Djokovic and Murray - hand in hand against the young lions

The Australian Open will give answers to the questions of how tennis veterans can do, whether there are any weaknesses in the game of the first favorite Janik Siner...

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Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray met four times in the final of the Australian Open - in all of them the Serbian tennis player celebrated, winning almost half of the record 10 titles in Melbourne against the Scotsman.

The first is still the pre-tender to the throne, even though he is 38 years old, the second, a peer, is now retired and his coach. Together, Djokovic and Murray will face off against the "young lions", of which there are plenty, it is enough to mention the first four seeds: Janik Siner, Aleksandar Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz.

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photo: Graphic News

The popular Oz Open started late last night/early this morning in Melbourne. The first Grand Slam of the season is only starting today, bringing great excitement, as Alexander Zverev will be the last player on the first day of the “Rod Laver Arena” to play. The German has the easiest path to the semifinals, where he will face the winner of the projected quarterfinal match between Alcaraz and Djokovic.

The trophy in Melbourne is defended by the first player on the ATP list, the Italian Janik Siner, who has been resting since the end of last, a fantastic season that was only marred by the doping scandal and the deduction of points from the Masters in Cincinnati. He will not be on the field before tomorrow, and the Chilean Nikolas Đari is waiting for him. On Monday, Djokovic will also play against the 133rd player, American Nihas Basavaredi, while Alkaras closes the day against Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko.

The last of the favorites, the fifth tennis player in the world, Russian Danil Medvedev and potential rival to Sineru in the semi-finals, will be the last on the court from the favorites. He plays against qualifier Kassidit Samrei from Thailand. Medvedev gave birth to his second daughter just before the Ozi Open, and after the birth of the first, he immediately won the title in Vienna. But the Australian Open seems like too big a deal for the Russian at the moment.

The biggest favorites are Siner and Alkaras, while it is unknown how veteran Djokovic will look, with the professional help of another tennis icon, Andy Murray.

- Murray inspired me and many others. He also has a unique perspective on my game because we first played when we were 12 years old - he knows my strengths and weaknesses, but also the current best players, because he only recently retired. We talk a lot, he tries to understand me on many levels, talks to other team members and gets along with them. It is detailed. I'm enjoying it for now - Djokovic said.

Alkaras has the opportunity to make history in Melbourne as the youngest winner of all four Grand Slams. The Spaniard has already won Roland Garros, two Wimbledons and the US Open.

- I am motivated by the fact that Siner is first in the rating and with all those titles, and I want to give my maximum. That rivalry is a special incentive for me and I am aware that if I am not at 100 percent, I cannot match him - said Alkaras.

However, it will be a difficult road for him to reach the projected final with Siner, because already in the quarterfinals, the draw planned his meeting with Djokovic, and in the semifinals with Zverev, from whom he was eliminated last year in Melbourne.

- Last season was excellent, we will see how everything will unfold in this one. I worked during the break on every detail, going to the net, in some aspects of approaching shots. Especially on the move when receiving services. Maybe everything seems ideal from the outside, but we feel these small changes. Physical preparation is important, psychological as well and in general tennis is a very complex sport - explained Siner, who in mid-April will have to answer to accusations of doping as reported by WADA.

In the women's section, the title of champion is defended by Belarusian Arina Sabaljenko. She is the number one player in the world and loves to play in Australia, where she has played in five tournaments in her career and won four titles. She also celebrated in Brisbane at the start of the season. If she does not defend the trophy, she is threatened with losing the first place on the WTA list, as American Koko Goff and Polish Iga Sfjontek are waiting for a chance.

Danka against Lulu Sun, formerly Lucije Radovčić

Our audience will be particularly interested in the performance of Danka Kovinić. She plays tomorrow against Lulu Sun, who previously played under the name Lulu Radovčić, but also Lucija Radovčić, so that since she plays for New Zealand she will take her mother's last name. She is 43rd on the WTA list, and Kovinić, due to numerous injuries and breaks, is only at 1.293. place in the world rankings. She arrives at the Ozi Open after six matches that she played after the OI in Paris, and she recorded two victories.

Sun, who previously played under the flag of Croatia or Switzerland, is also not in top form, as she arrived in Melbourne after a streak of five defeats. Kovinić's best performance at Grand Slam tournaments was two years ago - the third round in Melbourne, Sun participated once last year and lost in the first round.

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