After the first tournament of the season, WTA Abu Dhabi Open 2021 comes to a close with Belarusian tennis beauty, Aryna Sabalenka clinching the title, now it’s time for heading towards the very first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open.
The men’s event will be played from 7th to 22nd February in Melbourne. This prestigious tennis tournament will be played at two significant stadiums in Melbourne, namely Rod Laver Arena for the men’s event and Margaret Court Arena for women’s tournament. But before the tournament begins two men’s tournaments will be played in-between. Both the tournaments will be going hand-in-hand from 30th January to 7th February.
They are the Great Ocean Road Open and the Murray River Open. Both of these tournaments are part of 2021 ATP Tour. Both of these bouts will be played in Melbourne though there is no clarity on which one is going to be played at the Rod Laver Arena and at the Margaret Court Arena. Still, the main focus will be on the forthcoming Australian Open and like every year, we are expecting the same kind of class, technique, emotions, intense gameplay, and joy from some of the immortal names of this blue-blooded discipline of sports.
Top 5 players to watch out for:
Top 5 players to watch out for:
1) Roger Federer:
No tennis fan of this globe can never ever forget this name. The Swiss professional tennis superstar, Roger Federer, 39, ranked world #5 by ATP, has always been a big name in the game of tennis. Widely regarded as the most consistent and the greatest player of all time, his trick shots, classy one-handed backhands, razor-sharp game sense, phenomenal control over his racquet makes him an utter delight to watch for the fans. He is surely going to be one of the top-contenders of the title and is a perfect example of the proverb, “Age is just a number.”
2) Rafael Nadal:
The perfect depiction of hard-work and sheer determination. Presently ranked world #2 by ATP, this spanish tennis star has a sublime fanbase and has been idolized by many aspiring, young tennis players for his, “I have no sense of humor about losing” mantra. The King of Clay, a superior counterpart of Roger Federer, Rafa is definitely one of those big names who can steal the show in a Grand Slam.
3) Dominic Thiem:
The Austrian tennis professional, presently ranked world #4 by ATP is also going to be on the roster afterall, player who has got the ability to pester tennis stars like Fede and Rafa will surely be among the ones to watch of the tournament. Dominic is also the second highest-ranked player in the Austrian tennis history behind former world #1 Thomas Muster. In 2020, Dominic Thiem won his first Grand Slam title at the 2020 US Open, defeating Alexander Zverev in a fifth-set tiebreak after being two sets down, becoming the first player to win a grand slam from this position since 2004 and the first at the US Open since Pancho Gonzales in 1949.
4) Nick Kyrgios:
An Australian tennis professional, Nick Kyrgios, ranked world #45 by ATP, is known for his hard-hitting, ravishing, strong and powerful forehands. Beside Ash Warty of women’s tennis, Nick Kyrgios is surely going to be one of the two locals at the Grand Slam to show his sheer class and power. Nick Kyrgios has stunned players like Fede, Dominic, Zverev and Rafa on various occasions with his “world-famous” forehand returns. Having the home country advantage by default, the tennis fans from the land of Kiwis will be keen to watch their local star lifting the prestigious trophy at the Rod Laver Arena.
5) Novak Djokovic:
Who can forget this Serbian tennis star. The present world #1 as ranked by ATP and a defending champion of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic is that one player who can turn a match’s fortune towards him at any point of the game. A player whose two-handed backhands are used as an asset for learners, Novak is also a human full of dedication, hard-working and fun-loving nature and is also loved by all tennis admirers across the globe. He is surely among the top-contenders of the title, precisely among the top 3 besides Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Also, there is a small tip for Novak’s fellow opponent that, “Never celebrate too early as the game is not over until it’s over when Novak is present on the court.”
Wildcard entries for Australia Open 2021:
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has been given a singles wildcard entry for the Australian Open 2021. Sumit Nagal and Wang Xiyu of China will compete in the main draw after being named recipients of the tournament’s Asia-Pacific wildcards. Sumit and Wang have joined Daria Gavrilova, Astra Sharma, Christopher O’Connell, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, and Marc Polmans, who were announced as the main-draw wildcards prior to Christmas last year.
“I am very thankful to all the people who put effort in helping me get a wild card for the 2021 Australian Open. Thanks to Tennis Australia for all their effort to make this slam possible in these circumstances,” the 22-year old Indian young sensation had tweeted before the New Year.
Summing up in a whole, the men’s event of the Australia Open is going to be a pure depiction of absolute class, talent, determination and hard-work like every year with a strong will of history being rewritten in the corridors of the historic Rod Laver Arena. The tickets of the Australian Open 2021 are all already live on the official website.