Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates profitable his Hyundai Card Tremendous Match in opposition to Italy’s Jannik Sinner. Photograph: REUTERS
SYDNEY:
The Australian Open might crown Jannik Sinner champion for a 3rd straight 12 months or hand Carlos Alcaraz a profession Grand Slam, however lurking within the shadows are a handful of gamers grappling with harsh truths about their title possibilities at Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record-extending eleventh Australian Open title seems a protracted shot, with the Serb nonetheless looking for yet one more main title that will set up him as essentially the most profitable Grand Slam champion of all time.
At 38, Djokovic is within the twilight of his profession and has needed to watch Sinner and Alcaraz gobble up the Grand Slam titles between them for the final two years.
Whereas Djokovic’s glory days could also be behind him, they by no means fairly arrived for Alexander Zverev.
Third within the ATP rankings, the German was lengthy touted because the one to interrupt the domination of the ‘Large Three’ however at 28 he has but to get his palms on a Grand Slam trophy.
Zverev stated he was proud to complete 2025 as world quantity three however by way of factors he sits nearer to one hundredth within the rankings than to Alcaraz or Sinner.
The chasm between the highest two and the remainder of the sphere makes third place appear extra like a comfort prize than a launch pad.
The German reached final 12 months’s Melbourne last solely to be humbled by Sinner in straight units, and the one trophy to come back his manner final 12 months was on residence soil on the Bavarian Championships.
Moderately than soul-searching to seek out the solutions to his issues, nevertheless, Zverev has pointed the finger elsewhere, blaming ball high quality, defensive opponents and even suggesting courts are tailored for Alcaraz and Sinner.
Performed horrible
Daniil Medvedev, then again, has chosen a unique path, considered one of brutal self-reflection.
The Russian managed simply two finals final 12 months and finds himself outdoors the highest 10 heading into Melbourne — a far cry from his former world primary standing.
After altering coaches final 12 months, he ended an 882-day watch for a title by profitable the Almaty Open in Kazakhstan final 12 months.
Medvedev, who has misplaced three finals at Melbourne Park together with a five-set heartbreaker in opposition to Sinner in 2024, has proven some early season promise by profitable the Brisbane Worldwide.
“I shall be trustworthy, after I was prime three, prime 4, I used to be for positive pondering so much (about) what to do with Carlos and Jannik, the place I can enhance,” Medvedev stated.
“Then I by no means performed them final 12 months as a result of I performed horrible. I by no means received to the rounds to play them. So this pre-season, I did not suppose in any respect about them.
“I used to be, like, ‘Okay, how do I get again to the extent I can play to to start with beating the opposite guys after which possibly if I get to play them’. I’ll speak to my new workforce and we see what we are able to do.”
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime confirmed enchancment on laborious courts in direction of the top of 2025, reaching the Masters last in Paris in addition to the semis on the season-ending ATP Finals, and might be within the reckoning at Melbourne Park.
One other potential contender is Hubert Hurkacz, who returned from a seven-month damage layoff to win a trophy in his first occasion, serving to Poland beat Switzerland within the United Cup last.
