The best players on the ATP Tour are ready to compete in the first Grand Slam of 2023, after Tennis Australia published the confirmed list for the Australian Open on Thursday. Reigning champion Rafael Nadal will fight for his third crown at the Australian Open, after winning the title in 2022, when he was able to come back from two sets down in the final against Daniil Medvedev and extend the Grand Slam record of he up to 21.
The Spaniard reaches 2023 with 22 trophies of this category in his showcase, ahead of the 21 presented by Novak Djokovic. For his part, the Serb intends to extend his record of nine Australian Open crowns and equal Nadal as the player with the most Grand Slam of all time, on his return to Melbourne since he beat Daniil in the 2021 final.
Medvedev. As for Carlos Alcaraz, he will play his first Grand Slam as world No. 1, and intends to win his second trophy at this level, after winning the US Open last September. By winning in New York, the Spaniard ensured he stormed to the top of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, becoming the youngest man to do so since the rankings debuted in 1973.
Alcaraz has held that No. 1 position through the end of the year and has the chance to further extend his reign at the top of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings to improve on his third-round result from last year. Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas are the rest of the members that close the Top 5 on the entry list.
The Greek seeks to improve his most outstanding record at the Australian Open, which was the semifinals. Participants in the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals such as Felix Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev, Andrey Rublev or Taylor Fritz are also part of the poster, as is Hubert Hurkacz to complete the Top 10.
Other notable names include Holger Rune, who made a brief break in the Top 10 in November, and Alexander Zverev, who has not played since injuring his ankle in the Roland Garros semi-finals. The 2023 Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park from January 16 to 29.
Berrettini praises Alcaraz
Matteo Berrettini has praised Carlos Alcaraz for taking his chances in the 2022 season to rise to the top of the men’s game. “It feels unbelievable if you think about it, what he [Carlos Alcaraz] achieved in such a short time.
I remember playing him in Australia at the beginning of the year and I played him Rio as well, and I felt he is a great player but what he did is still impressive for his age. The physicality he already has and everything, also mentally it’s not easy to deal with everything that he dealt with, so it’s impressive,” Berrettini said.
“At the same time we know that tennis it’s really tough, but it’s not impossible, we all know we can play our best tennis, I have to say it was a weird year with Novak not playing most of the slams, it was kind of a little weird. But Carlos deserves the world No. 1,” he expressed.
