Comment by Deborah Curtis-Setchell

The Australian Open, dubbed the ‘Happy Slam’, kicks off tomorrow in Melbourne, amid feverish speculation as to who will win.

Among the usual suspects, there are some big names returning to the fray – namely local hero Nick Kygrios, together with bombshells in the early rounds of both draws... Not to mention the drug-charge cloud still hanging over World No 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner.

All in all, there is nothing straight-forward about this first Grand Slam of the year.

Sinner starts his campaign against Chilean Nicolas Jarry, who hasn’t been fully fit since reaching the Italian Masters final last year, but poses a threat nevertheless.

You can't help but admire shot-making like this...@janniksin, take a bow.#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/itUZ3OPKZn
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 10, 2025

The top seed may then face compatriot Flavio Cobolli, lower ranked, yet fresh out of the United Cup, where he catapulted Italy into the quarters.

Sinner’s potential third-round opponents include 13th seed Holger Rune, United Cup finalist Hugo Hurkacz, or former top-10 stars Matteo Berretini and Cameron Norrie, who will be facing off in another first-round blockbuster.

Thereafter, the Italian may have to contend with Australian No 1 Alex de Minaur, always a handful on home soil and buoyant after his pre-tournament exhibition win over World No 3 Carlos Alcaraz.

Ironically, De Minaur, in order to reach the quarters, has to battle past Dutch No 1 Botic van Sandschulp, the very man who dumped Alcaraz out of the US Open.

Meanwhile, 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz are on a quarter-final collision course, in a different half of the draw to Sinner – however, in the same shark-infested half as World No 2 Alexander Zverev.

Phhhhhhhhew! @carlosalcaraz survives a marathon 14-minute service game to hold off Alexei Popyrin in their RLA exhibition match.

The Spaniard leads the Aussie 6-3 5-4#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/ssMGytJS7J
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 10, 2025

There are also a slew of super confident Americans heading into this tournament, specifically World No 3 Coco Gauff and World No 4 Taylor Fritz, feeling as supreme as singing sensation Taylor Swift in the wake of winning the United Cup in Sydney a mere week ago for the second time in three years.

Gauff got the better of former World No 1 Iga Swiatek in that nail-biting three-set final.

That said, she faces former Australian Open champion and compatriot Sofia Kenin in her opening match, who is well capable of inflicting a major upset.

Coco gets competitive in air hockey and spills the tea 😎🏒 pic.twitter.com/4mM4yN96cP
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 9, 2025

In terms of the British line-up, both US Open 2024 semi--finalist Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, will be back in action, having shaken off the injuries they’re so regularly prone to.

Raducanu, should she push past Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in Round 1, may find herself up against Swiatek in Round 3.

My money would be on Draper to progress deeper into this tournament, but Djokovic’s new coach and former No 1 Andy Murray wouldn’t agree, being a die-hard Raducanu fan.

No doubt he will be dispensing words of wisdom to her, in between getting his immediate charge over the line for what would be an 11th title.

On the subject of Murray, it’s difficult to comprehend how exactly Djokovic can benefit from the advice of an old rival he’s beaten on most occasions they’ve played each other.

However, former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd – in a New Year call from Florida – pointed out to me that unlike most coaches, Murray has only recently stepped off the court, where he has been playing the very same competitors that the Serbian GOAT will have to confront in this tournament himself.

Therefore, Murray as a tactician will be right up to date on Djokovic’s opponents’ weaknesses, regardless of whether he was beaten by them or not – hence the Scot’s apparent inherent value to his former foe.

The plot thickens, and judging by the riveting first-round match-ups, it’s going to be riddled with upsets. Hang on to your hats – yes, those pink Stetson ones, a la Swift.

#australian-open

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are on an Australian Open quarter-final collision course

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On this day in history, February 23