The defending champions: Novak Djokovic - Victoria Azarenka
Held each year in January, the Australian Open sets the pace for the tennis activities for the rest of the year. This year, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are being dubbed as the hot favourite.
The aspiring title candidates: Serena Williams - Rafael Nadal
Serena Williams have had a meaningful tennis year last year and is being considered by many as the 'hot' favourites not only for the Australian Open but the entire year 2014. Last year, the world number one won the French Open and the US Open. Despite her age Williams at 32 does not seem to be lacking stamina and will to lose her way forward. She now seeks historic 18th Grand Slam win at Australian Open — an accomplishment that would match Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
As for her form and fitness, her coach Patrick Mouratoglou believes that Serena Williams can become the first woman since 1988 to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year.
It may be added that Williams, 32, held all four Grand Slams simultaneously when she won the Australian Open of 2003, but Steffi Graf in 1988 was the last female player to lift all four titles in the same calendar year.
However, there are some who question Serena's firness and ask Will Serena Williams' reign end? - well time will tell as Australian Open reaches its final.
Summing up ladies title, top 10 contenders to win in Melbourne, including Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka - the defending champion, who is aiming for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles .
As for the men's singles, although Djokovic will try his best to defend his title he won last year, he has Rafael Nadal all set to threaten him and is hot contenderer for the title this year. Although Novak Djokovic hopes Becker can help him retain title - Rafael Nadal, who has recovered from her knee injury is robust and reslienet as ever to take on the Serb.
It’s hard to bet against Djokovic though as four of his six Grand Slam titles have come in Melbourne. The three-time defending champion has the Australian Open down to a science; he opted to limit his preparations to exhibition events once again this year, which guarantee him a few good matches, before spending the last two weeks fine-tuning his game and arriving early in Melbourne.
As per the draws, Nadal and Djokovic are in different groups and are not likely to face each other till the final. With questions surrounding 2013 finalist Andy Murray’s fitness and four-time champion Roger Federer’s form, Nadal seems to be the player threatening the Serb his last year's title.
So we keep our fingers crossed and start watching the mega tennis year opener from 13th January which will terminate on 26 January.
Nadal opens the Grand Slam facing Australian Bernard Tomic in the first round.
It’s hard to bet against Djokovic though as four of his six Grand Slam titles have come in Melbourne. The three-time defending champion has the Australian Open down to a science; he opted to limit his preparations to exhibition events once again this year, which guarantee him a few good matches, before spending the last two weeks fine-tuning his game and arriving early in Melbourne.
As per the draws, Nadal and Djokovic are in different groups and are not likely to face each other till the final. With questions surrounding 2013 finalist Andy Murray’s fitness and four-time champion Roger Federer’s form, Nadal seems to be the player threatening the Serb his last year's title.
So we keep our fingers crossed and start watching the mega tennis year opener from 13th January which will terminate on 26 January.
Nadal opens the Grand Slam facing Australian Bernard Tomic in the first round.
