Rafael Nadal makes his comeback from a difficult damage journey in Brisbane this week, whereas fellow tennis celebrity world No. 1 Novak Djokovic initiates his quest for an unprecedented eleventh Australian Open title in Perth.
It appeared final season that the veterans, with 46 Grand Slam crowns between them, could by no means share a aggressive courtroom once more.
But the prospect is again in play with Spain’s Nadal recovering from hip surgical procedures that sidelined him for nearly a 12 months.
He begins what is about to be a farewell season on the Brisbane International from Dec. 31 to Jan. 7, alongside Andy Murray and world No. 8 Holger Rune.
Top-ranked Djokovic has opted for the mixed-team United Cup in Perth and Sydney, beginning Friday, as have fellow top-10 gamers Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz.
Barring last-minute setbacks, Nadal and Djokovic will then grace the courts of Melbourne Park for the Australian Open from Jan. 14, maybe for the final time collectively.
The 22-time Grand Slam event winner Nadal has not performed since a second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald on the Australian Open this 12 months, resulting in what coach Carlos Moya stated was “a winding, tortuous road with many curves.”
Now 37, Nadal stated he expects “nothing” from himself this time round.
“I have internalized what I have had throughout my life, which is to demand myself the maximum,” he stated in asserting his return.
“Right now what I really hope is to be able not to do that, to accept things are going to be very difficult at the beginning and give myself the necessary time.”
Since being sidelined, Nadal has been overtaken within the whole variety of Grand Slam tournaments received by his Serbian archrival, who’s concentrating on an all-time report twenty fifth main title in Melbourne.
The 36-year-old Djokovic received three Grand Slams in 2023 however ended the season with two losses to burgeoning Italian Jannik Sinner on the Davis Cup.
Spanish world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz additionally notched a sensational win over Djokovic within the Wimbledon closing.
The fourth-ranked Sinner will get his season underway on the Kooyong Classic exhibition occasion in Melbourne, whereas Alcaraz has nothing presently scheduled earlier than the Australian Open.
Nervous Naomi
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka additionally makes her extremely anticipated return in Brisbane, having not performed since September 2022.
The Japanese star, who gave delivery to daughter Shai in July and has beforehand struggled along with her psychological well being, admitted she was “nervous” however “excited.”
“I definitely want to win more Grand Slams,” she stated.
Like Djokovic, girls’s world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek will acclimatize in Perth along with her Polish teammates on the United Cup.
The French Open champion briefly surrendered her high rating to Aryna Sabalenka throughout 2023 however reclaimed it with a gutsy triumph on the WTA Finals in Cancun.
“It was certainly a demanding season that taught me a lot and which makes me even more proud,” stated Swiatek, an Australian Open semifinalist in 2023.
Sabalenka can also be a starter at Brisbane in a stacked area that includes eight of the world’s high 20 girls as she seems to construct on a sensational 12 months, kicked off by successful her maiden Slam at Melbourne Park.
“It’s a tournament that’s attracted so many good players in the past and I’m hoping it will set me up for another successful summer,” stated the Belarusian world No. 2 of the Brisbane occasion.
Fourth-ranked Elena Rybakina, who Sabalenka beat to win the Australian Open title, is one other in Brisbane.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff defends her Auckland Classic title from Jan. 1, after a breakthrough season for the 19-year-old that noticed her declare her first Grand Slam on the US Open.
She is joined in New Zealand by Elina Svitolina and Caroline Wozniacki as they proceed their comebacks from maternity depart, whereas former US Open champion Emma Raducanu returns from a number of ankle and wrist surgical procedures.
Source: www.dailysabah.com