Australian Open Men’s Preview: Can Anyone Stop Novak Djokovic?
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The Top 32 men are all assembled in Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the 2024 tennis season. But after another incredible year, can anyone stop Novak Djokovic?
The 36-year-old world No. 1 lost just one match in Grand Slam play all of 2023, and his home away from home in Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne where Djokovic has won 28 straight matches, won the title the last four times he’s played and seeks an 11th title there.
The Serb will also bid for a record-breaking 25th career Slam title, breaking the tie he shares with Aussie great Margaret Court.
The top threats come in the form of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and perhaps Alexander Zverev.
Top seeds are: 1 Novak Djokovic, 2 Carlos Alcaraz, 3 Daniil Medvedev, 4 Jannik Sinner, 5 Andrey Rublev, 6 Alexander Zverev, 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 8 Holger Rune, 9 Hubert Hurkacz, 10 Alex De Minaur, 11 Casper Ruud, 12 Taylor Fritz, 13 Grigor Dimitrov, 14 Tommy Paul, 15 Karen Khachanov, 16 Ben Shelton.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Djokovic, 7 Tsitsipas, 12 Fritz, 16 Shelton, 20 Mannarino, 22 Cerundolo, 25 Musetti, 30 Etcheverry
Floaters: Murray, Bautista Agut, Berrettini, Wawrinka, Van Assche, Marozsan, Shevchenko, Cilic, Monfils
Notable openers: Novak Djokovic-Dino Prizmic, Andy Murray-Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Adrian Mannarino-Stan Wawrinka, Roberto Bautista Agut-Ben Shelton, Fabian Marozsan-Marin Cilic, Lorenzo Musetti-Benjamin Bonzi, Matteo Berrettini-Stefanos Tsitsipas
Projected 3R matches: 1 Djokovic – 30 Etcheverry, 20 Mannarino – 16 Shelton, 12 Fritz – 22 Cerundolo, 25 Musetti – 7 Tsitsipas.
Notes: Comfortable draw for the 10-time champion Djokovic who will test his wrist in a Sunday night opener against reigning French Open junior champion Dino Prizmic. Djokovic, though, could get a rematch with Ben Shelton the fourth and see the struggling Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarters in a final rematch from last year. Andy Murray could see Djokovic but will have to get his first win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
JANNIK SINNER QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Sinner, 5 Rublev, 10 De Minaur, 15 Khachanov, 17 Tiafoe, 18 Jarry, 26 Baez, 29 Korda
Floaters: Coric, Eubanks, Wolf
Notable openers: Jannik Sinner-Botic Van De Zandschulp, JJ Wolf-Sebastian Baez, Frances Tiafoe-Borna Coric, Daniel Altmaier-Karen Khachanov, Thiago Seyboth Wild-Andrey Rublev
Projected 3R matches: 4 Sinner – 26 Baez, 17 Tiafoe – 15 Khachanov, 10 De Minaur – 18 Jarry, 29 Korda – 5 Rublev.
Notes: Nice draw for Sinner who after a stellar last few months of 2023 should cruise out to the fourth round to face the Tiafoe-Khachanov winner. The hot-handed De Minaur or Rublev could await in the quarters, though neither has been to a Slam semifinal.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Medvedev, 8 Rune, 9 Hurkacz, 13 Dimitrov, 21 Humbert, 23 Davidovich Fokina, 27 Auger Aliassime, 28 Griekspoor
Floaters: Shapovalov, Djere, Nishioka, Fils, Fucsovics, Ofner, Ruusuvuori, Zhang, Safiullin, Kokkinakis, Thiem
Notable openers: Holger Rune-Yoshihito Nishioka, Grigor Dimitrov-Marton Fucsovics, Felix Auger Aliassime-Dominic Thiem
Projected 3R matches: 8 Rune – 28 Griekspoor, 21 Humbert – 9 Hurkacz, 13 Dimitrov – 23 Davidovich Fokina, 27 Auger Aliassime – 3 Medvedev.
Notes: Without a lead-up event, Medvedev remains the big favorite in the third quarter. The Russian, a 2-time Australian Open finalist, might get Brisbane champion Dimitrov in the fourth and possibly Rune in the quarters, though that 16 is open for business.
CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 6 Zverev, 11 Ruud, 14 Paul, 19 Norrie, 24 Struff, 31 Bublik, 32 Lehecka
Floaters: Evans, Sonego, Kecmanovic, McDonald, Gasquet, Draper, Shang
Notable openers: Alexander Zverev-Dominik Koepfer, Albert Ramos Vinolas-Casper Ruud, Tommy Paul-Gregoire Barrere, Daniel Evans-Lorenzo Sonego, Richard Gasquet-Carlos Alcaraz
Projected 3R matches: 6 Zverev – 32 Lehecka, 19 Norrie – 11 Ruud, 14 Paul – 24 Struff, 31 Bublik – 2 Alcaraz.
Notes: After missing last year, the Spanish sensation Alcaraz is back and listed as the second favorite. The 20-year-old could face a couple guys that have given him trouble in Tommy Paul and Alexander Zverev. Paul, a semifinalist a year ago, has seen his results tail off while Zverev has returned to his top level after serious injury 18 months ago.
The projected quarterfinals:
1 Djokovic – 7 Tsitsipas
4 Sinner – 5 Rublev
8 Rune – 3 Medvedev
6 Zverev – 2 Alcaraz
The projected R16 looks like:
1 Djokovic – 16 Shelton
12 Fritz – 7 Tsitsipas
4 Sinner – 15 Khachanov
10 De Minaur – 5 Rublev
8 Rune – 9 Hurkacz
13 Dimitrov – 3 Medvedev
6 Zverev – 11 Ruud
14 Paul – 2 Alcaraz
Former champions: Djokovic(10), Wawrinka,
Former finalists: Murray(5), Cilic, Tsitsipas, Thiem, Medvedev(2)
Last year, (4) Novak Djokovic defeated (3) Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5).
LAST 10 AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2023 Novak Djokovic d Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(5)
2022 Rafael Nadal d Daniil Medvedev 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5
2021 Novak Djokovic d Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-2 6-2
2020 Novak Djokovic d Dominic Thiem 6-4 4-6 2-6 6-3 6-4
2019 Novak Djokovic d Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3
2018 Roger Federer d Marin Cilic 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 6-1
2017 Roger Federer d Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3
2016 Novak Djokovic d Andy Murray 6-1 7-5 7-6
2015 Novak Djokovic d Andy Murray 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0
2014 Stan Wawrinka d Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3
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