As the year draws to a close, the prospect of what 2024 might bring is beginning to take center stage. The Grand Slam action kicks off in Melbourne in January as Novak Djokovic looks to defend his title. Can anyone dethrone the Serbian?
Novak Djokovic – Back-to-back victories
After dominating the sport once again in 2023 – claiming three of the four Grand Slams – Djokovic will be looking to pick up from where he left off in the New Year. The world number one has an incredible record in Australia, and those looking to place a tennis bet online will find him a strong favorite to lift the trophy in 2024, with a price of +110. As to be expected, Djokovic is heavily featured among tennis tips today with the competition rapidly approaching.
Novak Djokovic wins his 10th Australian Open to add to his illustrious career. pic.twitter.com/IybQ5Ro9jF
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 29, 2023
The Serbian has won the last four times he has entered the Australian Open, with Rafael Nadal enjoying brief success in 2022 when Djokovic was absent from the tournament. Djokovic already has 10 victories in the first Grand Slam of the year to his name, making him by far the most successful men’s player down under.
The eight-time ATP Player of the Year has won seven of the last 10 Grand Slams he has played in, so unsurprisingly, he’ll be the man to beat in Australia.
Daniil Medvedev – First Grand Slam since 2021
Daniil Medvedev will be among the main contenders looking to get their hands on Djokovic’s trophy. The Russian has just one Grand Slam to his name – the 2021 US Open – but he’ll be hoping to kick on after a strong finish to 2023.
After bailing out in the third round and first round at the Australian and French Open, respectively, Medvedev went on to make the last four at Wimbledon, before losing out to Djokovic in the US Open final.
The world number three has been fairly consistent at the Australian Open, 2023 edition aside. He reached the final in back-to-back tournaments in 2021 and 2022, first losing out in straight sets to Djokovic, before suffering a 3-2 defeat against Nadal the following year. Medvedev is one of the few players who can brag about beating Djokovic in a Grand Slam final – this is the type of experience that could prove priceless should he meet the reigning champion once again in 2024.
Rafael Nadal – Comeback king
2023 was a write-off for Nadal. After suffering a second-round exit at the Australian Open, the Spaniard was sidelined for the remainder of the year as a result of an injury. If there’s one man that could come back with a bang and cause an upset, it’s Nadal.
Nadal. Osaka. Kerber. Just some of the big names returning at AO 2024 🤩 https://t.co/V8cz7T6E1y
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) December 7, 2023
He’s triumphed twice in Australia in 2009 and 2022, as well as finishing as runner-up on four more occasions. It may be his least successful Grand Slam, but Nadal still has an incredible 77-16 record in the tournament, an 83% win-to-loss ratio.
Providing Nadal has fully recovered from his injuries and is back to his fighting best, there’s no reason the +1800 outsider can’t cause a stir in Melbourne.
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