Australian Open | Five players to watch

A new year, a new heartbreak. Analysts waver between the idea of ​​talking about a new era or giving yet another last chance to members of the Big Threehenceforth the Big Two. Last year, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments. This season will be the beginning of the end or the eternal beginning.

Casper Ruud

Will Australia be Casper Ruud’s promised land? The Norwegian lived up to expectations in 2022, with three titles and an ascent to No. 2 in the world. The only problem? His four defeats in the final of important tournaments. First, at the Miami Masters 1000, one of the most prestigious in this category of tournaments. Then, at Roland-Garros and the United States Open. Then at the ATP Finals, considered the fifth major of the season. The main difference between the new Ruud and the old one is his ability to beat players from the top 10. He won five of his eleven games last season. On this side, the progress is good, but insufficient. To add the icing on the cake, he will have to beat the best during the most important moments.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

It is impossible to do this kind of exercise without inserting the name of Félix Auger-Aliassime. The Quebecer was the best player in the world at the end of the season, winning titles in Florence, Antwerp, Basel and the Davis Cup. No doubt the next step for the seventh racket in the world is to win a Grand Slam title. Moreover, Auger-Aliassime will arrive in Australia with the feeling of having to finish what he started last year. Remember that epic match against Danill Medvedev in the semi-finals. The Russian had the upper hand after 4 h 42 min. The Quebecer is in good shape to defend all his points.

Nick Kyrgios

The terrible child of tennis has bent several of his detractors in recent months. Admittedly, when the Australian has clear ideas and the desire to play, he can beat anyone. The greater the moment, the higher it rises. This is the quality of great players. With his final at Wimbledon, Kyrgios proved his good faith. He doesn’t want attention. He also wants a Grand Slam title. Playing in front of his own, however, has never been an advantage. His record at the Australian Open is not very good. Especially since he is recovering from an ankle injury. However, it only takes one serving with a spoon to wake up the beast.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is one of those athletes who should never be underestimated. Like Tom Brady, Tiger Woods or Mikaela Shiffrin, Nadal responds bluntly when we make the mistake of thinking he is destroyed. Despite a broken foot, he won the first three tournaments of the 2022 season, including the Australian Open. At 36, the Spaniard is a risky player, more than ever. However, he is still as combative, perhaps more than ever. The important thing for him will be to finish his matches quickly to save himself. His rise to victory in Melbourne and Roland-Garros was complex. It will have cost him a possible place in the final at Wimbledon.

Taylor Fritz

Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini and Hubert Hurkacz. Taylor Fritz kicked off 2023 with a bang by passing these three members of the top 15 at the United Cup. The American also ended 2022 on an exclamation point by winning the Tokyo tournament, allowing him to join the top 10 for the first time in his career. Fritz is a constant threat on hard court. He may look nonchalant, sometimes clumsy from the height of his 6ft 5in, but the 25-year-old has an overwhelming desire to win. If he wants to stay in the big leagues, however, he will have to obtain results in Grand Slam tournaments. He reached the quarter-finals only once. Besides that, it’s rather thin. The ninth racket in the world has everything to gain in Australia.