2023-12-27 08:34:00
The Serbian Novak Djokovic, still looking for victories following a 24th Major, and Rafael Nadal, away from the courts for a year due to injury, are each launching their 2024 season in Australia, which might be the Spaniard’s last.
Djoko still wants to win everything
Entering the history of world tennis in 2023 with a 24th Major, Djokovic is still hungry for titles: he wants his calendar Grand Slam and is aiming for Olympic gold this summer in Paris, following having been bronze medalist in singles in 2008 in Beijing. After an exhibition match scheduled for Wednesday once morest his runner-up, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the world No.1 will participate from Friday in the United Cup, a mixed competition between nations which takes place in Perth and Sydney. He should use this tournament to prepare for the defense of his title at the Australian Open from January 15.
In Perth, the 36-year-old Serbian faces China and the Czech Republic in group E. He will first face the Chinese Zhang Zhizen, the 58th in the world, nine years his junior on Sunday, then on Tuesday the Czech Jiri Lehecka (31st global). “Djoko” will line up with Olga Danilovic for the mixed doubles, to face in particular the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (7th), crowned at Wimbledon, and the Chinese Zheng Qinwen (15th).
If he passes the group stage, he will meet on January 3 in the quarter-finals with the winner of group C: the United States, defending champions led by Taylor Fritz (10th) and Jessica Pegula (5th), Great Britain and Australia.
Nadal, the last dance?
Rafael Nadal, former world No. 1 who fell to 664th following an almost blank 2023 season due to a hip injury, makes his return to competition at the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane on December 31. At 37, he believes that 2024 should be his “last year” on the circuit but, he warned, without being able to “guarantee it 100%”.
“I worked hard to come back to competition, and if things and physicality allow me to move forward and enjoy what I do, I think it doesn’t make sense to settle a limit,” he explained in a video posted on social networks in early December.
The last official match of the Spaniard, winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments, was his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open in January 2023. Having undergone hip surgery, he said he only aspired to “be competitive” in Brisbane.
Swiatek underage at the United Cup
Iga Swiatek, who became world No.1 once more thanks to her victory at the Cancun Masters in November, is also launching her season at the United Cup. With Poland, she faces Brazil and Spain in Group A, without Alcaraz.
In Perth, Swiatek, 22, will notably face Beatriz Haddad Maia, 11th in the world, in singles on Saturday, then Sara Sorribes Tormo (48th) on Monday. She will be associated with Hubert Hurkacz, 9th at ATP, for the mixed doubles. She will then try to win a fourth Grand Slam in Melbourne, following reaching the semi-final there in 2023.
Other posters in Australia
Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th in the ATP) and Maria Sakkari (9th in the WTA) will represent Greece at the United Cup. They meet Canada of Félix Auger-Aliassime (29th) and Leylah Fernandez (35th), and Chile.
At home, Australia will count on Alex de Minaur (12th) and Ajla Tomljanovic (290th) once morest the United States (Fritz/Pegula) and Great Britain (Cameron Norrie, 18th, and Katie Boulter).
The Russian Andrey Rublev, 5th in the world, is entered in Hong Kong, alongside his compatriot Karen Khachanov (15th) and the American Frances Tiafoe (16th).
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