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Ashleigh Barty thrives on the “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” cheers of her boisterous followers, and enjoys one other residence nation benefit by not having to quarantine.
The ladies
Ashleigh Barty: Though the worldwide pandemic sidelined world No. 1 Barty for 11 months final yr, the insouciant 24-year-old ought to bounce again rapidly. She thrives on the “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!” cheers of her boisterous followers, and enjoys one other residence nation benefit by not having to quarantine. Barty made the semifinals final yr earlier than shock champion Sofia Kenin upset her 7-6, 7-5. A brilliant athlete within the mould of Twentieth-century Aussie legends Margaret Court docket and Evonne Goolagong, undersized (5’5) Ash boasts a potent serve and the tour’s finest volley. A weak backhand, although, will once more stop Barty from advancing previous the semis.
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Promoting
Promoting
Iga Swiatek: The Polish sensation confided that the three most essential numbers in her telephone have been her dad, her sister and Daria Abramowicz. Daria who? She’s a sports activities psychologist who Swiatek credit with serving to her shock the tennis world on the French Open final yr. The 19-year-old revelation trounced the sector there, surrendering solely 28 video games in seven matches for her maiden Grand Slam — and WTA singles — title. The gifted, bold Swiatek received’t be a “one-Slam marvel” like Jelena Ostapenko or Sloane Stephens. Even so, hampered by a comparatively low seeding (No. 17) in a full-strength area, she’ll solely make the quarters.
Sofia Kenin proved her breakthrough Australian Open title in 2020 was no fluke by reaching the French Open
Sofia Kenin: Kenin proved her breakthrough Australian Open title was no fluke by reaching the French Open last in October. However, now not the hunter, the feisty 21-year-old succumbed to the stress of being the hunted when the canny, calm Swiatek upset her 6-4, 6-1 with intelligent shot selection. Additionally, the Russian-born American might be overpowered as Victoria Azarenka confirmed in her 6-0, 6-0 shutout on the Italian Open two weeks previous to that. The No. 4 Kenin is so strong and aggressive that she’ll keep within the prime 10, however she lacks an explosive weapon. Consequently, she’ll bow out within the first week in Melbourne.
The year that was — and wasn’t — in tennis
Naomi Osaka: The three-time Grand Slam champion has emerged as the highest participant within the post-Serena Williams period. All three titles, which embody the 2019 Australian Open, have come on exhausting courts. That makes Osaka, getting into her prime at 23, the possible betting favorite this yr in Melbourne. At her overpowering finest, she resembles Serena — large serves and floor strokes, and restricted solely by a mediocre volley. Her commendable political-social activism has energised somewhat than distracted the Japanese-Haitian, as attested by her capturing a second US Open crown final September. Osaka ought to simply advance to the ultimate, however then lose her first main last.
Simona Halep: The 29-year-old Romanian is each the steadiest and quickest top-10 participant, however her grooved, sometimes-aimless sport might be disrupted by change of tempo (Swiatek on the 2020 French Open) or overwhelmed with brute energy (Amanda Anisimova on the 2019 French Open). Halep ought to grow to be extra tactical herself, and reprise how she turned the tide with first-strike tennis early in her gorgeous 6-2, 6-2 upset over Serena Williams within the 2019 Wimbledon last. “They [Halep and coach Darren Cahill] really deliberate the preemptive strike and set the tempo early [to stymie Serena],” Paul Annacone advised Baseline.tennis.com. “That was an incredible lesson in technique.” Halep received’t win her third main, however how successfully she mixes up her photographs will decide how far she goes.
Everything you need to know about speed in tennis
Elena Rybakina: Bookmakers might not tout No. 19-ranked Rybakina, however this prototypical energy participant has the physique (6’ tall and broad shoulders), weapons, health and perspective to interrupt by in in the present day’s anyone-can-beat-anyone ladies’s sport. The Russian-born Kazakhstani, who favours exhausting courts, upset then-No. 3 Karolina Pliskova and Kenin on that floor to achieve the Dubai last. Then she misplaced 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to the extra skilled Halep within the WTA “Match of the Yr.” Rybakina additionally received Hobart and made three different finals — at Shenzhen, St Petersburg and Strasbourg. This rising star will knock off a seed or two and, maybe, attain the semis.
No participant faces a extra daunting but intriguing comeback than Bianca Andreescu. The WTA Newcomer of the Yr in 2019 sat out your entire 2020 season with accidents.
Bianca Andreescu: No participant faces a extra daunting but intriguing comeback than Andreescu. The WTA Newcomer of the Yr in 2019 sat out your entire 2020 season with accidents. Discounting the 20-year-old Canadian, nonetheless, is dangerous as a result of after a shoulder harm sidelined her for 3 months in mid-2019, she rebounded with a fury to take the Rogers Cup and the US Open, beating Serena within the last for her first Grand Slam title. Andreescu’s imaginative repertoire of photographs and devilish ways discombobulate opponents’ video games and composure. At all times enjoyable to look at, she is not possible to foretell after such an extended layoff. She may lose within the first spherical or the penultimate spherical.
Rohan Bopanna, building tennis champions the right way at 40
Coco Gauff: “My mission is to be the best,” mentioned the ultra-confident, bold Gauff. “That’s my aim, to win as many Grand Slams as doable.” The 16-year-old prodigy can also be humble and lifelike sufficient to acknowledge her inexperience. “I simply received on tour somewhat over a yr in the past, so I nonetheless have quite a bit to study and an extended strategy to go.” Not surprisingly, Gauff can soar to exhilarating heights, surprising defending champion Osaka 6-3, 6-4 on the 2020 Australian Open. However she will be able to additionally plummet to exasperating lows, dropping 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 to No. 159 Martina Trevisan on the French Open eight months later. Search for the sturdy, speedy Floridian to upset one other top-10 seed this yr. No matter occurs, anticipate extra social activism from this teenager. Final yr, Gauff tweeted, “I promise to at all times use my platform to assist make the world a greater place.”
Jennifer Brady: “We’ve all seen Jennifer Brady’s athleticism for years and puzzled when she’d get it collectively mentally,” mentioned ESPN analyst Pam Shriver through the 2020 US Open. The Floridian ended her long-time United States Tennis Affiliation (USTA) connection and employed a German workforce — coach Michael Geserer together with physio Daniel Pohl — then spent the 2019 low season coaching rigorously in Regensburg, Germany. Toughened bodily and extra centered mentally, the late-blooming (25-year-old) Brady lastly broke by on the US Open, reaching her first main semifinal. There, her massive first serve, depraved kick second serve and highly effective topspin forehand prolonged Osaka to a few units. Barring a foul draw, this gifted, assured comer ought to make the Aussie quarterfinals.
Profitable her final 15 matches and three tournaments produced a career-high No. 7 rating for Aryna Sabalenka.
Aryna Sabalenka: After the dying of her 43-year-old father Sergey in November 2019, a heartbroken Sabalenka mentioned, “I’m simply attempting to battle as a result of my dad wished me to be No. 1.” The tragedy additionally modified her perspective on life. She not too long ago advised WTA Insider: “I feel after that second I simply understood there are such a lot of issues in life to be fearful about and tennis is only a small a part of my life, within the massive image.” That realisation has made the 23-year-old from Belarus happier off the court docket and calmer on it. The latter trait, plus improved motion and smarter shot choice — “Generally simply placing the ball in, that is sufficient” — has turned this once-erratic energy hitter into the most popular participant on tour. Profitable her final 15 matches and three tournaments produced a career-high No. 7 rating. With a tiger tattooed on her left arm that “jogs my memory that it is advisable battle for every level,” Sabalenka will win her first Grand Slam title.
Naomi Osaka makes political and tennis statements at US Open 2020
Darkish horses: For eye-catching athleticism and energy, you’ll be able to’t beat Marta Kostyuk. The fearless, 18-year-old Ukrainian, who was an completed gymnast at age 11 and does again flips after victories, prolonged Osaka to a few units on the US Open. Additionally, make sure you watch Karolina Muchova, Marie Bouzkova and Veronika Kudermetova, all potential top-tenners.
Do you know? Naomi Osaka, the Related Press 2020 Feminine Athlete of the Yr, not too long ago invested within the North Carolina Braveness ladies’s professional soccer workforce. “The ladies who’ve invested in me rising up made me who I’m in the present day, I don’t know the place I’d be with out them,” she tweeted. “All through my profession I’ve at all times obtained a lot love from my fellow feminine athletes, in order that’s why I’m proud to share that I’m now an proprietor of @TheNCCourage.”
The boys
Rafael Nadal: “I’ve by no means been obsessed about being the perfect,” Nadal not too long ago advised CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. Rafa additionally typically says he’s not obsessed about successful essentially the most Slams. What issues most, although, Nadal is ferociously decided to win each level, sport, set and match. On the debit aspect, the 34-year-old Spaniard has captured just one Australian title, and that was 12 years in the past. On exhausting courts, Nadal has additionally misplaced his final 9 matches to Djokovic, his final two towards Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, and his final one towards Daniil Medvedev. One in every of these 4 gamers will possible smash his possibilities to take his twenty first main and surpass Roger Federer.
The 34-year-old Rafael Nadal has captured just one Australian title, and that was 12 years in the past.
Alexander Zverev: Annoyed at his incapacity to dethrone any of the Large Three, Zverev advised The Guardian (UK) 10 months in the past: “Are we [Next-Genners] going to take over sooner or later? Sure! We now have to! They’re not going to be there perpetually. [But] I don’t need to be the No. 1 on the earth as a result of different folks aren’t taking part in. I need to be No. 1 as a result of I’m higher than everyone else.” The 23-year-old German saved getting nearer final yr, reaching the Australian Open semis and US Open last, the place he misplaced a fifth-set tiebreaker (8-6) to Thiem. However his surprisingly low 2020 ATP stats — No. 33 serve score, No. 18 return score and No. 23 underneath stress score — imply he’ll need to drastically enhance these vital areas to achieve one other main last.
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Daniil Medvedev: “He’s the perfect mover I’ve ever seen at this top. And he’s a really good, tactical participant,” raved ESPN analyst and Nineteen Eighties celebrity John McEnroe about Medvedev. These attributes plus managed aggression produced the 24-year-old Russian’s largest title, the 2020 ATP Finals. There, he went a spectacular 5-0 with confidence-building victories over No. 1 Djokovic, No. 2 Nadal, No. 3 Thiem and No. 7 Zverev. However, Medvedev laments his confidence-sapping 0-6 profession file in five-set matches. After 34-year-old Stan Wawrinka outlasted him in 5 units in Melbourne a yr in the past, Medvedev confided, “After all, feels not good to by no means win one… I don’t prefer to play 5 units. I get drained.” Till Medvedev relishes competing in five-set battles, to not point out successful some, a Grand Slam title will elude him.
Dominic Thiem: “I understand how powerful and brutal a Grand Slam might be each bodily and mentally,” Thiem mentioned in a current Australian Open Countdown interview. “I performed the most effective tournaments ever in my profession, [only] simply failed.” The 27-year-old Austrian was referring to his heartbreaking five-set loss to Djokovic within the Aussie Open last a yr in the past. It marked his third straight Grand Slam last loss. Fortunately, eight months later, Thiem grabbed his first main on the US Open, breaking one other streak when the Large Three had beforehand received 13 straight majors. On the 2020 ATP Finals, the exhausting hitter unusually turned a passive slicer and misplaced to Medvedev in a super-close last. Thiem will study from that tactical mistake and likewise from successful 76 % of his web factors on the 2020 Australian Open. “The Dominator” will attain the ultimate for the second straight yr.
With a piece ethic second to none and guided by 2020 ATP Coach of the Yr Fernando Vicente, Russia’s Andrey Rublev improved dramatically final yr.
Andrey Rublev: With a piece ethic second to none and guided by 2020 ATP Coach of the Yr Fernando Vicente, Russia’s Rublev improved dramatically final yr. He received a tour-high 5 titles and jumped from No. 23 to a career-high No. 8. “He’s one of the crucial hard-hitting gamers on tour,” mentioned Zverev. “Out of each place, he can hit a winner.” Rublev’s most spectacular wins got here late within the season over Thiem (twice), Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and Denis Shapovalov. If the bold 23-year-old continues to enhance his once-suspect shot choice, he ought to attain his first Australian Open quarterfinals.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas: Ever because the “Greek Freak” burst on the tennis scene by upsetting Federer on the Australian Open two years in the past, his thrilling shot-making and media-friendly character have made him a crowd favorite. After outlasting Tsitsipas in a five-set semifinal on the 2020 French Open, world No. 1 Djokovic mentioned, “He’s an enormous man. Large serve. He has weapons, clearly serve and forehand, his backhand. He produces plenty of spin. He comes into the online. He can play aggressively. He can defend nicely as a result of he strikes nicely. He’s actually a whole, all-around participant.” Regardless of all these belongings, the 6’4 hunk received no tournaments and defeated no top-five gamers final yr. Why? In 9 of his 14 defeats, Tsitsipas misplaced the deciding third or fifth set. If the good-looking, hirsute Greek can win shut matches, he’ll attain a minimum of the quarters.
Jannik Sinner’s picture-perfect floor strokes resemble Novak Djokovic’s, and his calm manner is paying homage to Bjorn Borg.
Jannik Sinner: The youngest participant (19) ranked within the prime 100 at No. 36, Sinner is already a formidable winner. He recorded three top-10 wins in 2020 — over Zverev, Tsitsipas and David Goffin — turned the primary participant since Nadal in 2005 to achieve the French Open quarterfinals in his match debut, and captured his first match in Sofia in November. His picture-perfect floor strokes resemble Djokovic’s, and his calm manner is paying homage to Bjorn Borg. At Roland-Garros, the place he upset Zverev, Sinner showcased the match’s strongest forehand, averaging a blazing 84 mph. “I like his sport and his composure even higher,” raved Annacone, who previously coached Federer and Pete Sampras. The 6’2 Italian with a formidable, all-court sport ought to attain the second week on the Aussie Open and each main this yr.
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Novak Djokovic: Though Djokovic often loses his mood — equivalent to his disastrous US Open disqualification for unintentionally whacking a lineswoman with a ball — maybe paradoxically he ranks No. 1 within the ATP “Beneath Stress” profession stats. He additionally completed No. 1 on this class in 2020, highlighted by a terrific 16-2 file (85.7 %) in tiebreakers. Much more wonderful, he’s by no means misplaced a match after being up a match level. To win his file ninth Aussie title and 18th total main, the Djoker might want to excel in stress factors and video games once more as a result of he’ll face intense competitors, notably from Thiem, Medvedev and Zverev. The Serb’s burning want to make historical past, total technical excellence and sensational 32-10 file in five-set matches are three extra causes Djokovic will seize yet one more main Down Beneath.
To win his file ninth Aussie title and 18th total main, Novak Djokovic might want to excel in stress factors and video games once more as a result of he’ll face intense competitors, notably from Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.
Darkish horses: Already a crowd pleaser, qualifier Carlos Alcaraz is by far the youngest (17) and least recognized. The Spanish speedster has limitless potential and evokes recollections of the teenage Nadal, his idol. Different harmful floaters within the draw embody hyper-athletic Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and a trio of younger, steadily enhancing American energy hitters — Sebastian Korda, Taylor Fritz and 6’11¾” large Reilly Opelka, the tallest participant in professional tennis historical past.
Do you know? Iconic baseball slugger Hank Aaron, who died on January 22, was an avid leisure participant and massive tennis fan? In a late Nineties Biofile interview Aaron did with author Mark “Scoop” Malinowski, he famous his favorite tennis gamers: “Monica Seles. Venus and Serena Williams. Martina Hingis. Pete Sampras. And I assume my all-time favorite must be John McEnroe. I respect professional tennis gamers as a lot as any athletes for his or her conditioning and psychological toughness.”
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