The Serbian Novak Djokovic, still looking for victories after a 24e Major, and Rafael Nadal, away from the courts for a year due to injury, are each launching their 2024 season in Australia, which could be the Spaniard’s last.
Djokovic is still hungry
Entered world tennis history in 2023 with a 24e Major, Djokovic is still hungry for titles: he wants his calendar Grand Slam and is aiming for Olympic gold this summer in Paris, after having been bronze medalist in singles in 2008 in Beijing.
After an exhibition match in Riyadh lost on Wednesday against his runner-up, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (4-6, 6-4, 6-4), the world No.1 participates from Friday in the United Cup, a mixed competition between nations which takes place in Perth and Sydney. He should use this tournament to prepare for the defense of his title at the Australian Open from January 15.
In Perth, the 36-year-old Serbian faces China and the Czech Republic in Group E. He will first face the Chinese Zhang Zhizen, the 58e world, nine years his junior on Sunday, then on Tuesday the Czech Jiri Lehecka (31e global).
“Djoko” will line up with Olga Danilovic for the mixed doubles, to face in particular the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (7e), crowned at Wimbledon, and the Chinese Zheng Qinwen (15e).
If he passes the group stage, he will meet on January 3 in the quarter-finals with the winner of Group C: the United States, defending champions led by Taylor Fritz (10e) and Jessica Pegula (5e), Great Britain and Australia.
Nadal, the beginning of the end?
Rafael Nadal, former world No.1 fell to 670e rank after a near-white 2023 season due to a hip injury, makes his return to competition at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane on December 31. At 37, he believes that 2024 should be his “last year” on the circuit but, he warned, without being able to “guarantee it 100%”.
“I worked hard to come back to competition, and if things and physicality allow me to move forward and enjoy what I do, I think it doesn’t make sense to settle a limit,” he explained in a video posted on social networks in early December.
“I am sure that his training and his preparation are done with the intention of winning a Grand Slam,” said Djokovic about him.
The last official match of the Spaniard, winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments, was his defeat at 2e tour of the Australian Open in January 2023.
Having undergone hip surgery, he said he only aspired to “be competitive” in Brisbane.
Swiatek moves forward
Iga Swiatek, who became world No.1 again thanks to her victory at the Cancun Masters in November, is also launching her season at the United Cup. With Poland, she faces Brazil and Spain in Group A, without Alcaraz.
In Perth, Swiatek, 22, will notably face Beatriz Haddad Maia, 11, in singles on Saturday.e world, then to Sara Sorribes Tormo (48e) Monday. She will be associated with Hubert Hurkacz, 9e at the ATP, for mixed doubles.
She will then try to win a fourth Grand Slam in Melbourne, after reaching the semi-final there in 2023.
On the other side of Australia, Naomi Osaka will make her return to competition during the Brisbane tournament, which granted an invitation to the Japanese, absent from the circuit for more than a year to give birth to a child last July.