While the question on whether or not Novak Djokovic will be at the Australian Open still arises, the rest of the tennis world is getting back to work this week to prepare for the first major tournament of the season which will kick off on January 17 in Melbourne.
The men’s ATP Cup team event has been taking place since the weekend in Sydney, and three preparatory events are taking place this week in Melbourne – two WTA tournaments and one ATP tournament.
In Adelaide, ATP and WTA are holding a joint tournament this week. Next week, Adelaide and Sydney will host joint ATP-WTA tournaments.
Meanwhile, Djokovic remains untraceable.
Australian Open general manager Craig Tiley said there was “a lot of work to do” before nine-time champion Djokovic showed up to play in Australia.
The world No. 1 has always refused to reveal if he is vaccinated against COVID-19, a requirement to play in Melbourne. But there has been speculation Djokovic could seek medical exemption to play as he aims for a 21e record Grand Slam singles title. He is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 each.
Djokovic withdrew from the Serbian squad for the ATP Cup last week.
“We still have a few charters until the end of this week, and then all the players will be there,” Tiley said. As for Novak’s status, I think we’ll have a much clearer picture in the next few days, otherwise it’s getting late enough to show up and play the Australian Open. There are still several things to be settled and I think that will play out in the next few days. ”
Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep will headline the WTA tournament in Melbourne this week while Nadal, who is recovering from COVID-19, is the main seed in the ATP event. Second seed Reilly Opelka, Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov also participate in this tournament.
In Adelaide, the top ranked Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty is the headliner, joined by Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. Gaël Monfils is the first seed of the Adelaide tournament, while Karen Khachanov is No. 2.
At the Adelaide tournament on Monday, third seed Maria Sakkari defeated Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 in the first round and Ajla Tomljanovic defeated Heather Watson 6-4 7-6 (5 ).
Barty, who is on a first-round bypass, has not made a tournament since his third-round loss at the US Open in early September.
“Over the next few weeks, I’ll have to be patient with myself, it’s been a while since I played a competitive game,” admitted Barty. But I feel good. I feel ready. Now it’s about going out there and enjoying it. ”
U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Melbourne tournament, having just completed her lockdown after testing positive for COVID-19.
Raducanu, who became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam tournament when she won at Flushing Meadows in September, withdrew from an Abu Dhabi tournament in late December after contracting the virus.
Two of the biggest names in tennis won’t be Australian Open.
Federer is still recovering from surgery on his right knee.
And it will officially be five years this month since Serena Williams has not won a major title as the 23-title major Grand Slam champion announced last month that she will not be competing at the Australian Open due to ‘a hamstring injury. She will miss another opportunity to equal Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record.
She got her 23e Major singles title – and most recent – at the 2017 Australian Open.
And for the first time since 1997, no Williams Sister will be at Melbourne Park. Venus Williams, 41, has not played since August due to a leg injury.