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Australian Open: Alcaraz, Osaka, Monfils… The main absentees from the first Grand Slam of the year

2023-01-14T15:44:59.581Z


From the injuries of Carlos Alcaraz and Marin Cilic, to the family projects of Naomi Osaka... Discover the main absentees from the Australian Open.


Carlos Alcaraz, the false start

It is obviously the great absentee of the tournament.

For the second consecutive year, the world number 1 of the men's table will not participate in the Australian Open.

After the Djokovic affair in 2022, this time it is Carlos Alcaraz who must forfeit.

When I was at my best in pre-season, I got injured due to an accidental and unnatural movement in training.

This time it's the semi-membranous muscle of my right leg

,” the Spaniard said on his social media.

However, the winner of the last US Open should not stay away from the courts for very long.

Indeed, Carlos Alcaraz is registered for the ATP tournament in Buenos Aires which starts on February 13.

To discover

  • Australian Open: men's schedule and results

  • Australian Open: ladies schedule and results

Read alsoHolger Rune and Carlos Alcaraz, the new faces of world tennis

Marin Cilic, fist down

After the ardor of Alcaraz, it is the turn of an old veteran to forfeit.

Marin Cilic, 34, suffered a knee injury during the ATP 250 tournament in Pune earlier this year.

“Not a great start to 2023 and some tough days in Melbourne.

Dejected not to be able to play the Australian Open this year but health above all.

See you next year Melbourne

commented the 18th in the world on his social networks.

The generous and smiling Croatian, 3rd in the world at his best in 2018, had managed to reach the final of the Australian Open that same year.

We won't see Marin Cilic's famous raised fist at the Australian Open this year.

JON NAZCA / PANORAMIC

Naomi Osaka to other projects

And yet another tournament without Naomi Osaka.

The Japanese has not played since September 20, 2022, at the Tokyo tournament, and her 9 short minutes against the Australian Daria Saville who had to forfeit.

Two days later, it was the turn of the Japanese to give up.

Since then, images of the former world number one with a racket have been rare.

And those images aren't expected to reappear anytime soon.

Indeed, the player announced on her social networks that she was pregnant.

I will see you at the start of next season, because I will be at the Australian Open 2024

,” she said on her social networks.

It is not absurd to think that this break and this new turning point in the life of the Japanese will be beneficial for the four-time Grand Slam winner (including twice in Melbourne in 2019 and 2021), she who has experienced a long period of depression.

Read alsoDespite her sporting setbacks, Naomi Osaka remains the highest paid sportswoman in the world in 2022 according to Forbes

Venus Williams, 25 years later

Venus Williams will ultimately not participate in her 22nd Australian Open.

Because yes, from the height of her 42 years, the American had accepted the invitation to the tournament.

Unfortunately, the player, now ranked outside the top 1000, was injured during the Auckland tournament earlier this year.

Despite her 23 Grand Slam titles, including 7 in singles, Serena Williams has never won the Australian Open, failing twice in the final against… Her sister, Serena.

When Venus Williams first lost (2003), the current world number 1 and world tennis patron, Iga Swiatek, was only two years old.

Worse (or better) still, the Pole was not even born when Venus Williams competed in her first Australian Open in 1998.

Venus Williams during the 1998 Australian Open. Prosport / Panoramic

Gaël Monfils too fair for Australia

While he first announced his presence in Australia, Gaël Monfils, 83rd in the world, will ultimately not compete in the Grand Slam.

For him too, the tennis courts seem far away.

His last match dates back to August 12, in a round of 16 in Montreal against Briton Jack Draper.

While the latter will face Rafael Nadal in the first round on Monday, the Frenchman, recent father of a little girl, will stay at home.

If his foot injury no longer seems to handicap him too much, Gaël Monfils needs more time.

But even at 36, the Parisian is ambitious, he who wants to find "

a good level physically and tennistically

" and "

make a small final, get a correct ranking to try to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

"

Gaël Monfils during his last tournament in Montreal.

Icom SMI / Panoramic

Read alsoTennis: "Return to a very good level in 2023" hopes Gaël Monfils

Players to watch: Novak Djokovic and Diego Schwartzman

For Novak Djokovic, the concern is low.

The Serb had to cut short a training session on January 11 when he was against Daniil Medvedev.

Visibly affected in the hamstring of the left leg, the 21-time Grand Slam champion returned to the locker room.

However, the Serb clan did not wish to sound the alarm.

He should thus defend his status as favorite, he who aspires to a tenth coronation after nine successes in as many finals.

Read alsoNovak Djokovic, one year after a freedom still under surveillance

On the other hand for the Argentinian, nothing is less certain.

Diego Schwartzman finds himself in a really delicate situation, he who has been only a shadow of himself for several months.

His last victory dates back to September 1, during the second round of the US Open.

And as if that were not enough, the 25th in the world had to give up when he entered the Auckland tournament on January 11.

So, will participate, will not participate?

In any case, the two players trained together indoors this Thursday.

They even took the opportunity to recreate a cult session from the last Football World Cup, during which Lionel Messi declared “

What are you looking at, moron?

in the middle of an interview with a Dutch player.

This time, it was Novak Djokovic who took on the role of the Argentinian world champion.

A funny sequence, to relax the atmosphere, and perhaps the pain.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2023-01-14

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