As usual, the first Grand Slam of the year delivers numerous surprises and highlights. Clear favorites are eliminated surprisingly, new talents draw attention and the victories have to be fought hard in 2023. Some excerpts from the men's singles of the Australian Open 2023 follow here.
Andy Murray: High hopes quickly dashed again
The former number 1 in world tennis (2017), Andy Murray, wants to know it again. Having slipped to 503rd in 2019, the ambitious Scot is fighting hard to get back, currently back up to 66th. In the first round of the Australian Open, he faced a real hunk in Matteo Berrettini, number 14 in the world rankings. But he almost surprised himself when he had to go through five sets to finally win against the Italian in the tie-break of the fifth set. Now a real breakthrough seemed to have been achieved, many believed, and probably he himself as well. The second round demanded a lot from Murray again. The Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, No. 159 in the world rankings, again tormented him over five sets. Above all, the Scot fell behind badly when the Australian won the first two sets and Murray had to fight through the following three sets to emerge as the winner in the end. Perhaps that cost him too much energy in the end. Against the top seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, number 25 in the world, it was all over in the third round. He still managed to win one set, but perhaps he simply ran out of steam against such a tough and biting opponent as Agut. But elimination from the Australian Open 2023 is not the end forever, not for the now 35-year-old Andy Murray.
Casper Ruud: Early exit
What was going on with Casper Ruud that day? As number three in the world rankings, the 24-year-old Norwegian was a clear favorite for the final of the Australian Open 2023, but American Jenson Brooksby, number 39 in the world rankings, was in a good mood that day and dispatched the Norwegian in four sets in the second round. The latter didn't gain much from it, losing to compatriot Tommy Paul in the following round, but Casper Ruud had lost a lot. Not a good start into the tennis year 2023!
Out for Zverev in the 2nd round
The almost 2-meter giant Alexander Zverev from Germany probably imagined this quite differently when he took to the court in the second round of the Australian Open 2023 to play the unknown American Michael Mmoh, No. 107 in the world rankings. Alexander Zverev was able to fight off the first set narrowly (6:7), but then had to give up the following three sets to 6 in each case. This was probably the biggest surprise for Alexander Zverev himself, but it fits in with the "slips" that the German tennis pro allows himself from time to time. Mmoh had gained in self-esteem and joy, but his performance at the Australian Open ended in the next round against compatriot J. J. Wolf.
Nadal loses in 2nd round due to injury
The Spaniard needs no long introduction. The Spanish clay court king Rafael Nadal may be getting on in years, but he always shows fighting spirit. Already in the last two years, injury-related defeats and dropouts in individual tournaments showed, but Nadal always managed to come back and snatch the trophy. His opponent, American Mackenzie McDonald, ranked No. 65 in the world, played well, but not so well that it would have been enough against Nadal. But Nadal struggled badly with his physique. He spoke in the press conference about barely being able to move his hip and being in a lot of pain. Nadal was visibly at a loss in the face of this out. Understandable, you can't fight against your own body and win. The many hard years are now taking their toll. One must not forget: since 2005, that is for 18 years!!!, the likeable Spaniard has always held a place in the top 5 of the world rankings. How long is that going to last? At some point he will also have to realize that his body is now reaching certain limits, which will make it more difficult for him to win.
Surprise man Sebastian Korda
The Australian Open 2023 will bring two big surprises with two talented young players who are playing their way to the top, quite contrary to their world ranking. The first is the young American Sebastian Korda from Bradenton, Florida, who has been on the tour since 2016 and is working his way up step by step. He is currently ranked 31st in the ATP world rankings. The American defeated none other than the Russian Daniil Medvedev, number 7 in world tennis, in the 3rd round in three hard-fought sets, which all ended in favor of the American. But this was far from being the end. In the next round, he faced the 10th seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz. He had to go through five long sets to win the match in the tie-break of the fifth set. In the quarterfinals, the American faced Karen Khachanov of Russia. Again, it seemed to be another hard fought match, but Korda complained more and more about his hurting wrist and had to be treated several times. At 3:0 in the third set, Korda gave up due to injury. Perhaps the really demanding matches before had been too much. And how would the story have continued if the American had competed fully healthy? Korda could be a promise for the future.
The 2nd surprise man is called Jiri Lehecka
On the ATP Tour since 2017 and ranked since 2018, the 21-year-old Czech is gradually playing his way up the rankings: currently ranked 71st. At this year's Australian Open, he must have had a particularly good run and packed in a lot of ambition. In the third round of the tournament, he knocked out the favored Brit Cameron Norrie, the current number 12 in the world rankings, after five sets. But not enough. Now he is preparing to beat top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, current number 6 in the world rankings, in the round of 16 in four sets. You don't achieve something like that every day. Only in the quarterfinal match against the final candidate Stefanos Tsitsipas, current number 3 of the world ranking list, is the end of the march through. But the young Czech showed what he is capable of. He is a hot candidate for future big victories.
Is the final Djokovic:Tsitsipas?
Now 25-year-old American Tommy Paul and favorite Novak Djokovic will face each other in the semifinals. In the second semifinal, Karen Khachanov and Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete. Due to the experience and the quality of the players, everything speaks in favor of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic facing each other in the final on Sunday. If Djokovic is not plagued by health problems, as has already happened in the course of the tournament, and if there is not a big surprise for a different final, we will see both of them again on the court on Sunday. The first and last time the two faced each other in a Grand Slam final was at the French Open in 2021, when Djokovic was badly behind and only won the final after a hard fight. But in 2023, the story could turn out differently and Tsitsipas could win his first Grand Slam title. In any case, this final would promise a high-class match and a worthy final. Let's wait and see.
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