Novak Djokovic will grapple with his growing rivalry with Andy Murray and the enduring powers of Roger Federer as he bids for the first Australian Open hat-trick of the professional era.
Also pressing hard will be Federer, holder of an unmatched 17 Grand Slams and still hungry for more even though, at the age of 31, he is conceding six years to his younger rivals.
‘I have high ambitions for myself, but I am absolutely aware it is going to be very difficult, because today’s men’s tennis is very competitive,’ Djokovic said.
‘Andy Murray winning his first Grand Slam title last year has also got him to this group of players that are serious candidates to win the Australian Open.’ No one has won more than two consecutive Australian Open titles since Roy Emerson completed his run of five in a row in 1967, two years before the advent of professional tennis.
‘It is a huge challenge. I love the Australian Open, that court brings out the best memories of my career, the great support I always get there, the night sessions, the day sessions, it is always interesting to play,’ he said.
RADAWANSKA IN SYDNEY FINAL
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska will put her eight-match winning streak on the line when she faces Dominika Cibulkova in the final of the Sydney International on Friday. Top seed Radwanska needed seven match points to down former winner Li Na and reach the final. Radwanska finally clinched a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 32 minutes over the Chinese star. Slovakia’s Cibulkova became the first unseeded player in six years to reach the final when she ousted Angelique Kerber 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Thursday.
Also pressing hard will be Federer, holder of an unmatched 17 Grand Slams and still hungry for more even though, at the age of 31, he is conceding six years to his younger rivals.
‘I have high ambitions for myself, but I am absolutely aware it is going to be very difficult, because today’s men’s tennis is very competitive,’ Djokovic said.
‘Andy Murray winning his first Grand Slam title last year has also got him to this group of players that are serious candidates to win the Australian Open.’ No one has won more than two consecutive Australian Open titles since Roy Emerson completed his run of five in a row in 1967, two years before the advent of professional tennis.
‘It is a huge challenge. I love the Australian Open, that court brings out the best memories of my career, the great support I always get there, the night sessions, the day sessions, it is always interesting to play,’ he said.
RADAWANSKA IN SYDNEY FINAL
Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska will put her eight-match winning streak on the line when she faces Dominika Cibulkova in the final of the Sydney International on Friday. Top seed Radwanska needed seven match points to down former winner Li Na and reach the final. Radwanska finally clinched a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and 32 minutes over the Chinese star. Slovakia’s Cibulkova became the first unseeded player in six years to reach the final when she ousted Angelique Kerber 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Thursday.