The 2022 Australian Open, the first tennis Grand Slam of the year, is all set to begin in a couple weeks’ time. Unfortunately, there will be a couple of high-profile names who won’t take part in the tournament, with the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, two of the biggest players missing in Melbourne.
On the men’s side, there is still some doubt as to whether defending Australian Open champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will make the trip to Melbourne and play amid his uncertain vaccine status. Meanwhile, his rival Rafa Nadal is already in Melbourne to ramp up his preparations.
Read on below as SBOTOP shares all the most relevant Australian Open 2022 news and updates as the start of the tournament nears.
Both Williams sisters to sit out Australian Open
Neither Venus nor Serena Williams will play in this year’s Australian Open, marking the first time since 1997 that no Williams sister will take part in the year-opening Grand Slam.
Venus, 41, confirmed she would miss the tournament due to a leg injury which has kept her sidelined since August. Now ranked at No. 318, Venus would have needed a wildcard to play in the tournament.
As for the 40-year-old Serena, she is still recovering from the torn hamstring she suffered at Wimbledon back in June.
Serena made the Australian Open semi-finals last year, her best showing since winning the last of her record seven Aussie Open titles in 2017.
Doubts still surround Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open status
It still remains to be seen whether men’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be present to defend his Australian Open title in a few weeks’ time.
Djokovic still hasn’t revealed whether he has been vaccinated against Covid-19, which is required to work in the state of Victoria. There has also been speculation Djokovic could apply for a medical exemption to play.
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley is still waiting to see how the Djokovic situation will play out, although he warns that time is running out.
“We’ve still got a few charter flights coming in until the end of this week and then all the players will be here,” Tiley said. “As far as the status relates to Novak, I think we’ll have a much clearer picture in the coming days otherwise it’s getting pretty late to show up and play the Australian Open.
“There’s quite a bit to play out and I think it will play out in the coming days.”
Djokovic, who missed out on a historic Calendar Slam last season, is a record nine-time champion in Melbourne, and the Australian Open 2022 odds would have him favoured to win his 10th title if he does play.
Rafa Nadal getting ready for Australian Open
While Djokovic’s playing status remains uncertain, his rival Rafa Nadal has already arrived in Melbourne to ramp up his preparation for the Australian Open.
Nadal is set to make his much-awaited Grand Slam comeback after he missed both Wimbledon and the US Open. The Spaniard is also recovering from a bout with Covid last month.
The 35-year-old will be the top seed at the ATP 250 event, held at Melbourne Park. It will be the first time he will compete at an ATP Tour event since the Citi Open in Washington, DC, in August 2021, due to a chronic left foot injury.
Tsitsipas still unsure whether to play in Australian Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas is still not ready to confirm whether he will play in this year’s Australian Open.
The world No. 4 is still working his way back to full strength after undergoing elbow surger at the end of last year.
Tsitsipas is currently playing for Greece at the ATP Cup, but he remains unsure how his body will recover so soon after surgery.
“I really don‘t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow,” Tsitsipas said. “That was one of the biggest concerns if I was going to play this match today, how the recovery is going to be tomorrow.
“I finished the doubles [on Saturday] and the next day I couldn’t serve. I was in a lot of pain.”
The 23-year-old Tsitsipas reached the Australian Open semi-final last year for the second time in two years. He defeated Nadal in a five-set war in the quarter-finals but lost to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
Several high-profile men’s players – six-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, and 2020 Australian Open finallist Dominic Thiem – have already been confirmed to miss out on this year’s tournament.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE TENNIS STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
