Seventh heaven Serena still the dominant force on Melbourne return
Both eye their seventh title in Melbourne as Nadal struggles with fitness and Murray set to bow out
(Spain)
Seeding: World ranking: Age:
Grand Slam titles: (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; U.S. Open 2010, 2013, 2017)
ATP career titles:
Biggest weapon: Nadal's whipped topspin forehand is one of the most vicious shots in tennis. Biggest weakness: Match fitness. Nadal's high energy style has taken a toll over the years and he retired during the US Open semi-finals with tendonitis in his knee.
ROGER FEDERER 3 2 80
(Switzerland)
20 32
(Australian Open 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017; U.S. Open 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) The defending champion's serve-and-volley game allows him to finish points quickly. Vast experience and formidable shot selection lets him switch tactics quickly. Even at 37, there are barely any chinks in Federer's armour but playing marathon five-setters in the Australian heat may prove to be his undoing. (Germany) World ranking: Grand Slam titles: Career ATP titles: Best Aus Open performance: Third round (2017, 2018) Biggest weapon: Ivan Lendl is helping him overcome the big-games jitters. He strikes the ball crisply and has a delightful double-handed backhand. Biggest weakness: Lack of experience and a disappointing record at Slams as expectations has weighed him down. Seeding:
RAFA NADAL 2 17 ALEXANDER ZVEREV
4 4 0 10
Age:
3 99
MELBOURNE: Serena Williams was eight weeks pregnant during her 2017 Australian Open triumph and while she has failed to add to her tally of 23 Grand Slam titles, the American is still regarded as the dominant force in women’s tennis on her return to Melbourne.
The 37-year-old took a year off after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia in September of that year, before returning to action last season, when she reached the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Her quest for another major fell at the final hurdle on both occasions, however, with defeats to Germany’s Angelique Kerber in London and rising Japane s e s t a r Naomi Osaka in New York.
The losses left Williams still seeking a 24th Grand Slam singles title to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record and she will have another tilt at that milestone starting Monday despite entering the tournament ranked 16th in the world. While Williams achieved her victory over sister Venus in the final two years ago, t he c hall e nge t hi s year is expected to come from a vast array of players.
Chris Evert has described trying to pick a women’s singles champion in Melbourne as a ‘crapshoot’, with the last eight Grand Slam titles having been won by different players.
World No 1 Simona Halep has had a fractured lead-up to the tournament.
She will be without a coach for the first few months of the season after Darren Cahill left for ‘ f a mil y reasons’ and if that setback was not enough, she was outplayed by unseeded Ashleigh Barty in the second
37
round at Sydney.
The Romanian, who lost the 2018 Australian Open final to Caroline Wozniacki, could rue her lack of competitive matches but remained upbeat.
“I think I played a good level of tennis... No pain at all. I’m happy about that. It’s a great sign,” Halep told reporters after her loss to Barty.
A second Australian Open title for Kerber, who denied Williams in the 2016 final, will be a perfect birthday gift for the world number two, who turns 31 during the first week of the tournament.
She looked sharp at the Hopman Cup, maintaining a 100 percent singles record, even though Germany lost to Roger Federer’s Switzerland in the final.
Defending champion Wozniacki has been battling rheumatoid arthritis but the 28-year-old Dane will remain a contender, as will 21-year-old Osaka, who jumped into the spotlight with her ruthless victory over a fired-up Williams in New York.
Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka has emerged as a dark horse, with many observers, including American great Evert, tipping the 20-year-old to make her Grand Slam breakthrough in 2019.