Aus Open 2022: Nadal, Medvedev to benefit from Djokovic's absence

Aus Open 2022: Novak Djokovic absent- King of Clay Rafael Nadal’s bid to win a record 21st Grand Slam gets clearer as Novak Djokovic gets kicked out of Australia. The 20-time Grand Slam winners had been drawn to meet in the semifinal. Meanwhile, US Open champion Daniil Medvedev is also now the favourite contender to lift his first Australian Open title. Follow Australian Open 2022 live updates on InsideSport.IN

Aus Open 2022: Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev to benefit from Novak Djokovic’s absence- check out

With Roger Federer injured and absent, Nadal and world number two Daniil Medvedev are the main beneficiaries of Djokovic’s enforced 11th-hour withdrawal. But others, including Olympic champion Alexander Zverev and young Greek world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas, will eye a golden opportunity to win a maiden Slam.

“The Australian Open is much more important than any player,” said Nadal on Saturday, taking a swipe at Djokovic.

“Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him.”

Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

Australian Open: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021
French Open: 2016, 2021
Wimbledon: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021
US Open: 2011, 2015, 2018

Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Australian Open: 2009
French Open: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Wimbledon: 2008, 2010, 2021
US Open: 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019

Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Australian Open: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018
French Open: 2009
Wimbledon: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
US Open: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

It is now 13 years since the 35-year-old Nadal, who begins his campaign against American Marcos Giron on Monday, won his lone title in Melbourne, despite four further trips to the final.

Nadal battled a foot injury for much of last year, ending his season in August, then contracted Covid in December, saying it left him “very sick”.

But the 13-time French Open champion swept through the field to win a warm-up event at Melbourne Park, suggesting he is suffering no long-term effects.

Aus Open 2022: Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev to benefit from Novak Djokovic’s absence- check out

Daniil Medvedev

Russia’s Medvedev, who faces Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen in the first round on Tuesday, conquered Djokovic in the US Open final in September to win his maiden major and end the Serbian’s bid to win a calendar Grand Slam.

He heads the bottom half of the draw and would not have met Djokovic until the final in any case.

“Even if Novak is in the draw, I can only see him in the final,” said Medvedev, who has cut a confident figure.

“I need to win six matches before this. It would not change much my preparation.”

Germany’s Tokyo gold medallist Zverev is another who will fancy his chances in a draw that suddenly looks open.

“There are still a lot of guys that have the potential to make this tournament really interesting,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be a fun one to watch.”

Andy Murray, runner-up in the Australian Open five times, returns on a wildcard for the first time since an emotional 2019 “farewell” appearance after undergoing hip surgery that enabled him to make a remarkable comeback.

The 34-year-old Briton will begin his bid against 21st-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili and the former number one is looking more like his old self.

At the weekend in Sydney the Scot reached his first final since 2019 in a massive boost to his confidence.

Aus Open 2022: Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev to benefit from Novak Djokovic’s absence- check out

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