The first month of the year always brings plenty of excitement from the tennis world. It is after all the time for the year's first Grand Slam - Australian Open. The best of players will be on display, with Novak Djokovic defending his title.?
It will also be an opportunity for Roger Federer to pull ahead of the chasing pack and record his 21st Grand Slam title win. Having gone the entire 2019 without winning any Grand Slam tournament, the Swiss ace will look to make amends and get his year off to a winning start. His path will though have roadblocks, mainly in the form of his eternal rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.?
Federer might be 38 and older than his two fierce rivals, but he has still got that hunger in him to strive for more greatness. The tournament of Australian Open has seen some fascinating fixtures and this year promises to be no different. The 'big three' of tennis have 15 Australian Open titles between them.?
Novak Djokovic, the seven-time Australian Open champion, has been drawn in the same half as six-time former titlist Roger Federer and Stefanos Tsitsipas. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who picked up the 2009 title at Melbourne Park, shares the top half of the draw with Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem.
The Swiss ace will be vying for another Grand Slam title to pull further ahead of Nadal, who has 19, and Novak Djokovic, who has 16 major titles to his credit.??
Third seed Roger Federer, who has recorded 97 match wins at the Australian Open (97-14), could play No. 13 seed Denis Shapovalov or No. 18 seed Grigor Dimitrov, who beat the Swiss at the 2019 US Open, in the third round. Federer, who starts against Steve Johnson, is projected to meet eighth seed Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals, and then Djokovic.
The first Grand Slam of the year promises to be a fascinating affair, and Roger Federer will be gunning for glory, for a record 21st title. If he is to win, he will have to go through the challenge of his old and competitive rivals.??