Australian Open 2023: Biggest stories to follow over the next fortnight at Melbourne Park

Stand by for TV hosts telling us multiple times per day that insert-name-here is “in the house”, and once-a-year tennis types mangling names (memo: Thanasi is pronounced as it’s spelled – with an h) and confusing matches with games. That’s a perennial. Grrrr.

On the upside, there’s no crowd caps, mask mandates or potential lockouts and nor, it seems, is Djokovic likely to encounter too much lingering ill-will as the wildly over-qualified fourth seed chases an extraordinary 10th title.

Here’s a handful of things to look forward to over the next fortnight at Melbourne Park:

1. Savouring a legend while we still have him

It’s hard enough to be without Roger and Ash, and with the great Serena finished, too. Yes, Novak is back, more ominous than hamstrung, but the signs seem to be pointing to a farewell appearance from Rafa in what will be Open No. 18.

Dual champion Nadal has been on either side of two of the most epic Melbourne Park finals in memory; losing to Djokovic in the longest and latest grand slam decider of all time in 2012, then winning the seemingly impossible after trailing Daniil Medvedev two sets to love last year.

As irritated as the top seed — that status thanks to the withdrawal of his injured Spanish heir Carlos Alcaraz — clearly is by the constant retirement questions, his post-Wimbledon results decline is obvious and, at 36, the reality is that the injury-plagued new dad may not be back at Melbourne Park in a playing capacity again.

So many quirks, tics and superstitions will go with him. Such as the crazy-pedantic water bottle placement (still chuckle at the thought of Marinko Matosevic kicking them over when walking past during a changeover), the quizzically-raised eyebrow in press, the underwear tugging, the little sprint to the baseline after the coin toss, love-biting his trophies, and so many more.

The early episodes of the Break Point documentary reinforce the reverence in which this incomparable warrior is held, with Taylor Fritz’s respected coach Paul Annacone declaring Nadal to be “the greatest competitor that’s ever played any sport”, and even Nick Kyrgios, who admits that the extent of the pair’s relationships is a quiet nod when passing in the hallway, describing the 22-slam man as “like a God’’.

From a fan perspective, CODE asked a particularly ardent Rafaphile (who owns a rescue dog named, perversely, Roger, while his brother Rafa lives next door) what are the handful of things about Nadal she will miss most if, indeed, he does not return.

Answer: Sublime skills and explosive strength. Smile. Self deprecation. Sexiest man on tour with unsurpassed legs. Gladiator that creates an unrivalled theatre of battle to the last point.

Not to mention all the duels with the similarly glorious Federer, with whom Nadal will forever be bracketed. Despite Djokovic’s greatness, everyone craved the two Rs because of their class and sportsmanship. Not just love, but respect and admiration.

Sounds about right, no?

2. The three (singles) Special Ks: Kyrgios, Kokkinakis and Kubler

Whatever you thought of their ridiculously-improbable (and occasionally just plain ridiculous) charge to the men’s doubles title in 2022, there was no doubting the energy and interest Kyrgios and Kokkinakis brought to the often low-wattage event.

In singles, Kyrgios’ fate will be as fascinating as always, given the 19th seed’s compromised preparation and the fact he returns for an opening round against Roman Safiullin as a Wimbledon finalist who says he is feeling like a genuine contender for the first time.

Kokkinakis has again performed heroically at his hometown event, Adelaide International 2, despite also shouldering the weight of a hefty points defence.

In fact, given he should start his Open campaign – against flashy Fabio Fognini – fresher than last year, due to finishing the lead-up events a day earlier and starting in Melbourne a day later, it might be just the right balance of doing well but not exhaustingly so.

And then there’s Kubler, who has been one of the stories of the early summer; who was once the talented hardluck guy with the wrecked knees and is now comfortably inside the top 100, with great instincts and feel and tennis IQ.

Not forgetting Aussie No. 2 Alex de Minaur, of course. He’s just lacking the K.

3. A(nother) probable new women’s champion

When Sports Illustrated listed the various situations and locations of the past seven champions accounting for every title since 2014, it, well, illustrated, that while the men’s draw is home to a collective dozen Aus Open singles titles from Djokovic (9), Nadal (2) and Stan Wawrinka (1) the women’s boasts just three.

Two were from now-24th seed Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13, and the most recent from Sofia Kenin, who is now at No. 280 and playing under a protected ranking, having won just five grand slam matches anywhere since her upset of Garbine Muguruza here in 2020.

The pair play on Monday at Margaret Court Arena, which will leave just one former titleholder standing.

With Barty not just joining Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and company in the retirement club, but also part of a baby boom with two-time champion Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber, the clear favourite is Iga Swiatek, the reigning French and US Open queen who inherited the Barty-vacated throne.

Other potential challengers include dual grand slam runner-up Ons Jabeur, plus Americans Jess Pegula and Coco Gauff (see below), France’s Caroline Garcia, and perhaps Aryna Sabalenka, now that the service yips have been overcome.

Interestingly, for all this talk of a wide open field, Jabeur says the list of contenders does not extend much beyond five. And Barty being an impossibly hard act/champion to follow, regardless.

4. “Team“ USA. Going solo this time.

Gotta love Frances Tiafoe, a top-16 newcomer, one of the great entertainers and now a US Open semi-finalist (if one whose wardrobe seems to be a little light on for shirts).

Big Foe’s great mate Taylor Fritz has a top-eight slam seeding for the first time, and also warmed up nicely during the Americans’ successful United Cup campaign. Nine US men are inside the top 50, including Adelaide finalist Seb Korda, Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, Maxime Cressy and Brandon Nakashima, with only veteran John Isner older than 25.

[Side note: January’s newest teams event clearly needs some format tweaking, and Stefanos Tsitsipas has suggested a two-nation trim to 16, for starters, but at least the ATP Cup’s successor managed to include women as well as men. Fancy that.]

With 42-year-old Venus Williams surely set to follow Serena into post-playing life, and Kenin continuing to struggle, third seed Pegula is a slightly unexpected head of the current generation and big improver since 2021, when she made the first of two runs to the last eight.

Much to admire, also, about stateswoman-in-the-making Coco Gauff, who is wise and poised beyond her (still just 18) years. Gauff claimed the Auckland lead-up title and continues to hone a transition game helped by her elite doubles output with Pegula.

Former US Open finalist Madison Keys has joined the pair back in the singles top 10.

5. Mask-free faces and shelving daily RAT tests after two Covid-compromised years.

Although the pandemic still rages, it feels like a far more ‘’normal’’ AO than the past two. Which wouldn’t be hard.

In 2021, the tournament was pushed back into February and a two-week hotel quarantine was required for all players/staff/media arriving from overseas. Some in far more onerous conditions than others, with the memorable contrast between Djokovic relaxing on his hotel balcony in Adelaide and Ellen Perez, for example, in hard lockdown swimming in her bath.

Last year, the tournament returned to its usual – and fiercely defended – school holiday slot but with mask-monitoring staff patrolling the slightly less-empty media room and daily RATs mandated before workers arrived on site.

Then, with crowd numbers already capped at 50 per cent and the Omicron variant rampant, Melbourne’s snap five-day lockdown meant fans were shut-out altogether at a cost of $20 million, and what was once an $80 million cushion now wiped out.

The new mega-broadcasting deal with Nine – worth around $500 million – will help with the recovery, but it remains to be seen how much the absence of Barty and other factors will impact on ratings numbers and audience appeal.

New stars and characters will emerge. They always do.

Meanwhile, there’s one last chance to farewell the sometimes underappreciated Sam Stosur after AO No. 21, but just in doubles and mixed, this time.

And, in singles, we still have Rafa. Let’s cherish him while he’s here.