MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic personal the 2 largest collections of Grand Slam trophies within the historical past of males’s tennis. They’re their sport’s two most distinguished lively figures; nobody else is even shut. Each are of their mid-30s; nobody is aware of how for much longer they’ll be on the prime of the sport.
For all that the long-time rivals have in frequent, Nadal and Djokovic may hardly be getting into this Australian Open, which begins Monday (Sunday EST), underneath extra contrasting circumstances.
Nadal, after all, is the defending champion at Melbourne Park — due to a comeback from two units down in final 12 months’s ultimate, which he referred to as “some of the emotional victories of my tennis profession” — however he is also mired in about as unhealthy a stretch as he’s ever skilled: 0-2 to this point in 2023 and having gained simply one among his previous seven matches courting to the top of final season.
Djokovic, after all, is making his return to Australia after being banished a year ago as a result of he wasn’t vaccinated towards COVID-19, however he additionally started this journey with a tuneup title in Adelaide and has gained 30 of his previous 31 event contests courting to the top of final season.
“He’s nonetheless obtained it,” mentioned Stefanos Tsitsipas, the runner-up to Djokovic on the 2021 French Open and seeded No. 3 in Melbourne. “He can nonetheless play.”
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Requested at a pre-tournament information convention Saturday whether or not he feels weak, Nadal didn’t attempt to disguise a factor.
“Yeah. Definitely,” replied the 36-year-old from Spain, whose 2022 was affected by well being issues that included persistent ache in his left foot, broken rib cartilage and a torn belly muscle. “I’ve been shedding greater than ordinary. … I must dwell with it and simply combat for the victories.”
Looking forward to his upcoming encounter in Rod Laver Enviornment towards Jack Draper, a fellow left-hander who’s a 21-year-old from England ranked fortieth, Nadal mentioned: “I feel I’m ready to play effectively. We’ll see Monday if I’m ready to win.”
As for his evaluation of Djokovic’s kind, Nadal provided this: “He ended final 12 months effectively, and he began this 12 months effectively.”
Positive did. None of which issues to Djokovic as a lot as one other Grand Slam title would. Win what can be a tenth Australian Open championship in two weeks’ time, and the 35-year-old from Serbia would enhance his haul to 22 majors and pull even with Nadal (each surpassed the 20 for the now-retired Roger Federer).
“I imply, that’s why I carry on taking part in skilled tennis, (aggressive) tennis, as a result of I wish to be one of the best. I wish to win the largest tournaments on the planet. There isn’t any secret about it,” Djokovic mentioned three days earlier than he’ll open with a matchup in Rod Laver Enviornment on Tuesday evening towards the Seventy fifth-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena, whose resume incorporates precisely one match win in Melbourne.
“It doesn’t get larger than this. You’ve 4 Slams that traditionally have been the largest occasions in our sport,” Djokovic mentioned. “It’s additionally one of many largest explanation why I used to be actually trying ahead to come back again to Australia: due to my report right here.”
He is been happy by the greetings he is obtained from spectators in Adelaide and Melbourne, the place he performed an exhibition match at Rod Laver Enviornment on Friday with Nick Kyrgios — the person Djokovic beat within the Wimbledon ultimate final July.
“I didn’t know the way that’s going to go like, after the occasions of final 12 months,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’m very grateful for the sort of vitality and reception, love and assist I obtained final evening.”
As for the way in which different gamers have greeted him, Djokovic mentioned: “Nicely, I’ve not likely been asking round: ‘What do you guys consider me coming again right here?’ Those I spoke to have been actually supportive. Nobody has but been detrimental on my return.”
Since arriving in Australia, Djokovic has steadily talked about that he would not maintain a grudge over being kicked overseas in 2022 for failing to observe its coronavirus guidelines — which have since been relaxed — and mentioned Saturday: “In all probability, if I’m not capable of transfer on, I wouldn’t be right here.”
He’s, although. And whereas he is been coping with a tweaked hamstring he picked up in Adelaide, Djokovic regarded simply high-quality bodily towards Kyrgios.
“I like my probabilities,” Djokovic mentioned. “I all the time like my probabilities.”
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