Defending champions top list of Australian Open contenders
Defending champions top list of Australian Open contenders
Share:
The world’s best tennis players are preparing to begin the grand slam season at the Australian Open. Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka will once again be the favourites, but there are plenty of challengers hoping to knock them off their perches.
Here, the PA news agency picks out 10 players to look out for at Melbourne Park. The Italian began last year looking for his first slam title and ended it, by some distance, as the world’s best player. He dominated on hard courts in particular, winning the US Open as well as the Australian Open, and was almost untouchable in the latter stages of 2024 despite the threat of a doping suspension that continues to hang over him. He will take some stopping.
If anyone can beat Sinner, Alcaraz appears to have the best chance. The young Spaniard was inconsistent last season, as evidenced by the fact he is ranked third despite winning two more slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon. But he also won all three of his matches against Sinner and has the upper hand in that rivalry for the moment.
A few months out from his 38th birthday, Djokovic is chasing an 11th Australian Open title having drawn a blank at the majors in 2024. Melbourne Park has been the Serbian’s most successful haunt and his continued hunger for the biggest titles is evidenced by the decision to hire his former great rival Andy Murray as coach.
Sandwiched between Sinner and Alcaraz in the rankings is German Zverev, who enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, including reaching a second slam final at the French Open. Now 27, Zverev is hoping to turn consistency into major titles.
