Home Latest Preview: Djokovic hunts record 11th Australian Open title, China’s rising aces eye deep runs

Preview: Djokovic hunts record 11th Australian Open title, China’s rising aces eye deep runs

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SYDNEY: Overcoming injury concerns, defending champion Novak Djokovic returns to his favored Melbourne Park seeking a record-extending 11th Australian Open title, while rising Chinese players Zheng Qinwen and Zhang Zhizhen are poised for deep runs.

There were fears for men’s No.1 Djokovic after he suffered a wrist injury during the recent mixed team event United Cup, where he slumped to a straight-sets defeat to Alex de Minaur. It ended Djokovic’s remarkable 43-match win streak in Australia stretching back to 2018.

But the 24-time Grand Slam champion has arrived in Melbourne fit and been ready for the tournament starting on January 14. Djokovic is the strong favorite for the men’s title and a relatively easy draw should see him cruise in the early rounds.

A semifinal with No.4 Jannik Sinner looms ahead before a possible final showdown with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in an unforgettable final at Wimbledon last year.

Djokovic, however, will not renew his long-time rivalry with 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who had to withdraw from the Australian Open after suffering a muscle tear at the Brisbane International.

Former world No.1 Andy Murray and rising 21-year-old Ben Shelton of the U.S. are also on Djokovic’s side of the draw. Djokovic and Shelton are on a collision course to meet in a much-anticipated fourth-round match-up after their heated semifinal clash at last year’s US Open, where the Serb prevailed in straight sets.

Sinner is bidding to win his first Grand Slam title and his confidence surged last year after notching impressive wins over Djokovic and Alcaraz during the season. But his path includes difficult challenges against top-10 opponents de Minaur and Andrey Rublev.

20-year-old Alcaraz is bidding for his first Australian Open title and has been drawn in the same section as former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and gritty German Alexander Zverev.

In the women’s draw, world No.1 Iga Swiatek’s quest for her first Australian Open title starts with a tricky first-round match against America’s Sofia Kenin, who won the tournament in 2020.

Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, arrives in Melbourne on a mission and in the midst of a 16-match winning streak.

The 22-year-old Pole might have to overcome a career jinx against former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who has won all four of their previous matches. They are scheduled to meet in the quarterfinals.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan started her season in ominous fashion after winning the Brisbane International. But the world No.3 faces a hurdle first up against former No.1 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic.

Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who finished runner-up to Rybakina in Brisbane, could confront two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the quarterfinals.

There will be much focus on teenager Coco Gauff after she beat Sabalenka in last year’s US Open final in her Grand Slam breakthrough. The 19-year-old American sensation might face eighth-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece in the quarterfinals ahead of a possible showdown with Sabalenka.

Headlined by rising stars Zheng and Zhang, China’s slew of talented players threaten giant-killing runs in Melbourne.

21-year-old Zheng hit a career-high ranking of No.13 following an impressive performance in China’s United Cup debut. The 12th seed could be pitted against Rybakina as she embarks on her third Australian Open campaign with a first-round match against America’s Ashlyn Krueger.

An all-China clash is on the cards in the second round if Zheng and Yuan Yue win their openers.

Thailand Open singles title winner Zhu Lin and French Open doubles champion Wang Xinyu are seeded No. 29 and No. 30 respectively.

Affectionately nicknamed “Scriptwriter” by her growing legion of fans, Zhu made a surprising run at last year’s Australian Open to reach the last 16 for the first time at a Grand Slam.

Zhu will face lower-ranked Oceane Dodin of France in her opening round, with Wang to take on France’s Diane Parry.

Unseeded Wang Xiyu and Wang Yafan have tough tasks against the top 30 seeds, while Australian Open debutant Bai Zhuoxuan will play Elina Avanesyan of Russia, with Sakkari likely awaiting her in the second round.

In the absence of Wu Yibing, Zhang and Shang Juncheng will fly the flag for China’s male players.

Hitting a career-high of 52 in July, Zhang is China’s top men’s hope and starts against Argentina’s Federico Coria.

Shang might have a breakout having recently stunned America’s Frances Tiafoe at the Hong Kong Open to exact revenge after a straight sets loss at last year’s Australian Open.

The victory lifted the 18-year-old to a career-high ranking of 142 and also won him a wildcard to the Australian Open’s main draw.

Shang will hope to continue his momentum against American Mackenzie McDonald, who upset a hobbled Rafael Nadal in the second round of last year’s Australian Open.

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