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Nestled between January’s summer time swing of tournaments in Australia, and March’s Sunshine Double within the U.S., February will be missed in tennis. However not in 2021, with the Australian Open’s short-term transfer to the second and shortest month of the calendar. Past that, February is Black Historical past Month, and likewise a pivotal time for the game in its rebound from the pandemic.
To commemorate this convergence of occasions, we’re spotlighting one necessary story per day, all month lengthy, in The 2/21. Set your clock to it: it is going to drop every afternoon, at 2:21 Japanese Customary Time (U.S.).
1. What do you suppose the most effective storyline from Melbourne may very well be?
Matt Fitzgerald: There are many player-driven decisions—a Barty Occasion at residence, no extra 24 speak for Serena, Novak’s ninth Down Beneath. However for me, it will be pulling off a fan-attended occasion of this dimension, after bringing in properly over 1,000 guests to a spot with zero COVID instances, and never inflicting any dangerous penalties. That in itself would offer sturdy encouragement that sports activities can return to their former self—in some form—if the fitting work is completed.
Nina Pantic: With all the new elements at play this 12 months, we’re sure to see some Cinderella runs, akin to what occurred at Roland Garros. (Keep in mind Nadia Podoroska?) Anticipate to see somebody comparatively new come out from nowhere and make a official push for the ultimate weekend, like a Marie Bouzkova or Jannik Sinner.
Cale Hammond: The final unseeded males’s Grand Slam champion was Gaston Gaudio, at Roland Garros in 2004. However even then, Gaudio was 26 years previous. We’re lengthy overdue. The considered an unseeded champion on the lads’s seems like an impossibility, nevertheless it has to occur once more sooner or later, proper?
Steve Tignor: If every little thing works out, probably the most memorable side of the AO could be the presence of crowds. Officers are hoping for greater than 300,000 spectators; the sight of them shall be inspiring, and hopefully motivating, for the remainder of the world.
Peter Bodo: That is clearly a trick query as a result of it will be inconceivable to decide on one—not with Serena operating round, Djokovic resurgent, Swiatek and Kenin. However the actually intriguing, nuanced storyline to my thoughts is how the Aussies will fare. They’ve lots of expertise now, however their historical past (apart from Lleyton Hewitt) of their residence Slam has been pitiable. Can they flip it round?
Ashley Ndebele: The readjustment of match scheduling attributable to ongoing optimistic COVID-19 instances. As we’ve seen in the previous couple of weeks, the federal government officers in Victoria aren’t prepared to take any possibilities, and so shall be able to ship gamers into isolation as quickly as a optimistic case pops up. What which means for the match at giant is anybody’s guess.
Jordaan Sanford: She drops to the bottom in disbelief—arms thrown in direction of the sky—and a smile begins to emerge because the strain shortly fades. Serena Williams captures Grand Slam title No. 24. The chase involves an finish the place she hoisted her final main title, 4 years in the past. After being one win away from tying Margaret Court docket’s file on 4 events, she does it when adversity is at an all-time excessive. It’s a storyline that may by no means be misplaced within the historical past books.
2. What classes do you suppose gamers discovered from competing on the US Open and Roland Garros that they may carry into the Australian Open?
David Kane: The three post-pandemic majors have differed a lot in protocol that variations itself could also be all that they’ve in frequent. Gamers in Melbourne are having fun with acquainted entry to town forward of the Australian Open, however solely after many fulfilled the strictest of quarantine measures. They’ve survived so many plot twists within the final 12 months that those that proceed anticipating the sudden could also be better off over these fixated on disrupted routines.
Ed McGrogan: In Flushing Meadows, I watched Kyle Edmund yell as loud as he may to his group of 4, after hitting a winner to virtually no response: “SAY SOMETHING!” There shall be far more of a crowd Down Beneath, however the gamers should must generate a few of their very own vitality.
Van Sias: Enjoying to a packed crowd on the primary stage at one of many Grand Slams is what each skilled—from world No. 1s to seasoned veterans to up-and-comers—desires about. On the US and French Opens final 12 months, there was barely any viewers to talk of. Motivation, greater than ever, needed to come from inside. There’s purported to be pretty respectable fan attendance in Melbourne, but when one thing was to vary drastically, the gamers know that they’ll be OK.
Jon Levey: These attracts lacked attendance from a number of headliners, and gamers like Iga Swiatek and Dominic Thiem took benefit to win their first Slams. Alternatively, Alexander Zverev stole defeat from the jaws of victory. Preparation for the AO has been restricted to say the least, and lots of shall be enjoying their method into kind. If alternative knocks, finest reply.
Joel Drucker: The phrase “champions adapt” has by no means been extra vivid than over the past 12 months. Final 12 months’s likelihood to return to competitors amid austere circumstances helped every participant experiment with varied preparation and restoration rituals. How now do they course of competitors? Will probably be intriguing to see how this performs out in Melbourne.
Kamakshi Tandon: Gamers ought to discover the Australian Open much more “regular” than both the French or the US Opens, however what they skilled at these occasions ought to make them admire the lessened restrictions much more. The problem may be concentrating on tennis as an alternative of newly reacquired freedoms, like going to Melbourne’s famed espresso outlets.
3. Who do you see coming via this quadrant and why?
Males, First Quadrant
Steve Tignor: Can anybody cease Novak Djokovic? There are some high quality gamers right here, together with Gael Monfils, Stan Wawrinka, Taylor Fritz, Milos Raonic and the huge-serving Reilly Opelka. And Djokovic’s potential quarterfinal opponent, Alexander Zverev, practically beat him in ATP Cup. However you wager in opposition to the Serb in Melbourne at your peril. Darkish Horse: Zverev
Males, Second Quadrant
Kamakshi Tandon: It is a blockbuster quarter with expertise lurking. Dominic Thiem is the best seed and nonetheless appears like the favourite regardless of a lackluster begin. Nick Kyrgios now says he is injured, and others have some robust first rounds—Shapovalov performs Sinner, Dimitrov’s obtained Cilic, Carreno Busta opens in opposition to Nishikori. Darkish Horse: The often stable Diego Schwartzman, although the lead-up has been so uncommon it is robust to evaluate the extent of the gamers.
Matt Fitzgerald: All issues thought of, Dominic Thiem’s draw isn’t horrible. However Jannik Sinner’s breakout quarterfinal run at RG began with taking out No. 11 seed David Goffin. He opens with No. 11 seed Denis Shapovalov right here. Sinner benefited from two weeks of unique coaching with Rafa in Adelaide, and appears sharp in Melbourne. If he hits via Shapo, there’s no cause the teenager can’t flip it right into a deeper run. Darkish Horse: Felix Auger-Aliassime and his recent new Adidas look.
Males, Third Quadrant
Peter Bodo: Quarter three of the draw speaks with a definite Russian accent, It’s anchored by No. 4 seed Daniil Medvedev along with his countryman, Andrey Rublev (No. 7), projected as his quarterfinal opponent. Each males are in menacing kind. Survivor: Rublev stays sizzling, wins revenge match with Medvedev. Darkish Horse: No. 12 seed Roberto Bautista Agut is a really robust out.
Jordaan Sanford: At this level it’s actually laborious to wager on anybody else coming via this part aside from Daniil Medvedev. The world No. 4 is on a 12-match successful streak and has already produced stable straight-set wins in opposition to Diego Schwartzman and Kei Nishikori at this week’s ATP Cup. Apparently, there’s no quarantine rust to shake off for the Russian. Darkish Horse: Borna Coric
Males, Fourth Quadrant
Joel Drucker: A quarterfinal matchup between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal is a extremely viable chance. However compelling as that match between these passionate rivals may very well be, I’ll favor Nadal to achieve the semis. Darkish Horse: the perpetually harmful Matteo Berrettini.
Nina Pantic: Stefanos Tsitsipas has thrived in Melbourne earlier than, and there’s no cause he can’t make one other main semifinal, or his first last. Rafael Nadal sits in his part, in fact, however nothing shall be predictable this fortnight. Tsitsipas has a shot at his second profession win over the world No. 2. Darkish Horse: Tennys Sandgren. He’s twice reached the quarterfinals, unseeded.
Girls, First Quadrant
David Kane: Led by hometown hero Ashleigh Barty, the Aussie crowd shall be hoping for a second-round derby between the world No. 1 and wildcard Daria Gavrilova. With No. 6 Karolina Pliskova looking of types and the highest seed displaying little rust in her Melbourne Park warm-up, Barty appears just like the one to beat ought to she get previous a streaky Ekaterina Alexandrova. Darkish Horse: unseeded 2019 semifinalist Danielle Collins may steal the highlight from them each.
Girls, Second Quadrant
Ashley Ndebele: Victoria Azarenka has a troublesome opening-round foe in Jessica Pegula however since getting back from the COVID-induced break, the 31-year-old has been enjoying stable tennis. She’s in the identical quarter as defending champion Sofia Kenin, however Azarenka has lifted the Completely happy Slam trophy twice. Her third one is lengthy overdue. Darkish Horse: Jennifer Brady has by no means been previous the fourth spherical in Melbourne, however her confidence-filled bucket ought to support her this time round.
Cale Hammond: Jennifer Brady might want to get via Konta and Kenin, but when she’s firing on all cylinders she has probably the most harmful recreation of the three. I feel the free factors she earns on serve will assist propel her via this part. Darkish Horse: Maria Sakkari has been enjoying unbelievable. Given the huge military of Greek supporters she’ll have in Melbourne, she is a severe risk to achieve her first main semifinal.
Girls, Third Quadrant
Ed McGrogan: Osaka, Kvitova and Muguruza have all had nice success in Melbourne, making this a really robust name. However I’ll go along with Garbine, who at her absolute best may need the best ceiling of those three. Darkish Horse: Can it really be the No. 8 seed, Bianca Andreescu? She hasn’t performed in 15 months. An fascinating unseeded choice is Caroline Garcia, who may meet Osaka in spherical two.
Girls, Fourth Quadrant
Jon Levey: Iga Swiatek’s first check may very well be a fourth-round date with Halep, who she walloped final 12 months in Paris. Plus, Halep has a feast or famine historical past in Oz, and I’m betting the underneath. Sabalenka and Serena will beat the psychological and bodily stuffing out of one another in a slugfest, leaving Swiatek to mop up the items within the quarters. Darkish Horse: Elena Rybakina
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