A tough road that both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will take at the 2024 Australian Open. The Murcian will begin his journey against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, while the world number 1 will debut against a tennis player from the qualifying phase.
Alcarazthe Spaniards’ only great hope in Australia after the loss of Rafa Nadal to injury, can be dealt with in the hypothetical round of 16 against one of the players who has been creating the most problems for him in recent times, the American Tommy Paul (14)in the quarterfinals in German Alexander Zverev (6)architect of Germany’s victory in the United Cup and the Russian in the semifinals Daniel Medvedev (2)his executioner in the semifinals of the last US Open.
The world number 2 has only faced Gasquet once, in the 2021 Umag final, in won in a resounding 6-2, 6-2.
The one from El Palmar, who will have the possibility to add his first Australian Open and his third Grand Slam after the titles of Wimbledon 2023 and US Open 2022, He will face British Daniel Evans or Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the second roundtwo players with tennis to make anyone’s life difficult.
In its part, Djokovic will begin the title defense against a tennis player from the previous round after luck was on their side in the draw celebration that took place in the main press room at Melbourne Park.
In the second round they can face the winner of the Australian duel between the visitors Marc Polmans and Alexei Popyrin.
The Serbian, who arrived in Melbourne with some discomfort in his right wrist which affected him in his defeat against Australian Alex De Minaur (10) in the United Cup, He will face American Ben Shelton (16) in a hypothetical round of 16.in the quarterfinals with Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (7) and in the semifinals with Italian Jannik Sinner (4).
It is the first time in his career that the reigning champion is not among his main historical rivals, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, in the final draw of the Australian Open.
The champion of ten editions of the Australian tournament and 24 majors He will have the opportunity to widen the gap in slam crowns with respect to Nadal (22) and Federer (20).
Regarding the rest of the Spanish representation, Alejandro Davidovich (23) will begin his adventure against Frenchman Constant Lestienne and he will face German Maximilian Marterer or Portuguese Nuno Borges in the second round.
For his part, Roberto Bautista will face Ben Shelton, Roberto Carballés along with Croatian Borna GojoBernabé Zapata with Czech Jiri Lehecka (32), Jaume Munar with Russian Alexander Shevchenko and Albert Ramos with Norwegian Casper Ruud (11).
Of the remaining favourites, Italian Jannik Sinner (4) will make his debut against Dutchman Botic van de ZandschulpRussian Daniil Medvedev (3) will face a tennis player from earlier, Russian Andrey Rublev will face Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, and German Alexander Zverev (6) will start against his compatriot Dominik Koepfer.
The first round will leave us with two stellar duels, pitting Stefanos Tsitsipas against Marco Berrettini and Felix Auger-Aliassime with Dominic Thiem. Also noteworthy were the confrontations between Frances Tiafoe and Borna Coric and between Alex de Miñaur and Milos Raonic.
Australian Open
Possible quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic (1) – Stefanos Tsitsipas (7)
Jannik Sinner (4) – Andrey Rublev (5)
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Holger Rune (8) – Daniil Medvedev (3)
Alexander Zverev (6) – Carlos Alcaraz (2)
Source: La Verdad
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