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Countdown to the 2022 tennis Australian Open: Who are the favourites going into the tournament? Who are the ones to watch?

Not long to go now until the 2022 Australian Open launches in Melbourne and with all the latest news surrounding world number one Novak Djokovic’s visa gate lets take a look at upcoming players, dark horses and ones to look out for when the tournament commemorates on Monday.

Who are the men’s favourites?

When we think of a major tennis grand slam tournament and the favourites unsurprisingly the same names always come to mind. Assuming current world number one Novak Djokovic does get the all clear from the Australian authorities in a visa saga that has created future Netflix documentary vibes. The Serbian would be without doubt the favourite to lift the trophy for the 10th time and once again cementing his dominance in the tournament claiming the honour of winning the most Australian Open men’s single titles.  

Another tennis legend and current world number six is Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal who is also a strong favourite to clinch the Title in Melbourne. Nadal doesn’t have the best record in this tournament only lifting the trophy once back in 2009. Despite injuries disrupting many of his recent playing years the Spaniard has had a resurgence, lifting the Italian Open last year and the French Open in 2020. Nadal has coasted through to this year’s Australian Open by not even dropping a set against his opponents. Nadal has faced Djokovic in two out of his last three Open finals. Question is, will he face his old foe in this year’s Australian Open?

A name that has been exciting many tennis fans in recent times is 25-tear-old Russian Daniil Medvedev who is currently ranked world number two. Medvedev has won 13 career singles titles including defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the 2021 US Open.  

Who are the women’s favourites?

Naomi Osaka is a name that transcends sport and the Japanese born star will look to clinch her third Australian Open Title and add to her four major titles in total. The Melbourne hard courts are very much suited to Osaka and her playing style; her style of movement can make her aggressively hit the ball. She is a true warrior on the hard surface and is undoubtedly one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Australia’s very own Ashleigh Barty will be looking to put on a show for her fans and ultimately lift the Australian Open for the first time in her singles career. Barty is the current world ranked number one and is clearly the favourite to win this competition. The Australian has had many successes recently with winning the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon in 2021 as well as a Masters 1000 Title win in Adelaide last year. Barty has an impressive 14 career single Titles so far and she will be looking to make that 15 when this tournament starts.   

Another possible favourite and certainly one to watch would be Spaniard Garbine Muguruza who has an impressive track record winning 10 singles Titles including two majors. One being the 2016 French Open where she beat tennis icon Serena Williams and the other being the 2017 Wimbledon Final where she triumphed over Serena’s sister Venus Williams and was named the world ranked number one. Muguruza is currently playing in the Sydney International and plays in tomorrows Quarter-final against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.

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