Novak, Serena favorites anew in Australian Open
MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic is in the kind of form that has rivals no less than Rafael Nadal describing it as being close to perfection.
Serena Williams has been injured, has hardly played since the US Open and had to withdraw from her only tune-up event ahead of the Australian Open.
The preparations of the reigning champions couldn’t be more contrasting in the week leading up to the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
They have one thing in common, though: They’re both favorites to win again, having each won three of the four majors in 2015.
Serena Williams has won six Australian titles, Djokovic has won five—neither player has lost a final at Melbourne Park.
At a ceremony preceding the tournament draw on Friday, Williams and Djokovic posed for photos with the Australian Open trophies in front of Rod Laver Arena.
It was only when told they had to hand back the trophies that Djokovic replied, half-jokingly, “What do you mean they’re not ours?”
His intentions are clear.
In some ways, Williams’ condition reflects the state of play in the upper ranks of the women’s game. Most players in the top 10 have withdrawn from a tournament or retired from a match in the first two weeks of the season.
Williams played one set at the Hopman Cup, where she was hampered by inflammation in her left knee. No. 2 Simona Halep (Achilles tendon) and Maria Sharapova (left forearm) withdrew from the Brisbane International without playing a match, and No. 3 Garbine Muguruza retired during her first match with an injured foot.
Agnieszka Radwanska (leg) and Petra Kvitova (illness) withdrew from other warmup tournaments and No. 9 Lucie Safarova announced early she wasn’t competing in Australia because of a bacterial infection. Angelique Kerber reached the final in Brisbane, where she lost to resurgent two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, before withdrawing from Sydney, where Halep returned to action.
She said at the Hopman Cup her knee problem was a mere “bump” in the road.
“Everything is actually really well. Feeling really good,” Williams said.