Four Italians will be protagonists on the first day of the 2023 Australian Open which, on Monday, begins with several important defections but two certainties on the draw: Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
After the forfeits of number one Alcaraz and former WTA leader Naomi Osaka and Venus Williams, the Australian Ajla Tomljanovic and the Spanish Paula Badosa have been added to the list. Although he is no longer number 1, however, all the attention in Melbourne in the first slam of the season is for the very Serbian champion who returns to the Australian Open after being excluded a year ago for not having been vaccinated against Covid: Nole makes his debut, fresh winner of the Adelaide tournament, he will have to face the Spanish Roberto Carballes Baena and in the quarterfinals Nick Kyrgios could be waiting for him for a possible rematch after the Wimbledon final.
Immediately on the field, Monday, Jannik Sinner who inaugurates the program of the John Cain Arena, at one in the morning Italian time, against the British Kyle Edmund, semifinalist in 2018 in Melbourne. The South Tyrolean could meet Lorenzo Musetti in the third round, who appears on the strength of his ATP best ranking of number 19, historic as for the first time Italy can boast three players among the top twenty in the world. The carrarino, who has never won in the Australian Open main draw, will take the field no earlier than 6 in the morning on court 14 against the South African Lloyd Harris, number 212, in the draw thanks to the protected ranking. Lorenzo Sonego will also make his debut, chasing his first victory of 2023 against the Portuguese Nuno Borges, number 112 in the world, in his first participation in the main draw of the Australian Open. In women's singles Elisabetta Cocciaretto, sure of entering the Top 50 of the WTA ranking for the first time thanks to the final in Hobart, will make her debut not before six Italian time, on court 13, against the reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Together with the blue troop also Nadal against the British southpaw Jack Draper, number 40 in the world and semifinalist this week in Adelaide.
Majorcan very critical with the balls adopted for the 2023 edition. «The favorite of the tournament? Djokovic achieved very good results at the end of last year and started with victories this season - added Nadal in the pre-tournament conference - he has always been successful here. Without a doubt, he is the big favourite."
WTA number 1 Iga Swiatek will instead open the first evening session on the Rod Laver Arena, at 9 am on Monday 16 Italian time, against the German Jule Niemeier, world number 68. On Tuesday, however, it will be the turn of the three Azzurri inserted in the lower part, that of Ruud, second seeded. Matteo Berrettini, n.14 ATP and 13th seeding favourite, will make his debut against the British Andy Murray, n.49 in the ranking. The winner of this challenge would find in the second round that of the match between Fabio Fognini, n.57 ATP, and the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, n.110 in the ranking, who prevailed in both direct confrontations with the Ligurian. The 26-year-old from Adelaide is in his seventh appearance on the draw. For the 35-year-old from Arma di Taggia it is instead the 17th participation in the Slam Down Under where he has reached the round of 16 four times (2014, 2018, 2020 and 2021). Closing the blue patrol Mattia Bellucci, n.153 in the ranking, coming from the qualifications, will have to contend with the French Benjamin Bonzi, n.50 ATP (no precedent). The 26-year-old from Nimes, finalist in Pune the other week, is making his second appearance at the Slam Down Under where last year he reached the second round. For the 21-year-old from Busto Arsizio it is instead the first participation in the main draw of a Major.
Also on Tuesday are five Italian players: Trevisan makes his debut against the qualified Slovakian Schmiedlova, while Bronzetti finds the German Siegemund. Difficult opponents for Giorgi, opposed to the Russian Pavlyuchenkova, and Paolini, who has to deal with the other Russian Samsonova (n.18). The qualified Stefanini faces the German Maria in her first match in a main draw Slam.
