Fight in the men’s draw and a chance for Barty. Intrigues and layouts of the Australian Open

Australia traditionally opens the new season in many sports. This year in tennis, the Australian Open represents a “new normal” to the world. The good news is that almost all of the favorites are healthy and in roughly equal shape. Of the recognized stars, there will be only Roger Federer, but they are already used to this. However, the tournament has already become famous for its quarantine features, which not everyone liked.

Quarantine and restrictions during the tournament

The “VIP quarantine” for the top three in the ATP and WTA rankings made a lot of noise. Expanded team staff, the ability to train with any of them, access to grounds and equipment.

“Ordinary tennis players” had to live in closed rooms, contact with a small number of people and only work a few hours a day on the court. Elina Svitolina became friends with Igoa Shventek at the hotel. In the end, a very good sparring partner for a Ukrainian.

But the problem is different. After the official quarantine, the organizers arranged several tournaments to “warm up”. Soon on the courts of Melbourne it became known about the infected coronavirus. They became one of the employees of the hotel. The organizers immediately postponed the games of the whole day.

No one can guarantee that this will not happen again during the Australian Open. Although we are used to rescheduling matches in tennis, locking up 30,000 spectators every day who come to the stands is not an easy task.

Conditions

The tournament takes place a few weeks later than usual, but everything is as usual. The next two weeks the weather will be comfortable and warm, only a day or two may be light rain. It won’t hurt the tournament. But the heat, as in previous years, is also not expected – in Australia it is coming to autumn.

Matches before the tournament is not always a good idea

Given the “freedom” and the opportunity to get in shape in the game mode, some leaders decided to use this at their discretion. Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the ATP Cup. Officially – due to minor damage. Naomi Osaka did the same at the “exhibition” in Melbourne, not entering the game against Elisa Martinez.

Dominic Thiem frankly missed the ATP Cup, winning only what was in his hands and just not straining once again. The most “hardworking” was Ashleigh Barty – five fights in singles and three in doubles.

Men’s mesh

No special problems are expected in the first three or four rounds for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Is that Tiafoe, who can become the second rival of the Joker. The first serious test for the Serbian will be in the 1/8 finals, where he can meet with Raonic. Next on the grid – Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem. Both are in roughly the same shape as Djokovic. The Serbian remains the favourite, but starting from the quarter-final everything is possible, and readiness at a particular moment will play a decisive role.

The second half of the grid is the confrontation between Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev. At the same time, the Russian has an advantage in some moments. Medvedev hasn’t lost since last fall when he won the Final Tournament. In winter, I already managed to win the ATP Cup with the team. But whether such a rich preparation will be useful – we will see later. Banal fatigue can take you by surprise.

Rafael Nadal has the once-uncomfortable Fognini on the grid, who has recently turned into a regular opponent for the Spaniard. The first real test is Stefanos Tsitsipas. Pluses for Nadal – he arrived without fatigue, without injuries and trained at a normal pace. Minus – “cool” weather, which is comfortable for almost everyone, but the Spaniard likes hotter.

It is not worth predicting the Djokovic-Nadal final from the start. Both have competitors on the rise, and the same option Tim – Medvedev is quite real.

Women’s mesh

Ashleigh Barty looks like the favorite before the start of the tournament. She trained at home, did not sit in quarantine and gained combat form. Ashley played an exhibition match in Adelaide and won one of the Melbourne tournaments. On the grid, she has Eliza Mertens (another winner of the parallel tournament in February).

Barty’s “path” also includes last year’s tournament winner Sofia Kenin. The American is unlikely to repeat her success – this year the game does not convince her. Defeats from Saqqara and Mugurusa, of course, are not the end of the world, but a significant indicator. Even the semi-finals of Kenin will be difficult to get into.

The same Elina Svitolina can stop the American. The Ukrainian can meet her in the quarterfinals, and this is really a chance. No, Elina is not the favorite, but she will be on a completely equal footing. The quarter-final is the highest result for Svitolina in Australia. This year there is a real chance to improve your own achievement.

The lower part of the grid is more saturated. Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka should play the semi-finals. But before that, among their rivals are Garbine Muguruza, Serena Williams, Iga Sventek, Petra Kvitova, Bianca Andriescu. Halep and Osaka are favorites, but they can stumble at any stage.

Good form, stand support and relatively light net. Ashleigh Barty is the main favorite of the women’s tournament.

Ukrainians

Unfortunately, the representation of Ukraine is quite small, and after the first round only one Elina Svitolina can remain. Marta Kostyuk has already lost her match. For a long time, Shlemov, who was also eliminated in the first round, was not a member of the main draw, Sergei Stakhovsky, so participation itself is an achievement for him.

Svitolina is able to go far. The main problem is that there are no passing rivals. In each round, the Ukrainian is waiting for the struggle. Maria Buzkova, Coco Gauff, Yulia Putintseva are all well known and hard to play with. But Elina can pass them. Physically, Svitolina is well prepared, and this is a good sign, because the fights from the start will be exhausting.

The main thing is that despite the pandemic, strict quarantine and risk, the tournament will take place. With all the best athletes and spectators. Another small step towards returning to a normal sports life.