A new calendar begins on the ATP circuit with the
Australian Open
just around the corner, where the best tennis players in the world will go in search of the first major title of the year, with the exception of
Carlos Alcaraz
, number 1 in the ranking, who he had to withdraw due to injury.
In the previous competition, the German tennis player
Alexander Zverev
participated in a question game where he had to give predictions about what would happen this year: personal goals, revelation players, who would break a racket first and when he was asked about a risky prediction, the 25-year-old athlete
made a controversial prediction
.
“
Rafael Nadal unfortunately will retire after Roland Garros.
I don't want it to happen, but I think he will have a great tournament, he will potentially win it and he will take the opportunity to say goodbye, ”he told
Eurosport
.
It is a striking statement about the current second best player and the most winner of Grand Slams, with 22 titles.
Nadal prepares to defend the title in Australia.
In the past, the Spaniard on more than one occasion was upset by the rumors of his retirement.
"
Lately, every time I come to a press conference it seems that I have to retire, it's as if they were very interested in that happening
," he went on to say.
"Don't go through with it because I'm here to play tennis and the time for me to retire hasn't come yet," the 36-year-old had declared at the post-United Cup conference.
How will Zverev's prediction sit with him?
The first Grand Slam of 2023 starts
The first big one of the year is coming:
this Sunday the Australian Open begins
with great matches for the first round.
The defending champion Rafael Nadal will debut against the British Jack Draper
, while Alexander Zverev will do the same against the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas.
Novak Djokovic, another of the candidates, begins his journey in the contest against Roberto Carballes Baena, from Spain.
This will be the start of the Argentines
Diego Schwartzman vs. Oleksii Krutykh (UCR)
Francisco Cerundolo vs. Guido Pella
Tomas Etcheverry vs. Gregoire Barrere (FRA)
Federico Coria vs. Marton Fucsevics (HUN)
Sebastian Baez vs. Jason Kubler (AUS)
Pedro Cachín vs. Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP)
Facundo Bagnis vs. Daniel Evans (GBR)
look too
"What are you looking at, silly?": Djokovic, Schwartzman and a hilarious video with a nod to Messi before the Australian Open
Australian Open: a difficult draw for the Argentines and a possible final between Djokovic and Nadal
'Break Point', the series that spies on the intimacy of tennis players on the circuit: from sacrifices to a mental strength that is difficult to describe
