Top seed Rafael Nadal starts the Australian Open next week for the first time in his career without playing a warm-up tournament, and no uncle Toni by his side. But she has lost early in Australia the last two years, and she may have to survive a third-rounder with Kvitova if she wants to avoid the same fate this time.
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Stephens didn’t play last year’s Australian Open because of a left foot injury that kept her out of action until Wimbledon. “I have one more goal: to win a Grand Slam”. “I certainly will hope I put myself in that position”, Sharapova said.
“With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year”. Svitolina on the other hand is in superb form and 10bet Sportsbook gives her odds of 9/1 and prices Halep at 8/1.
The world’s best, sans Murray, Serena Williams and fellow former world No.1 and new tennis mum Victoria Azarenka, will be playing for a record $55 million in prize money over the next fortnight.
The 27-year-old has arrived at Melbourne Park as one of the top contenders after a stunning revival over the past 18 months. The Dane, who has been World No.1 before is now focusing on achieving something she hasn’t – A Grand Slam Title. Fans are interested in who wins championships, but the players at the lower levels need this event to justify their professional commitment to the sport. He could face Milos Raonic – the only man who has ever defeated Federer in a Wimbledon semifinal (11-1) – in the fourth round. He is returning from six months on the sidelines with a right elbow injury.
Williams’ exit followed U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens’ 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 loss to Zhang Shuai. She’s struggled to adjust to the sudden stardom that’s come with being a Grand Slam champion she’s lost seven straight matches since September but believes she can find her game again in Melbourne. For Djokovic to be playing at the Australian Open is a positive.
“I heard from my coach (Darren Cahill) because he’s Australian”, she said. The Romanian said she had found the outfit on the internet and hoped it would bring the same results in Australia.
“Both have a lot of scar tissue, so they have to be able to overcome what has gone before and know they can turn the tables – both are capable of winning their first major and it would be a really positive global win if one of them can do it”. She is given odds of 12/1, which is pretty good value given her past performance at Melbourne, especially now that Serena Williams is missing.
Caroline Wozniacki has long since grown exhausted of being asked about her failure to win a grand slam, but the resurgent Dane can shed the burden at the Australian Open.
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Previous year there were two first-time major-winners while Serena was on maternity leave – Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open and Sloane Stephens at the US Open.
