A PREVIEW OF THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

A PREVIEW OF THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

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In the Aussie sports calendar nothing screams summer quite like the Australian Open and the 110th edition of the revered tennis tournament gets underway on January 17th at Melbourne Park.

Whereas it is somewhat unfortunate to start any preview piece with matters off-court, it would be remiss not do so on this occasion as the build up has been dominated by defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic embroiled in an unsavoury tangle with Australian immigration officials over his personal COVID-19 status.

At time of press, Djokovic had been denied a visa for a second time by Australian immigration officials, plunging

his participation into serious doubt. The Serb’s lawyers claimed they will contest the decision after in an effort to allow him to play after he was drafted into the competition draw although the government seemed to be steadfast in their decision.

It has been widely publicised that Djokovic is against forced vaccination and in the lead up to the Aussie Open he refused to reveal whether he had been personally innoculated. The crunch came due to the fact that Australian border control laws stipulate vaccine as essential, with few or no exceptions made.

2020 Australian Open - Day 14 MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 02: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand during his Men's Singles Final match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on day fourteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.

(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Dojokvic was refused entry and his visa cancelled on January 6th, leaving the star in a detention centre for several days while his legal team contested the ruling.

Then a stunning outcome was declared when an emergency online court hearing saw the judge order that the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa “be quashed”. Many considered it as great as any victory the Serb had achieved on court as he was cleared to play and defend his crown.

However, the ruling on Jan 14th means Djokovic, who was the overwhelming favourite pre-tournament, may be unable to claim a record-extending 10th title at a venue where he owns an 82-8 record, nor be able to break the men’s Slam record with a 21st Major crown.

World No. 2-ranked Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who Djokovic defeated in last year’s final, will be looking to go one better this time around. Medvedev did manage to beat his rival in the US Open final last September, denying the Serb becoming only the second man in the Open era to win all four major Grand Slams.

Others that pose a threat include Djokovic’s longterm rival Rafael Nadal, World No. 3 Alexander Zverev of Germany, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and the youngest ranked player in the World top ten, Italy’s Jannik Sinner.

Indeed, at only 20-years-old, Sinner is one of many young talents that experts expect to shine in Melbourne. Also keep an eye out for 21-yearold American Sebastian Korda, Spain’s 18-year-old prodigy Carlos Alcaraz and 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Barty time?

2022 Australian Open: Previews MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 13: Ashleigh Barty of Australia serves during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

(Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

In the women’s competition, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty will be aiming to become the first Australian woman to win the event since Chris O’Neill in 1978. The current Wimbledon champion goes into the tournament as hot favourite with the bookmakers and is in good form having won the singles and doubles titles at the Adelaide International recently, her first tournament since the US Open last year.

Barty will be buoyed by the fact that Serena Williams will not be competing in Melbourne this year and that defending champion Naomi Osaka is still working her way back to top form and fitness after a long break.

However, there are still threats to Barty’s dream of a home win. World No.3 Garbine Muguruza of Spain, only behind Barty and big-hitting Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the world rankings, won the season-ending WTA Finals in Guadalajara and is an outside bet.

Former number one Simona Halep of Romania also comes into the tournament in good form having won the Melbourne Summer Set 1 trophy on January 9th. Last year was the first time since 2013 that the 30-year-old failed to win at least one tournament since 2013.

Briton’s Emma Raducanu, 19, shocked the tennis world last year by becoming the first male or female qualifier ever to win a Slam title when she claimed victory at the US Open and will be looking to repeat her form in Melbourne.

Raducanu’s opponent in that final was fellow 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez from Canada who comes to Melbourne in a confident mood.

Others leading the youth charge in the women’s game include Polands’ Iga Swiatek, 20, and 17-year-old American sensation Coco Gauff who reached the Wimbledon fourth round as a 15-year-old.