It felt like playing myself in the mirror for a little bit to be honest. –Top seed Novak Djkovic on his first round match-up with Croatian Dino Prizmic

By Roger Childs

Grand slam tennis

The Melbourne major is the first of the four 2024 tennis grand slams. The majority of players are from Europe and North America, and are delighted to be away from the northern winter. However, it can be very hot in Victoria in January and on-court temperatures can rise into the high 30s Celsius.

All the big guns, both men and women are playing, including last year’s finalists Novak Djokovic and Stephanos Tsitsipas, and Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan. The early rounds take some time to complete, as there are 128 competitors in each singles draw. First round matches can be tricky, as up-and-comers often play their best tennis against the top seeds.

So who are the favourites for the singles titles in 2024?

Men’s Singles – plenty of talent

Novak Djokovic currently has the world number one ranking, and last December won the ATP Finals in Torino beating home country hero, Jannik Sinner, 6-3 6-3.The Italian however got his revenge in the Davis Cup singles against Serbia. In Melbourne the Serb is seeded number one and Sinner is four. 

The second seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz who lost to Djokovic in the 2023 French Open, but went on to win his first grand slam at Wimbledon.  The third seed is Daniil Medvedev who won the US Open in 2021. Another player who could be in contention in this year’s Australian Open is last year’s beaten finalist Stephanos Tsitsipas from Greece.

Women’s Singles – plenty of potential winners

The number one seed is Polish player Iga Świątek and, although she has four grand slam titles to her name, she has never won in Melbourne. Second seed Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka triumphed last year and will again be a strong contender. Elena Rybakina from Kazhakstan who was the beaten finalist in 2023 will also be competitive. Then there is the winner of the Auckland ASB Classic American Coco Gauff, who earlier won the 2023 US Open.

Quality play from the outset

One thing is guaranteed over the next ten days and that is plenty of excellent tennis and entertainment in front of enthusiastic crowds. The quality of the singles and doubles fields is not in doubt and for every player winning a title in the first grand slam of the year is a very desirable outcome.

The tournament is now in the second round and there have already been some excellent matches. Croat Dino Prizmic pushed Djokovic hard before the top seed prevailed in four sets, and the unseeded Thiago Seyboth Wild almost beat fifth seed Andrei Rublev. The Russian-born player seemed to be cruising after winning the first two sets 7-5, 6-4, before the Brazilian won the next two 6-3, 6-4 and took the deciding set to a tie break. Rublev ultimately triumphed 10-6.

There are ten days to go with plenty of quality tennis in prospect.