Novak Djokovic is the short-price favourite to win the Australian Open, in what would be his 10th Norman Brookes trophy. After world number one Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to a leg injury, Djokovic can sit atop of the ATP rankings if he goes all the way. Blacklisted from the event last year, the Serbian is yet to miss a beat in 2023, winning the Adelaide International. There is some slight concern though for the former world number one who has hamstring soreness. He should make the quarter finals with ease, however it will be make or break when he reaches this stage.
World number two, Rafael Nadal has the chance to successfully defend a grand slam title for the first time since 2020 when he competes in Melbourne. Yet to win in 2023, Nadal will look to find momentum on the big stage. Like Djokovic, the two-time winner has concerns over his fitness, so there is a chance that he could underperform. The Spaniard should at least make it to the fourth round, but Frances Tiafoe could sneak through in an upset. A 2022 men’s final rematch with Daniil Medvedev would most likely wait if he made the quarter final.
Speaking of Medvedev, he looks to go one better in Melbourne after a finals loss last year. The former world number one, Medvedev reached the semi-final of the Adelaide International before bowing out to eventual winner Novak Djokovic. Advancing to the quarter finals shouldn’t be an issue for the two-time finalist, facing what seems to be an easy portion of the draw. If the 2021 US Open champion can get through a potential quarter final against Nadal, then a semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas could await.
In my opinion, Tsitsipas looks the likely of the three players to make the final. The world number four is on a five-match winning streak, one of which came against Medvedev. He might be 2-7 against Nadal, but with an injury cloud lingering over the 22-time grand slam winner, it might be time for the Greek star to breakthrough.
On the other side of the bracket, everything is aligned for Djokovic to win his fourth-consecutive title, however there is one man that I believe will upstage the 21-time major winner. Australia’s own Nick Kyrgios will win his maiden grand slam. If you break it down thoroughly, the signs point to this happening. It should be a breeze for the tennis ace until the fourth round where he will most likely face fifth seed, Andrey Rublev. The Wimbledon finalist has a winning record against Rublev and with his form, should get past him.
Same thing can be said for his record against Djokovic. His Wimbledon final opponent, Kyrgios is 2-0 on hard surfaces versus the Serbian. Enjoying his tennis, Kyrgios should power past either Casper Ruud or Matteo Berrettini in the semi-final in what should be a thrilling encounter. Facing Tsitsipas in the final, Kyrgios will have the Australian crowd in pandemonium, potentially marking the end of his singles career.
Finals Matchups:
Nadal v Medvedev
Tsitsipas v Auger-Aliassime
Kyrgios v Djokovic
Kecmanovic v Berrettini
Nadal v Tsitsipas
Kyrgios v Berrettini
Tsitsipas v Kyrgios
Women’s Competition:
In a wide-open draw, anyone can take home the title. With an array of the world’s best players withdrawing from the tournament, a new champion could be crowned. Number five seed, Ons Jabeur is one of many eyeing off her first grand slam and should cruise to the quarter final. She will face her only roadblock in the quarter finals in what will be a competitive section of the draw. Players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Garbine Muguruza and Belinda Bencic must fight it out to make the quarter final.
Sabalenka is the favourite to be the quarter final opponent of Jabeur after her impressive start to the 2023 season. The Belarusian won the Adelaide International without losing a set, putting her in prime position to do well in Melbourne. However, a tough section of the draw will be a challenge. For this reason, Jabeur defeats Sabalenka, defeats her semi-final opponent, en route to her third consecutive grand slam final.
On the other side of the bracket, three-time grand slam champion Iga Swiatek is one of the favourites. Winning at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows last year, the world number one is set to bring that form into the happy slam. The 21-year-old has an easy fixture ahead of her, expected to get through to the semis unscathed.
Her semi-final opponent will feature from a tougher quarter of the draw. Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Petra Kvitova are a chance to make the semi-final, although I think that Maria Sakkari advances, on the back of a stellar tournament. Sakkari has been at the top of her game for a while now, making three finals in 2022.
In the final four, Jabeur will breeze past Kontaveit, while Sakkari will overcome the world number one in a huge upset. The world number six might advance to her first grand slam final, but that will be where the fortunes end for the 27-year-old. A predicted Ons Jabeur victory will make her the first female African grand slam winner in history.
Finals Matchups:
Swiatek v Gauff
Pegula v Sakkari
Kasatkina v Kontaveit
Sabalenka v Jabeur
Swiatek v Sakkari
Kontaveit v Jabeur
Sakkari v Jabeur
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