'Rafael Nadal could beat Djokovic at the Australian Open', says legend

Despite the difficulties, the 2021 Australian Open should be staged regularly. The big favorite can only be Novak Djokovic who has won the first Grand Slam of the season eight times. The odds assigned to the victory of the Serbian champion by the bookmakers is 2.50. Behind him, among the favorites, are Dominic Thiem (5.50), Rafael Nadal (7.50) and Daniil Medvedev (7.50). The Austrian in the last edition lost the final against Djokovic. The world number 3 in the first outing of the season did not prove to be in top condition, a fairly understandable situation given the tortuous approach to the Australian Open 2021. As for the Majorcan in recent days he has suffered some back problems, if he were to being able to recover better could try to repeat the triumph of 2009. The Russian tennis player seems ready, both on a technical and psychological level, to collect the first success in a Grand Slam and maybe he could succeed in the first appointment of the new season. Further behind, according to the bookmakers, the other big names on the circuit. The success of Stefanos Tsitsipas is quoted at 18, that of Alexander Zverev at 20 while Nick Kyrgios and Andrey Rublev are at 25. Understandably, the Italians are further back in the starting grid: Jannik Sinner's Australian Open triumph is quoted at 33, Matteo Berrettini at 75 and Fabio Fognini at 300. Ahead of the tournament, former World No. 1 Mats Wilander says he can't see current champion Djokovic achieving the same feats.

Wilander on the 2021 Australian Open

"I don't see Novak Djokovic as the head and shoulders favourite over the likes of Rafael Nadal and (Dominic) Thiem," Mats Wilander said. "He might not be able to necessarily trust his form. It's been a year (since he won his last Grand Slam) and you can't just dig back to the other eight times you won it." Wilander, though, added that the Serbian's recent grumbles over the conditions is actually a positive sign. "But I actually think the complaining (about the conditions) or whatever it was is actually a good thing for him because it shows he's keen, looking for revenge," he said. “Without playing as many matches as they would have liked or practising as hard, are they able to play two or three five-setters and not get hurt? That’s maybe a bigger issue for the older players, but they’re so good at playing their best tennis when it’s needed. I do think the winner is going to come from Rafa and Novak – potentially (Dominic) Thiem, he’s really close to them. Then you have a group of players behind with (Daniil) Medvedev and (Stefanos) Tsitsipas.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3pVyRPn