Last year’s Champion is the red-hot favourite to go back-to-back – can anyone challenge Jannik Sinner?
Champion
It’s just hard to see the Italian losing this. Jannik Sinner was 42-3 on hard court last year which included winning both the Australian Open and US Open.
Two of Sinner’s losses came at the hands of Alcaraz who is on the other side of the draw, while Rublev surprisingly upset him in Montreal.
De Minaur is the next highest seed in his quarter who won’t trouble him, and although Hurkacz will likely challenge him in the Round of 16, it’s an extremely easy draw to the Final for the Italian.
Runner Up
The German has been gifted one of the easier draws of all players as the number-2 seed and needs to take full advantage.
Had a really good Australian Open last year which included beating Alcaraz in the Quarters before going down in a five-set epic to Medvedev in the Semi while playing injured.
This run is far easier – he potentially gets Kyrgios in the third, followed by Humbert and Tommy Paul, but I can’t see this being an issue on his way to the Semi Finals.
Semi Finalists
Breakout major at the US Open where he reached the Semi Final going down to Sinner, and this momentum can carry over here in Australia.
The issue for the Brit – he’s in the quarter from hell, which features Djokovic, Alcaraz and another top-10 player in Dimitrov.
Certainly has the tools to make his way through the draw though, with the Australian Open being Alcaraz’s worst major and Novak getting another year older. Could be a real wildcard.
Now world number 4 off the back of reaching the Final of the US Open last year, going through Berrettini, Ruud, Zverev and Tiafoe on the way.
Not an easy draw for the American though – he’ll need to get past the big serving Perricard, either Shapovalov or Shelton in the fourth, and then Medvedev in the Quarters if the Russian can make his way through the tournament off no lead-up.
Although Fritz is the likely candidate to advance to a Semi, there’s up to eight genuine chances that could emerge.
Roughies
The Australian we should have our eyes on – taking nothing away from De Minaur.
Alexei Popyrin finished last year on fire and features in the Fritz quarter where there’s no real standouts. Medvedev hasn’t had the Australian lead-up due to the birth of his child, while Popyrin beat the Russian in Paris late last year.
Popyrin has gone 14-8 on hard courts since the start of August last year, which includes going 7-3 against top-20 opposition and a huge 5-1 against top-ten including beating Djokovic at the US Open – can he build off this at Melbourne Park?
Former Semi Finalist here, Tommy Paul plays well on hard courts and features in a very handy quarter of the draw.
Alexander Zverev is the clear man to beat in Q4, but Paul would only meet the German in the Quarter Final if both players remain standing at that point. The American is in Casper Ruud’s half of Q4 whose record in Australia is awful, so there’s every chance Paul will be favourite in every match leading into the Quarter Final.
Also holds a 2-0 career record over the German, so it’s a very nice path for Tommy.
