Week 3-4 (Australian Open)

…2023…

An unusual Slam that gathered high-ranked players born in three different decades. Two arguably best players in history born in the 80s, Rafael Nadal [2] and Novak Đoković [5], at the beginning of the new season seem to be in completely different places in terms of expectations. Đoković still looks fresh and is almost unbeaten lately, while Nadal has been struggling with injuries since Wimbledon ’22. The Spaniard was sensationally eliminated in the second round by Mackenzie McDonald [65] whom had humiliated in their only previous meeting at Roland Garros. It’s tough to believe that Nadal would be easily expected to win the French Open again, for the 15th time, but he reinvented himself so many times during clay-court seasons after the poor finish of indoor seasons that everything is actually possible. The Nadal/Đoković’s greatest active rival, rather not considered a title favorite wherever he plays since 2017, Andy Murray [66], displayed one more time his amazing fighting spirit outlasting in very dramatic night session five-setters, two players nine years his junior! Especially his second round match against Thanasi Kokkinakis [159] will be remembered. It lasted 5 hours 45 minutes, ending at 4.05 am. Murray was two points away to lose in three and five sets (in the deciding set of the first round against seeded Matteo Berrettini, he saved a match point which he should have lost because the Italian netted an easy backhand pass).
Despite Carlos Alcaraz‘s absence, three players born in the 21st Century could be expected in the quarterfinals for the first time as far as majors are concerned. Among those three who advanced, there were two revelations: Jiří Lehečka [71] and Ben Shelton [89]. Their path was different though: Lehečka defeated three seeds, while Shelton didn’t face a seeded player even in the lost quarterfinal, nonetheless, it’s tough to believe Shelton wouldn’t play in the last eight at majors again… There were many unexpected results, but the conclusion was more than obvious. Stefanos Tsitsipas finally advanced to the final in Melbourne (three semifinals lost before) playing cards of the crowd favorite, but in the end-match, he faced Đoković, whose successes in the event are incomparable with anyone else. The 35-year-old Serb began the fortnight by signalizing problems with left hamstring. Some people were accusing him of exaggeration, but I have to admit he didn’t look perfectly fit in the first three rounds… in the “sweet sixteen” he destroyed the last Aussie – Alex de Minaur, and his movement in the last four matches was perfect. He was also hitting powerful second serves & forehands with staggering consistency. It’s astonishing how easily he defeated ~10 years younger opponents in the second week. The scoreline of his final is more balanced than its progress – Tsitsipas, in tie-break sets, never led with a comfortable cushion. The 10th Aussie Open for the Serb, it’s rather not the end of his reign in Melbourne, he is hungry and dedicated to consume more glory…
Three potentially seeded players withdrew: Alcaraz [1], Marin Čilić & Nick Kyrgios. Among players with skills to enter the second week, also Gaël Monfils & Reilly Opelka didn’t make trips to Australia. The Frenchman hasn’t played since August ’22 (dropped from no. 20 to 209 within five months!), he’s 36, and it’s plausible he would shortly join his countrymen (Jo-Wilfried Tsonga & Gilles Simon) who finished their careers last year… Andrey Rublev [6] has equalled Tommy Robredo‘s infamous record of seven Slam quarterfinal defeats not reaching the semifinals. This time Rublev shouldn’t be sad because in the fourth round, he won a match he should have lost twice: trailed *2:5 in the decider against Holger Rune (the first Dane in the Aussie Open 4th round since 1993) and 0:5 in the super tie-break. Rublev’s quarterfinal chances against Đoković were illusory, he knew it. Trivia: the third player born in the 21st Century to play a quarterfinal, American Sebastian Korda, defeated in the third round the two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev. Thirty years ago there was also a 3rd round meeting between Korda & Medvedev. Then, Petr (Sebastian’s father) representing the newly formatted Czechia, ousted Andrei of Ukraine – not related to Daniil of Russia – in four sets.  The last few months and this year’s Aussie Open in particular, bring rejuvenation of the American tennis; there are 10 US players in the Top 50 now, the most since 1995. The situation isn’t totally comparable because the current best US player (Taylor Fritz) is arguably at the level of a 5th best American 28 years ago.

…1993…

The sixth edition at Flinders Park. Two top players, coincidentally the Wimbledon finalists at the time, withdrew (Goran Ivanišević – left foot, Andre Agassi – bronchitis), but finally played Pete Sampras, who had missed the event in the previous two seasons. The American was among the favorites for the title but lost in the semifinal quite an unfortunate match to Stefan Edberg in straight sets having built a big lead in sets 1 and 3. In the final, just like a year before, Jim Courier outplayed Edberg in four sets, that time a bit easier, actually crashing the Swede in the opening two sets. Courier confirmed his status as the best player in the world, it seemed he’d rule the 90s – it didn’t happen though… The event marked the beginning of the end of 33-year-old Ivan Lendl – the best player of the 80s lost his 1R match (it didn’t happen to him at Slams since Wimbledon ’81!). Another two seasons clearly showed that the Czech (American citizenship), couldn’t be a threat in the “best of five” format anymore. Generally from the fourth round onwards, it was a disappointing event with many one-sided encounters. There was only one thrilling match in the second week, as Brett Steven [71] upset the local fans, overcoming Richard Fromberg [78] in a night session battle on Centre Court after 4 hours 36 minutes (the longest match in that edition) saving two match points. Steven’s career-best result; the same experience for two American qualifiers, who sensationally advanced to the fourth round: good doubles player Kelly Jones [447] & unknown Chris Garner [220], who never entered the Top 100 – he enjoyed a super beneficial draw facing three players outside the Top 100. No one could expect then that the 19-year-old Kenneth Carlsen (major debutant) would play his first and last match in the “sweet sixteen”. Carlsen [73], the best Dane of the 90s, didn’t emulate that result in his other 45 attempts!

…Final 2023…

AUSTRALIAN OPEN (34.8M A$, hard outdoors/indoors)
(4)🇷🇸Novak Đoković d. (3)🇬🇷Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5)

…Final 1993…

AUSTRALIAN OPEN (1.9M $, hard outdoors)
(1)🇺🇸Jim Courier d. (2)🇸🇪Stefan Edberg 6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5