Novak Djokovic can’t complain about the draw he’s been given for the 2023 Australian Open. The Serb’s return to the nine-time winner will come as the fourth seed. ‘Nole’, 35, is in the lower part of the draw, where he initially managed to avoid Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Félix Auger-Aliassime until a hypothetical final.
Djokovic had to debut against the Spanish Roberto Carballés Baena, whom he defeated in straight sets the only time he faced him. Later they would face off against the winner of the clash between the Bolivian Hugo Dellien and a player from the qualifying phase.
Both commitments must be resolved without breaking a sweat. Already in the third round he could face a more complicated player like the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (27) or the Russian Aslan Karatsev. For the round of 16, if logic prevails, they would face the Spanish Pablo Carreño Busta (14) or the Australian Alex de Miñaur (22).
In the quarterfinals, the first litmus test for Djokovic could come with dangerous players like the Russian Andrey Rublev (5), the Danish Holger Rune (9) or the Australian Nick Kyrgios (19). The Norwegian Casper Ruud (2), the German Alexander Zverev (12), the Italian Matteo Berrettini (13) or the American Taylor Fritz (8) could complicate it in a hypothetical semifinal.
And later, in the last drawer, Nadal, Medvedev or Tsitsipas could wait for him. Bad Christmas. This is the path that Novak Djokovic will have to travel in search of his 22nd Grand Slam crown. Will he make it at Melbourne Park?
Djokovic had a great start to the 2023 season
Former WTA World No.
1 Lindsay Davenport has praised Novak Djokovic. “Obviously he is ready to play in January. There is no question that he knows what he has to do, he is ready to play,” Davenport said. “Obviously he is very comfortable moving on hard courts.
Maybe for some of us who didn’t move that well, it’s really hard to watch because it makes it look so easy, right? In and out of corners, changing direction, thus maintaining balance. He is actually one of the first tennis players to appear who is flexible like a gymnast.
He is fast like a sprinter. Maintains balance and changes direction easily. That kind of fluid ability, that kind of balance, gives him a huge advantage over everyone else,» said the 46-year-old.
