The Australian Open draw has thrown up the tantalising prospect of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic rekindling probably the most enduring rivalry in males’s tennis within the Melbourne Park remaining.
No two males in historical past have clashed in additional grand slam title matches than Nadal and Djokovic, who’re additionally locked in a compelling race to win probably the most males’s singles majors.
Now the withdrawal of injured world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal’s promotion to high seed, Djokovic’s return after final yr’s sensational deportation from Australia and a few good old school luck within the draw have put the 2 titans on the right track for a tenth grand slam remaining showdown.
Nadal, main the all-time males’s grand slam titles race with 22, and 21-times main winner Djokovic, may have landed in the identical half of the draw and been headed for a cut-throat semi-final.
Instead, Nadal is projected to satisfy Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas within the semis with Djokovic in line to play Norwegian second seed Casper Ruud if the Open’s high 4 reside as much as their rankings.
Should a Nadal-Djokovic remaining materialise, it will mark a sixtieth showdown between the 2 legends.
Djokovic leads their profession sequence 30-29 however the Serbian trails Nadal 5-4 in grand slam finals after shedding their most up-to-date on the 2020 French Open.
Australian seeds Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur each have an opportunity to scupper hopes of a Nadal-Djokovic remaining on January 29.
De Minaur and Djokovic may conflict within the fourth spherical, probably for the appropriate to tackle Kyrgios within the quarter-finals.
In his return to Melbourne after final yr’s immigration controversy, the fifth-ranked Djokovic will open his bid for a record-extending tenth Australian Open title in opposition to Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
But the principle first-round focus can be on Nadal, who faces a difficult match-up with rising British star Jack Draper.
Draper, 21, was a semi-finalist within the Next Gen Championships in November and has additionally made the semi-finals of the Adelaide International 2 Open lead-up occasion.
The characteristic first-round match of the Open is five-time finalist Andy Murray in opposition to Italian Matteo Berrettini, the Thirteenth-seeded 2021 Wimbledon runner-up to Djokovic.
