They have already been unfortunate Grand Slam finalists and dream of unlocking the counter in Melbourne or later in the season.
For a long time, the Big Four left only crumbs to the competition. It finally moves (a little). In 2020, 2021 and 2022, there was a new Grand Slam winner. Each time at the US Open where Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz won their first and so far only Grand Slam. If Novak Djokovic, remains the big favorite at the Australian Open, a favorite tournament which he has won nine times, the new guard is on the lookout and in particular, those who have already tasted a first final in a Major.
Casper Ruud, 3rd player in the world (Roland-Garros and US Open 2022 finalist)
Double Grand Slam finalist at Roland-Garros, then the US Open, the 24-year-old Norwegian (also a finalist at the Turin Masters) had a fairly exceptional 2022 season. The third in the world will have to assume his rank in 2023. Not easy. He also started his season with two losses in three matches at the United Cup and remains on a defeat against the Serb Laslo Djere in 2e tour to Auckland. The No. 2 seed at the Australian Open, fell short of a victory for the throne on September 11. The 24-year-old Norwegian has another opportunity to do so after the Australian Open, if he wins the tournament or reaches the final without being beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas or Novak Djokovic. Later in the season, this formidable customer on clay will be especially expected on the side of Roland-Garros.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas, 4th player in the world (Roland-Garros 2021 finalist)
If he is the man who has won the most matches on the circuit in 2022 (61), Stefanos Tsitsipas had disappointing results in the Grand Slam after his semi-final in Australia, he has chained disappointments (defeat in the 3rd round at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, defeat at 1is round at the US Open). Results unworthy of his immense talent. ” I just want to be more consistent in Grand Slam tournaments. I’m not asking to win them all, but if I could get semi-finals, finals and consecutive titles, I would be very satisfied. I see opportunities “, he told Clay. The 2021 French Open runner-up has pumped up confidence in the United Cup by beating the likes of Dimitrov, Coric and Berrettini. And his ability to beat the best (two wins against Djokovic and Nadal) makes him a serious candidate for a crown in Melbourne. Current 4e A world player at the ATP, the 24-year-old Greek must win the Australian Open, if he wants to hope to steal the number one spot from Carlos Alcaraz.
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Alexander Zverev, 13th player in the world (2020 US Open runner-up)
Six months after his terrible ankle injury during his Roland-Garros semi-final in early June against Rafael Nadal, the Olympic champion has returned to the courts in competition. During the Diriyah Cup, an exhibition organized at the end of December in Saudi Arabia, then officially on the occasion of the United Cup, in Australia. And the return to business of the 2020 US Open finalist proved complicated with two severe defeats in the United Cup. The German is still evolving far from his best level. During an interview at Eurosportthe interested party breathed: “ I have no goal, I just want to have fun, to have fun, that’s my goal […] The injury taught me patience and to appreciate all the little things. When I first walked again, I was like a kid. I felt like I had won the biggest tournament in the world.” It will probably not be necessary to count on the 2020 Olympic champion to win in Melbourne. At the gates of the final at Roland-Garros last year, before his serious ankle injury, Alexander Zverev, also double winner of the Masters (2018 and 2021) could however hit hard in a few months at Porte d’Auteuil…
Matteo Berrettini, 14th player in the world (2021 Wimbledon finalist)
Like Alexander Zverev, Wimbledon 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini has spent much of 2022 in the infirmary due to a nasty foot injury. Consequence, the Italian, 6e world last year at the same time, fell in the ranking to 16e place. «Mentally, it’s been a very difficult year did he recognize. I started very well in Australia, I was at the best moment of my career and I had very high expectations for the clay and grass tours, but I got injured. I tried to take advantage of this free time to recharge my batteries and come back stronger.” Like Zverev, the 26-year-old Transalpin returned to competition in the United Cup. With better results than the German (three wins in four matches). He could create a big surprise in Australia, but it is especially at Wimbledon where he will be expected. Before forfeiting due to the covid, the Italian was the number 1 outsider in London after his two consecutive titles in his preparation tournaments on grass.
Nick Kyrgios, 21st player in the world (2022 Wimbledon finalist)
2022 has been a pivotal year for the now (relatively) mellowed Australian bad boy. He won the doubles tournament last year and reached his first-ever Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Proving in passing that he could now keep his concentration and physically hold seven meetings in the best of five sets. If he will be more expected on the side of London in July, he could play the spoilsports at home, from January. He will probably not be counted on for Roland-Garros, because of his aversion to clay. However, Kyrgios arrives in Melbourne in the unknown, without having played singles since the ATP tournament in Tokyo in October, upset by an ankle injury. But the boy has such a talent that everything seems possible…