Australian Open 2024: Novak Djokovic has wrist injury, Alcaraz, Sinner as prime obstacles in quest for 11th title

Novak Djokovic is once again the favourite to win the Australian Open. And for good reason. He’s triumphed in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. Chasing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic comes to the Melbourne Park with a right wrist problem. It bothered him enough to lose to Alex de Minaur in the United Cup , ending his 43-match unbeaten run in Australia since 2019. Further, the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the only concrete challenges on the court for the Serb. The 36-year-old beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s final for a record-extending 10th crown in Melbourne and went on to add the French and US Open titles to his collection.

The only blip to this jaw-dropping trophy collection came at Wimbledon when he lost a pulsating final to Alcaraz , despite making a thundering start. He would, however, surprisingly, go on to lose in five sets. Alcaraz now is a different player to the one that last graced the Australian Open hard courts as an 18-year-old ranked outside the top-30. The 20-year-old missed last year’s event with a hamstring injury and arrives this year as a two-time major champion and World No. 2 — behind Djokovic — and the brightest youngster in tennis. Someone who can take the mantle from his compatriot Rafael Nadal.

Speaking of, Nadal, Djokovic’s long-time rival, pulled out of the Australian Open on Sunday with a muscle tear in a fresh blow to the veteran’s hopes of returning to the top of the sport. Nadal, 37, played in Brisbane for the first time since the Australian Open last year and won two matches. However, he squandered match point opportunities against Jordan Thompson to exit in the quarter-finals . In the aftermath, the Spaniard was immediately aware of a niggle . The worst was confirmed not long after with a muscle tear denying him a stop in Melbourne on his potential farewell tour.

Meanwhile, Nadal’s fellow Spaniard Alcaraz has chosen to skip warm-up tournaments for the opening Grand Slam of the year, making his 2024 form a mystery. For Djokovic, besides the challenge on the court, obstacles also emerge from within. An injury cloud hangs over him as he needed treatment on his right wrist in both United Cup matches.

“I think I have enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open and that’s what matters the most at this point,” he said after losing to De Minaur. “It’s all part of the build-up for the Australian Open. That’s where I want to perform at my best.” Worth reminding that last year Djokovic had a 3 cm tear in his hamstring yet went on to lift the title. More | Players to watch out for at Melbourne Park “It’s not unusual,” he said. “I’ve been in this kind of situation so many times and I know what I need to do along with my team to get myself ready. I hope that I will not be injured this time around. “That’s what we’re going to work on, to get my body in the right shape, optimal state, so that I can perform at the high level throughout, hopefully, the entire Australian Open.”

Djokovic’s injury troubles come not long after he lost to Jannik Sinner twice in a day at the Davis Cup to close out his 2023 season. The Italian World No 4, adjudged as ATP’s Most Improved Player , is another youngster out to dethrone him. It will be a tall order though.

Djokovic has not lost at the Australian Open since 2018 and has a 20-0 record in semi-finals and finals at Melbourne Park. The last player to beat him was a surprise package in Hyeon Chung in the Round of 16. “When I’m fit, when I’m at the peak of my performance, I can win any Slam or any tournament, I know that, I’m not afraid to say that,” said Djokovic. “It’s not a secret that I want to break more records and make more history in the game.”

And there is motivation riding on another title on the Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic, on 24 major titles, ahead of Nadal’s 22, is level with Margaret Court. One more Grand Slam title will make him the most successful player in the history of the sport. The draw has been kind to the Serb as well. He starts against a qualifier and has last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in his path in the quarter-final with potential meetings against Andy Murray in the third round, one of Sinner, De Minaur and Andrey Rublev in the semi-final and Alcaraz/Daniil Medvedev/Alexander Zverev or Holger Rune in the title showdown. Medvedev threat

Russia’s Medvedev, a Melbourne finalist in 2021 and 2022, will also be a contender. Like Alcaraz, he’s opted out of playing a warm-up event. Last year, he enjoyed a resurgent season with 66 wins — more than any other player on tour — to earn five titles. The 27-year-old, who won the 2021 US Open for his only major title, said he had never been more motivated. “At this stage of my life, at least right now – and I hope this can last for a long time – I have just the biggest motivation ever to just continue finding my limits,” he said. The Australian Open begins Sunday, becoming a 15-day event for the first time, to help spread out the early round action and prevent some late-night finishes.