Joker Nole is annoyed
There is hardly a tennis player who has ever been in better shape physically and mentally. Novak has shown such resilience over the years that one might wonder how exactly he achieves it. He was up against the wall again last week when he had to cover a match ball just to clinch another career title.
However, this is not the issue with Djokovic. The way he was accepted and then kicked out of Australia a year ago was a sign of showmanship. Then he was also banned from entering the country for a period of 3 years. These two steps - the extradition and the subsequent sanction - were pumping muscles we all knew were missing. Well, just a year later, Nole is back on the same continent, and now with the title from Adelaide.
Australian Open 2023 tennis prediction game
It's safe to say that every Australian Open competitor wants to get their hands on the title. However, there is one player who wants it more than any of the others. A multiple champion here, proving his personal cause and fighting against ATP bureaucracy and individual countries - Novak Djokovic.
Rafa on one leg
When it comes to Grand Slam tournaments, we're used to Djokovic, Nadal or Federer being the last name mentioned after the tournament. When we talk about tennis, there can hardly be any doubt when one of them participates in a tournament that he is not the favorite for the title. The greats are going to their sunset, and Roger is no longer among the active tennis players.
However, Rafael Nadal has shown for another season that muscles are muscles. Even if he loses or plays close to 5 hours, even if he has to be at the award ceremony sitting on a chair because of fatigue, even if he is injured, plays with pain or has another problem, Rafa is Rafa.
The debate about who is the greatest tennis player of all time will not be resolved, that's for sure. The stats are many, the fans are divided and broken, and the geniuses, in addition to continuing to amaze us, are also playing in the "Novak-Rafael-Roger" era.
The contenders
... are as many as you want. Tsitsipas, Medvedev and Sasha Zverev look like they are bursting with talent, and already have enough experience and strength to overcome any opponent. However, we will have to add in full force the "bad boy of tennis" - Nick Kyrgios.
The Australian has shown incredible growth in recent months. Not as a game, there generally aren't many remarks. The growth is more in terms of mentality and outlook on the idea of tennis. Nick was an absolute no-puck and could stop playing at any time in his matches, but since he started watching the game professionally he looks like an opponent that no one will want to face. And let's not forget that he is also the host of the tournament.
Australian Open 2023 tennis prediction game
The other boys were again swept as young hopefuls by a limping Nadal and a rested Djokovic. Unfortunately, the facts are the facts - the top 10 looks ridiculous, and most of the participants there would not have enjoyed this privilege if it were not for a unique coincidence of circumstances. FYI - Nole won Wimbledon, for which no points were added. If there were any, he would be in 1st, at most 2nd position in the ranking list.
The route of the ladies
So much has happened in women's tennis in the last 2 years that it's hard to start anywhere. And we're not even talking about anything related to the pandemic here...
Serena Williams briefly touched her dream of becoming the winner of the most Grand Slam titles in history. However, luck ran out for her shortly before the final straight and things didn't go her way from then on. A few months ago, Serena announced her retirement from tennis, a huge shock that left an abyss for the ladies.
Even more surprising, however, came the withdrawal of what was considered a strong contender for many of the titles over the next decade. Ashley Barty took a sharp turn in her career and stopped playing tennis, just like that. A three-time Slam champion, aged just 26, Barty buckled under the pressure of professional sport and decided very sensibly to call it quits while at the top.
Australian Open 2023 tennis prediction game
While he was at the top, another great hope collapsed. Naomi Osaka won perhaps too much before maturing as a person and also took a break from the big sport. There was practically no return to her, and it was as if another brilliant career at the beginning ended its course.
Iga Šviontek seems to have no competition, and not just for now, but for many years to come. The leader in the world rankings has a lead of more than two times over the chasers, and the names of the participants after her are certainly not from the class of the previous generation, such as Kvitova, Azarenka and Wozniacki.
In any case, there will be no shortage of surprises in the next 2 weeks. Both men's and women's matches will be interesting and tense, because the forces at the foot are evenly matched. However, it seems as if everything is clear at the top.
Category: Tennis news
Tags: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Australian Open