Can Djokovic win Australian Open for the 10th time? - Australian Open 2023 Preview

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Novak Djokovic has had a great deal of success at the Australin open throughout his career. One of the reasons he has been so successful at this tournament is that the courts at Melbourne Park, where the Australian Open is held, are hard courts and Djokovic's game is well-suited to this surface. He is known for his quick movement and excellent defense, which allows him to cover the court well and hit precise shots.

Another reason for his success is his ability to adapt to different conditions. The Australian Open is often played in hot and humid conditions, which can be tough for players to handle. Djokovic has shown an ability to perform well in these conditions, and his impressive fitness level is a big advantage.

His mental strength and his ability to handle the pressure of big tournaments also contribute to his success. He is known for his ability to stay focused and composed during high-pressure moments, which is crucial in Grand Slam tournaments.

Furthermore, Djokovic has a great deal of experience playing in the Australian Open, having won the tournament nine times. He is familiar with the conditions, the courts, and the atmosphere of the tournament, which gives him a psychological advantage over his opponents.

All these factors combined make Djokovic one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, and certainly a player to pick as the top favourite to win Australian Open.

He just won the title in Adelaide last week, ripping through a pretty tough list of competitors in Constant Lestienne, Quentin Halys, Denis Shapovalov, former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, and Sebastian Korda. Along the way, he dropped just one set.

Djokovic looks to be in incredible form, and that’s bad news for the rest of the field, considering he hardly loses in Australia. He’s taken home the last three Australian Opens he has played in and has captured nine altogether.

Contenders

Medvedev has the next-best odds, and that’s probably the right decision here. After all, he is one of the few who have taken Djokovic out of a Grand Slam in recent years when he took home the US Open two years ago.

He did lose to Djokovic in a rather routine fashion last week in Adelaide, but that probably says more about the way the Serb is playing. Prior to that, Medvedev looked clinical in wins over Miomir Kecmanovic and Karen Khachanov.

With his big serve and flat groundstrokes, he should be rather lethal on these quick courts in Australia with Dunlop balls, which are his favorite.

Kyrgios is the man who took out Medvedev the last time we saw the Russian in a Grand Slam, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again in his home country.

Kyrgios is now 4-1 lifetime against Medvedev, ripping through him at the US Open and winning convincingly over the former World No. 1 in a Masters event last season. He nearly took him five sets in last year’s Australian Open, too, and likely would have had a decisive break early in that fourth set had it not been for a shanked forehand after a brilliant point.

I will ask you, then: Kyrgios was nearly good enough to go five with Medvedev coming off the proverbial couch last season, and he was playing that match inside of a smaller arena at limited capacity due to the pandemic. What, then, is he capable of this time around?

Kyrgios had the best season of his career in 2022, playing a relaxed schedule but looking dominant at the big tournaments he did show up for. He went to the finals of Wimbledon and performed admirablly. He also failed to win the US Open after entering the quarterfinals as the favorite.

The pressure could get to Kyrgios here, but the thought of what he might be capable of in front of a raucous crowd after the season he had last year is enticing. It’s also worth noting that he’s 2-1 lifetime against Djokovic and has racked up memorable wins over a waning Rafael Nadal. In my opinion, he’s got the best shot of anyone not named Novak Djokovic.

What’s not to love about the way Felix is playing right now? For all I just said about 2022 being a defining season for Kyrgios, it was a magnificent one for the Canadian.

After failing to win a tournament in eight consecutive trips to finals, he got the monkey off his back by winning four tournaments towards the end of the season, at one point going on a 16-match winning streak.

Auger-Aliassime possesses all-world talent with a giant serve and powerful groundstrokes, but up until last seson, his game was rather wild and erratic. He’s harnessing in his weapons, finding control, and it’s been torture for the rest of the tour.

He picked up two wins over Carlos Alcaraz and Alex De Minaur, and also reached the semi-finals in the ATP Cup, showing that he is capable of competing against the top players in the world. With his powerful game, he could be a dangerous opponent on the quick courts in Australia and make a deep run in the tournament.

Dark horses

Stefanos Tsitsipas (9.00) - The Greek player has been playing well recently, reaching the finals of the ATP Cup and the semi-finals in Adelaide. He has a powerful game and can be a dangerous opponent on any surface.

Rafael Nadal (11.00) - Despite being in the later stages of his career, Nadal is still a force to be reckoned with. He has a strong record in Australia, winning the tournament twice in the past. If he can stay healthy, he could make a deep run in the tournament.

Alexander Zverev (13.00) - The German player has had a mixed season so far, but has the potential to be a top player. He has a big serve and a powerful game and is capable of beating anyone on his day.

Denis Shapovalov (13.00) - The young Canadian player has been making a name for himself in recent years, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2020. He has a big serve and a powerful game, and could be a dark horse in the tournament.

These are just a few of the players who could make an impact in the Australian Open 2023 Men's tournament. The field is always competitive and there are always surprises, so it's sure to be an exciting tournament to watch.

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