Precisely a 12 months after the Covid vaccination drama which resulted in him getting deported from the nation, Novak Djokovic is again in Australia, this time on a mission to not simply declare an unprecedented tenth Australian Open but additionally stage Rafael Nadal within the Grand Slam tally. And with the Serb kicking off his Australian summer time with a title in Adelaide 250 final week, former India No.1 Somdev Devvarman has already put his weight behind Djokovic for Australian Open 2023, hailing him the “man to beat”.
Having claimed his ninth title on the Melbourne Park in 2021, Djokovic was denied the chance to defend his title at Australian Open final January owing to his Covid vaccination standing and the then guidelines of the Australian authorities. He was deported from the nation and handed a three-year visa ban.
Djokovic managed to overturn the ban late in 2022 and commenced his 2023 season Down Underneath with a win in opposition to Sebastian Korda to seize his 92nd profession title in Adelaide Worldwide.
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“All the eye will likely be on Novak. The way in which issues unfolded in 2022 with him attending to Australia and never being allowed it after which the complete saga. Additionally, the way in which it ended. And who took benefit of that state of affairs? Rafa Nadal. He’s the one who received that Slam, for the second time, in a dramatic trend as effectively. Regardless of Rafa being the defending champion and the No.1 seed, he has discovered a option to downplay the state of affairs like he so masterfully did so many instances in his profession. However sure all the eye will likely be on Novak as a result of he’s the participant with essentially the most quantity of success in Australia,” stated Somdev throughout a digital interplay on Wednesday, organised by Sony Sports activities.
The 37-year-old additionally brushed apart Djokovic’s damage concern which had troubled him within the observe match in opposition to Daniil Medvedev as effectively earlier this week and on the Adelaide occasion, saying that with the way in which 2022 unfolded for him, the 21-time Grand Slam winner will likely be extra decided to reply to it with a tenth title in Australian Open.
“It all the time is admirable with the way in which he exhibits up at first of each season. What we’ve seen up to now is phenomenal. He has received a title in Adelaide. There are rumours about his damage. Individuals are inclined to overlook that he’s 35 years previous. However by way of damage struggles, he’s in significantly better place than Rafa. The truth that he missed final 12 months, is just not the No.1 on this planet, didn’t get factors for Wimbledon and wasn’t allowed to play in US Open, all of that put collectively all eyes will likely be on him and for my part, he’s the person to beat,” he added.
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‘Rafa for me is the last word warrior’
Nadal, nonetheless, hasn’t had the proper begin to the season, shedding each his matches on the United Cup after successful the opening set. On Thursday, he additionally misplaced a observe match in opposition to Hubert Hurkacz in straight units.
Somdev believes that if the Spaniard has not damage issues, he is not too apprehensive concerning the two defeats though he admitted that the outcomes may need boosted the “self-worth” of his opponents within the draw.
“He has not discovered his kind. And if Rafa is wholesome, the extra matches he will get the higher he begins enjoying. So I’d say lack of matches…however once more it will likely be finest of 5 units and he is aware of the best way to play that, higher than anybody on this planet apart from one individual that’s Novak. Keep in mind 2022, once we got here in we didn’t know what to anticipate from Rafa. After which all of the sudden, when everyone seems to be counting him out, he wins Melbourne 250 after which at Melbourne Park he takes the world by storm. Rafa for me is the last word warrior. The man goes on the market each single time and no matter his state of affairs, he all the time tries to step up and makes life extremely tough for his opponents. If he’s wholesome, the truth that he misplaced two matches at first of the season, will not actually be an enormous half in that as a result of he’ll begin successful quickly. However the concern is do these defeats inform the world that he’s beatable? Sure. Self-worth in youthful gamers who’ve come very shut with him will begin to really feel which may be they will edge Rafa. Solely time will inform.”
[Watch the LIVE coverage of Australian Open 2023 on Sony Sports Ten 2 and Sony Sports Ten 5 channels starting from 16th January 2023 at 5:30 am IST.]