2017 Australian Open: The Top Storylines in Melbourne
Welcome Down Under for the first Grand Slam of 2017.
These next two weeks promise to be action-packed as defending champions Novak Djokovic and Angelique Kerber try to maintain their Australian Open thrones and fend off Andy Murray and Serena Williams, respectively.
Whereas Djokovic hopes to keep pace with Murray and eventually earn back the No. 1 ranking, Kerber already owns the top spot. With Williams eying history, she has her work cut out for her.
Along with a resting Juan Martin del Potro, several big-name women won't be making the trip to Melbourne, Australia. But fear not, Roger Federer makes his official return to action after an injury-riddled 2016. What we saw from him during recent exhibitions should only whet the appetite of those hoping to see him regain his form.
For a few select contenders, the Australian Open provides a chance to get back on track—or take their career to the next level by winning an elusive Grand Slam.
Eager to spoil the party, there are plenty of lower-ranked players generating buzz who could shake up the draw.
Before the first strike of the ball, kick back and delve into these plot points. They'll go a long way toward setting the tone for this new season.
Dark-Horse Contenders to Watch
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Fresh off winning the Brisbane International—his first title since the summer of 2014—Grigor Dimitrov is one of several players outside the top 10 who should make noise in Melbourne.
On the men's side, young stars Nick Kyrgios, 21, and Alexander Zverev, 19, have shown they're capable of beating the best.
Kyrgios, someone the legendary Rod Laver thinks could be the best, per the Australian Associated Press (h/t the Guardian), made the quarterfinals here two years ago and is comfortable playing big matches before his home crowd. While Zverev is the more inexperienced of the two, his talent is equally undeniable, and he edged out Roger Federer for a second time last week at the Hopman Cup.
Not to be outdone, the women's field also features a few intriguing under-the-radar options.
Steadily rising Elina Svitolina put together a strong second half of 2016, opening this season with a win over Angelique Kerber on her way to the semifinals in Brisbane, Australia. Ranked 13th, Svitolina could crack the top 10 with a strong result.
A 2014 Australian Open semifinalist, Eugenie Bouchard's struggles the last two years are well-documented. But she's moving in the right direction, reaching the semifinals this week in Sydney after an impressive win over Dominika Cibulkova in the third round.
In need of some good vibes at a Grand Slam, Bouchard can gain a lot by building off her recent wins.
Absence of Several Top Women Opens Window
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A laundry list of notable names on the women's side will miss the Australian Open, creating a void behind Serena Williams and defending champion Angelique Kerber.
Nearing the end of her lengthy suspension for doping, Maria Sharapova is not eligible to play. Joining her on the sidelines will be two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, who recently gave birth and hasn't yet announced a return.
Recovering from hand surgery after an knife attack in her apartment, Petra Kvitova won't be able to compete. The same goes for Madison Keys, who likely would've been a top contender if not for wrist problems that will force her to skip the event.
Newly retired, 2008-finalist Ana Ivanovic is another familiar face who won't be seen Down Under.
Their absence presents an opening for other women to break through. Searching for their first major titles, veterans like Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki may not have a better chance to win one. Or perhaps rising stars like U.S. Open finalist Karolina Pliskova and 10th-ranked Johanna Konta will benefit from a draw in flux.
Williams is the obvious favorite, but if she stumbles, we could see a new Grand Slam champion crowned.
Simona Halep's Wait to Become a Champion
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With so many of the top women out and questions surrounding those in the draw, one player who may benefit the most is Simona Halep.
The fourth-ranked Halep, 25, still hasn't captured that elusive maiden Grand Slam title. A player of considerable skill and athleticism, she's been unable to overcome taller, more powerful hitters at this stage despite her best efforts to adopt a more offensive-minded approach.
Featuring slower hard courts, the Australian Open figures to suit her game. But last year, two-time quarterfinalist Halep crashed out in the first round to Zhang Shuai. On the bright side, there's nowhere to go but up this go-round. And gaining a few additional points could bump her to No. 3.
Though the spotlight burns brightly on her, Halep tries to take everything in stride.
"I just want to win matches," Halep told WTATennis.com's Courtney Nguyen. "I don't want to put pressure on myself to speak about Grand Slams or titles. Of course the main reason I'm working is to win matches and win titles, but I don't want to think about that. I just take it as nothing special and just going to do my best every time I can."
Pressure will be unavoidable if she advances deep in the tournament. For Halep, this could be one of the best looks she gets at winning a major.
Milos Raonic Bids for First Major
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Milos Raonic can surely relate to the situation Simona Halep finds herself in.
The third-ranked Canadian is also without a Grand Slam title in his career—he's yet to break through that last barrier on the road to becoming a champion.
He came close by reaching the Wimbledon final last summer before Andy Murray ended his dream. Raonic hit a wall after leaving the All England Club, London, not making it beyond the semifinals again at a 2016 tournament.
Last season, Raonic showed he was more than just a big serve, becoming a better returner and overall tactician. But his inability to beat Murray and Novak Djokovic held him back.
Excluding a walkover in Paris-Bercy, Raonic went a combined 0-9 against them in 2016. Murray especially proved indecipherable, winning all six of their matches—including a hard-fought Australian Open semifinal.
Unshaken by those losses, Raonic remains committed to improving his game. Even a loss in last week's Brisbane semifinals to Grigor Dimitrov did little to diminish his confidence.
"I feel like I have done a lot of things to be a much better player," Raonic told AustralianOpen.com's Val Febbo. "I feel like I'm on that right track. I feel like if I can avoid that hiccup, I can have a very, very good time in Melbourne."
Given the physical tools he's working with, it's only a matter of time before Raonic makes that big splash.
Rafael Nadal Seeks to End Grand Slam Futility
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New year, old Rafael Nadal?
The Spaniard would certainly like to rediscover some of that past magic entering what could be a critical season for the future of his career. The last time Nadal, 30, won a Grand Slam (or even reached a major semifinal for that matter) came at the 2014 French Open. Almost three years later, he’s still desperately trying to achieve that same level of success.
Slowed by injuries and a decline in form, Nadal took an extended offseason and made the decision to add retired player and longtime ally Carlos Moya to his camp. The Toni Nadal-led oligarchy finally opened its doors and allowed a new member.
The early returns look promising. After winning an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nadal won two matches with ease in Brisbane before losing a tight one to Milos Raonic. That defeat was not without positives for Nadal, who sounded proud of his effort.
"Before he had the break in the second set, I think I was playing better than him," Nadal told ATPWorldTour.com. "That's my feeling. And I think that's the real feeling. I was being better than him on court, and after that he was better than me."
For that momentum to carry over to Melbourne, Nadal needs to be confident in his serve and forehand—elements that have routinely escaped him in recent times. If not, his Grand Slam slump is doomed to last longer.
Angelique Kerber Enters Melbourne on a Losing Streak
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The reigning Australian Open champion and current world No. 1, Angelique Kerber descends on Melbourne mired in a relative cold streak.
Without a title since her U.S. Open victory over Karolina Pliskova, Kerber stumbled through the fall, bowing out early from a trio of Asian tournaments and being outmuscled in the championship match of the WTA Finals by Dominika Cibulkova.
Beginning her 2017 campaign in Brisbane, Kerber required three sets to survive against 232nd-ranked Ashleigh Barty. She’d lose her next match to Elina Svitolina, an ominous development for her upcoming title defense. That downward trend continued this week in Sydney when Kerber lost her second consecutive match, this time to 19-year-old Daria Kasatkina in straight sets.
Aside from last year when she shocked Serena Williams in the final, Kerber’s history at the Australian Open is rocky. In her appearances prior to 2016, she never advanced past the fourth round, only going that far twice.
Because of her new status, the expectation is for Kerber to make a deep run. But another stumble could see her points lead evaporate with a hungry Williams waiting in the wings.
Roger Federer's Official Return
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The tennis world received what it so badly desired at last week’s Hopman Cup: Roger Federer's return.
Sidelined since Wimbledon because of problems with his surgically repaired left knee, Federer’s first taste of action in nearly six months offered signs of encouragement. While showing a few expected signs of rust, overall he looked sharp and agile.
In singles, Federer picked up a pair of wins over Daniel Evans and Richard Gasquet, the latter a 6-1, 6-4 destruction common of the ones he served out in his glory days. A three-set loss to teenage star Alexander Zverev denied him a perfect week, but Federer picked up valuable match preparation (even if they were exhibitions) for the Australian Open.
Along with that trio of singles performances, Federer also played doubles with Belinda Bencic in Perth, Australia. His body withstood it all, alleviating some of the doubts surrounding his health.
"I am surprised how well I am playing," Federer told The Australian's Courtney Walsh. "I couldn’t be more happy right now."
Melbourne offers a more imposing situation. Ranked 17th, Federer’s draw could prove tricky to navigate as he’ll face the top seeds sooner.
He’ll also be playing best-of-five-set matches, something he hasn’t done since last summer. While looking fresh at the Hopman Cup, extended time on the court in the Australian heat is a difficult proposition considering his layoff.
As he rounds back into form, Federer faces a stiff test but one that should prepare him well for the rest of the season.
Serena Williams Continues March Toward History
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Again on the verge of making history, six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams will try to win a 23rd major title and surpass Steffi Graf's Open Era record.
She'll attempt to do so without a lot of match preparation.
Ending her 2016 season after the U.S. Open to recover from a shoulder injury, Williams made her long-awaited return at last week's ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. Looking to build rhythm, she lost her second-round match to 69th-ranked Madison Brengle in three sets.
Flustered by windy conditions, Williams couldn't gather an accurate barometer for her game ahead of the Australian Open.
"I can take solace in the fact that the conditions won’t be like this in Melbourne,” Williams told the Associated Press (h/t the New York Times). "This is almost not a great opportunity to assess your game, to be honest. I’m trying to think of a word for it that’s not obscene, but I can’t."
Despite that defeat and her shortage of on-court time the last few months, the 35-year-old American still enters the tournament a heavy favorite.
With reigning champion Angelique Kerber struggling, Williams can make a big push toward getting her No. 1 ranking back and achieving history in the process.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray's Battle for No. 1
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Novak Djokovic struck the first blow in his quest to reclaim the No. 1 ranking from Andy Murray, overcoming the Scot 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a thrilling Qatar Open final—his first title since winning the Rogers Cup last July.
The race for the top spot will continue in Melbourne, where Djokovic eyes a record seventh crown (and his second three-peat), which would break his tie with Roy Emerson. Murray hopes to clinch his first and take another step toward the career Grand Slam.
With Djokovic defending championship points, Murray can extend his current 780-point lead as No. 1. But the history between these two at the Australian Open is not favorable at all for him. Murray is 0-5 against his rival here, with four of those losses coming in finals, including the last two years. On these slower hard courts, Djokovic holds the advantage.
Will Djokovic’s Doha triumph reignite his game? Or can Murray finally reach the summit Down Under? Either way, these next two weeks have big ramifications for 2017.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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