Dangerous draws await Djokovic and Alcaraz

Big names return from injury at the 2024 Australian Open, making the draw potentially risky for the championship candidates.

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn, but the Australian Open has a host of names using ATP ranking protection rules to play in Melbourne next week.

Former Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic and former Grand Slam runner-up Milos Raonic are among the unseeded players, making them a tough draw that top contenders like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz would not want to face in the first round.

Djokovic practices in Melbourne on January 9, a few days after injuring his hand at the United Cup team tournament. Photo: ATP

Cilic and Raonic both have thunderous serves, in addition to their proven hard court skills. Even though they are not in good shape after a long injury, this duo still has strengths that big opponents must fear.

Matteo Berrettini is another. The Italian struggled with injuries in the second half of the 2023 season but reached the semi-finals of the 2022 Australian Open and the fourth round of Wimbledon last year. Berrettini is currently ranked 92nd, two years after reaching his best ranking of world number six. The 27-year-old has been training with Stefanos Tsitsipas in recent days.

Former world No. 10 Denis Shapovalov also returns to the Australian Open after a difficult year due to injury. The Canadian has been out since Wimbledon 2023 and has dropped to No. 109 in the world. Shapovalov reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2022, losing to Nadal in five sets.

The unseeded group also includes world number 42 Andy Murray. The British player has been in Australia since late last year to prepare. During this time, he has been practicing with Nadal in Brisbane.

Former 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils and Jack Draper are the other unseeded names. Any one of them could surprise this year's title contenders.

The Australian Open draw will take place on the afternoon of January 11, with the top two seeds being Djokovic and Alcaraz. The first round starts on January 14.

Vy Anh

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