How world’s top five shape up
Novak Djokovic, ranked No. 1, used to seek love from his fans but now in his older age, he has returned to his usual ways of enjoying defeating his younger competitors’ aspirations. Despite the strong competition, it seems almost certain that he will secure his 11th Australian Open title due to his technical, physical, and mental superiority.
Carlos Alcaraz, ranked number 2, believes he has the ability to defeat Djokovic in a significant championship match. Currently, Wimbledon’s courts are similar to the hard courts found in Melbourne. However, the tournament balls make it challenging to execute winning shots as they tend to fluff up and lose their bounce quickly – a favorable condition for Alcaraz’s potential opponent in the final.
Daniil Medvedev, ranked third, defeated Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final, and it was not a lucky win. His style of serving and chasing after shots is well-suited for acrylic surfaces, unlike grass and clay where his height may be a disadvantage. He is the only player who can consistently stay in rallies with Djokovic and emerge victorious.
Jannik Sinner, ranked 4th, possesses a strong serve and powerful shots that make him a formidable opponent. In particular, Alcaraz has struggled against Sinner’s strength. Sinner himself believes he has what it takes to succeed, especially after finishing 2023 on a high note. The main question is whether Sinner can maintain his effectiveness when facing the fast-paced play of Djokovic and Medvedev.
Unfortunately, Andrey Rublev is not exceptional in any particular skill, making it difficult for him to defeat top players in major tournaments. This was evident in his loss to Medvedev at the Tour Finals, where he showed frustration and even shed tears. There is no sign that he will improve his performance in these situations.
Best home hope
Alex de Minaur has proven to be one of the quickest players in the history of tennis. In recent times, he has shown growth and improvement by incorporating patience, aggression, and versatility into his playing style. However, his forehand grip still limits his ability to hit powerful shots and can give away some of his moves. Despite this, De Minaur has already defeated top players such as Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, and Alexander Zverev this year.
Best British hope
Despite being hindered by injuries, Jack Draper has made a significant breakthrough and is currently in the top four at the Adelaide tournament. He possesses a powerful left-handed serve, a devastating forehand, and an unteachable competitive drive. While he may not be fully prepared at the moment, if he can maintain his health, he has the potential to become a Grand Slam champion.
Best American hope
In 2023, Ben Shelton reached the quarterfinals of his second Grand Slam tournament. He also made it to the semifinals at Flushing Meadow, where he defeated Dominic Thiem, Tommy Paul, and Francis Tiafoe. This shows that his powerful hitting is effective on hard courts and he possesses the necessary mindset to excel on the grandest stages.
The biggest contender expected to be eliminated early.
Stefanos Tsitsipas had a difficult year in 2023 and it seems that his weaknesses have been exposed: his one-handed backhand, while visually pleasing, is not strong. In addition, he made the decision to dismiss his father, who is not a known coach, and hired Mark Philippoussis, who is also not a recognized coach. However, he later fired Philippoussis and rehired his father, who is still not a recognized coach.
Underdog with highest probability of success
We accomplished it! After a long time, Andy Murray is finally fully healthy, thanks to a complete pre-season. He is the most skilled on the tennis court and no seeded player will look forward to facing him as he moves swiftly around the baseline and strategically uses drop-shots.
One to watch
Jerry Shang, who is only 18 years old, is known for his flashy and charismatic personality. He comes from a family of athletes, with his father being a former football player and his mother being a former table tennis player. Shang made history as the first Chinese man to win a match in Melbourne during the open era. Last week, he made it to the semifinals in Hong Kong, even defeating Tiafoe along the way.
Source: theguardian.com
