Novak Djokovic is assured he can nonetheless win Grand Slams, beginning on the Australian Open, with the Serbian kickstarting his bid for an unprecedented eleventh title and file twenty fifth main crown in Brisbane this week. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who’s gunning for a 3rd Melbourne Park trophy, joins him on the Queensland Tennis Center from December 29-January 5 in a stellar girls’s area. The 2025 season will get beneath method on Friday with the mixed-teams United Cup in Perth and Sydney, headlined by world quantity two Iga Swiatek in her first event since revelations that she served a one-month doping suspension.
It is the primary season since 37-year-old Djokovic started taking part in that not one of the different so-called “Big Four” will probably be on the opposite aspect of the online following the retirements this 12 months of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
Roger Federer referred to as it quits in 2022.
As they light, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stepped as much as develop into the brand new Grand Slam kings, with each males opting in opposition to a warm-up event main into the primary main of the 12 months which begins on January 12.
As doubts grew over Djokovic’s motivation and talent to take down the brand new guard after a disappointing 2024, he shocked the tennis world by hiring Murray to educate him.
Kyrgios returns
The British three-time main winner is ready to overlook Brisbane however hook up along with his outdated rival on the Australian Open.
“I still will try to go strong because I feel like my body is serving me well. I still have motivation to win Grand Slams, make more history,” mentioned Djokovic, who wants yet another Slam crown to surpass Margaret Court’s 24.
“That’s one of the biggest reasons why I asked Andy to work with me, because I still have big plans, so as long as that’s the case, I will keep going.”
By his requirements, 2024 wasn’t type, failing to win a Slam, claiming only one title — Olympic gold in Paris — and ending his season in October.
A resurgent Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, and Frances Tiafoe are additionally taking part in in Brisbane, as is Australian Nick Kyrgios, who returns after accidents restricted him to only one ATP Tour singles match in two years.
He and Djokovic are set to play doubles collectively.
Challenging Sabalenka on Pat Rafter Arena will probably be America’s high abilities Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, ranked seven and eight respectively, together with former world quantity two Ons Jabeur and veteran Victoria Azarenka.
Sabalenka, who beat China’s high-flying Zheng Qinwen within the Melbourne remaining this 12 months, had a sensational 2024 which culminated in being named WTA Player of Year this month.
The 26-year-old reached seven finals and gained 4 titles, efficiently defending the Australian Open, lifting her first US Open and successful WTA 1000 occasions in Cincinnati and Wuhan.
She additionally recaptured the primary rating from five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, whose repute was rocked in November when it was revealed she examined optimistic for a banned coronary heart medicine in August.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted that the violation was not intentional, and the Polish star escaped with a one-month sanction.
Sinner awaits verdict
Swiatek referred to as it “the worst experience of my life”, however vowed: “I know I will be stronger than ever.”
Her case is much like that of Australian Open winner Sinner, who continues to be ready for the result of a World Anti-Doping Agency enchantment in opposition to his preliminary exoneration for twice testing optimistic for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
The company informed AFP a ruling was not anticipated earlier than the brand new 12 months, however it might conceivably be handed down earlier than or through the Australian Open.
Joining Swiatek on the United Cup is world quantity two Coco Gauff and fourth-ranked Jasmine Paolini.
Two-time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka begins her season on the Auckland Classic, hoping for a greater 12 months than 2024 when she didn’t win a title.
Former US Open champions Emma Raducanu, a spot above Osaka within the rankings at 57, and Bianca Andreescu are additionally starters in New Zealand.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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