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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Djokovic set for eagerly anticipated Australian Open return

Djokovic set for eagerly anticipated Australian Open return

Published Jan 17, 2023 10:20 am

MELBOURNE (AFP) — Novak Djokovic makes his eagerly anticipated return to the Australian Open on Tuesday. Jan. 17, and women's world number two Ons Jabeur will also launch her title bid.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic hits a return during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 14, 2023. (AFP)

Serbia's Djokovic, one of the finest men's tennis players of all time, was deported on the eve of last year's Grand Slam at Melbourne Park because of his stance on Covid vaccines.

But the 35-year-old will be back when he faces Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain in his opener and looks likely to be given a warm reception by the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

He is bidding to win the Australian Open for a record-extending 10th time and in doing so tie defending champion Rafael Nadal's men's all-time record of 22 Grand Slam crowns.

Djokovic is hot favourite for the first Grand Slam of the year, but after winning an Adelaide warm-up tournament last week, he has been bothered by a slight hamstring injury.

He was pictured practising on Monday with heavy strapping around his left thigh.

"I always like my chances. I train as hard as really anybody out there," Djokovic said ahead of his opener, attempting to dispel concerns about his hamstring.

"There's a lot of youngsters now that are very hungry, that want to win. They want to take a scalp off you on the big stadium. I know that.

"But experience of being in these kind of particular circumstances helps I think to have the right approach and do things in a proper way."

Former world number one and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray will attempt to roll back the years.

The 35-year-old Briton faces Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in a tantalising match on day two at Melbourne Park.

Second seed Casper Ruud of Norway, fifth seed Andrey Rublev and 12th seed Alexander Zverev are also in action.

Russia's Rublev takes on Dominic Thiem, the 2020 Australian Open finalist.

Also featuring is Denmark's exciting teenager Holger Rune, the ninth seed.

There were no major shocks on the first day, with Nadal grinding down promising Briton Jack Draper in four sets to launch the defence of his crown.

Monday's play began under cool overcast skies but the mercury rose during the day and is expected to hit a sweltering 36 Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.

Women's fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will open proceedings on the main Rod Laver Arena against Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic.

On neighbouring Margaret Court Arena, two-time major champion from Spain Garbine Muguruza, the 2020 Melbourne finalist, will clash with 26th seed Elise Mertens of Belgium in an intriguing contest.

Tunisia's Jabeur, runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, starts her bid for a breakthrough maiden Grand Slam with a test against Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek.

Other women's seeds in action on Tuesday include France's Caroline Garcia and in-form Olympic champion Belinda Bencic from Switzerland, who won the Adelaide warm-up tournament three days ago to get back into the world's top 10.

Russian duo Veronika Kudermetova, the ninth seed, and Daria Kasatkina, seeded eight, also begin their campaigns.

Djokovic will wrap up the day's play on Rod Laver Arena against the 75th-ranked Carballes Baena.

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