Djokovic bids for Grand Slam history at Australian Open 2024

Novak Djokovic launches his bid for Grand Slam history on the Australian Open on Sunday against 18-year-old qualifier Dino Prizmic as Aryna Sabalenka starts her title defense.

World primary Djokovic is gunning for his eleventh Australian Open title and twenty fifth major, which might take him clear of Margaret Court on the all-time list.

The Serbian, with 24 Grand Slams, is already the most-decorated player in the lads’s game — two clear of the injured Rafael Nadal and 4 ahead of the retired Roger Federer.

Djokovic got here inside a whisker of completing a calendar Grand Slam last yr, winning three titles and losing an exciting Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz.

The 36-year-old, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in last yr’s title match in Melbourne, is the new favorite again.

“I’m just hoping I can start the season in a way that I actually have been starting my seasons, most of my seasons, throughout my profession, with a win here in Australia, in Melbourne,” he said.

“It’s my favorite place, little question — the court where I’ve done great things and achieved my best Grand Slam results.”

Belarusian star Sabalenka is used to playing on the sharp end of the majors after a breakthrough 2023 wherein she won in Melbourne, finished runner-up on the US Open and made the semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

In doing so, she became the primary woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to achieve no less than the semi-finals of all 4 Grand Slams in a calendar yr.

Currently ranked number two behind Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the 25-year-old, who will face unseeded German Ella Seidel, said she is in good condition mentally and physically.

“I had an incredible season last yr, improved so much as a player and as an individual. I did really an awesome pre-season. We worked so much. I felt like we improved so much,” she said.

Former champion Caroline Wozniacki, granted a wildcard to compete, returns to the scene of her best triumph 4 years after her last appearance at Melbourne Park.

The 2018 Australian Open winner has joined a gaggle of tennis mums juggling on-court commitments with the duties of motherhood, including Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.

The 33-year-old, who plays Poland’s Twentieth-seed Magda Linette, still believes she will mix it with the very best despite her long absence from the tour.

“I believe any time I step on a court, I imagine I can win the match irrespective of who the opponent is across the web” she said.

Also in motion on day one on the Australian Open — which is a 15-day event for the primary time — are men’s fourth seed Jannik Sinner, fifth seed Andrey Rublev, fresh from winning the Hong Kong Open, and ladies’s eighth seed Maria Sakkari.