Novak Djokovic ‘man to beat’ at Australian Open despite injury scare, Rafael Nadal to be ‘careful’ over return – Schett

Barbara Schett believes Novak Djokovic is still the “man to beat” at the Australian Open despite an injury scare ahead of the Grand Slam.

Djokovic will be bidding for an 11th title in Melbourne and record-breaking 25th major.

However, he was bothered by a wrist injury at the United Cup, where he was beaten by Alex de Minaur.

“The match probably didn’t mean as much to him as for example if it would be at the Australian Open where he would try to win even with pain,” said Schett.

“And I remember last year in Adelaide he had a muscle tear, and he was able to play the Australian Open and win it even with some pain. So his pain threshold is very, very high.

“Hopefully it’s not something too acute…He has the best team around him, and he’s still for me the man to beat at the Australian Open.

“If somebody wins it 10 times and has barely lost any matches there and feels so comfortable, and especially someone who has had a year like Novak had in 2023, I think you have to put him as a favourite for the Australian Open.”

Nadal made his comeback after nearly a year out in Brisbane, but pulled out of the first Grand Slam of the season due to injury.

It is not known when Nadal will return, and Schett said she expects him to be “very careful” over his scheduling as he plans potentially his final year on tour.

“I think it’s pretty clear that if you haven’t played for a whole year, if you are 37 years of age, that the chances that you play a full schedule is very minimal, and I think it’s easier also for Rafa to get injured once again,” she said.

“Hopefully the injury he picked up now is not too severe. I’m sure he’s going to be very, very careful what he plays.

“The big question is, at the Grand Slam can he last five sets? And if he can’t, what is he playing for? Is he going to play the French Open, for example, if he’s fit to win it, or is it more like a farewell tournament for him?

“Of course, we know that he’s very ambitious. He wants to always play his best. He has had unbelievable results there as well. But the question is, how realistic is it?

“I am just happy if I get to see him again, playing, having fun on the court, showing us some amazing shots, showing us his willpower, his athleticism.

“And it’s nicer to say goodbye to somebody when you see him on the court…I think that would be painful for him not to be able to play again anymore, and then have to retire that way.”

Djokovic’s main rivals in Melbourne look set to be Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner.

“When I watched him play at the United Cup, I thought, ‘OK, this man wants to do some damage. He wants to do some real damage because he is eager’.

“He has got back into the top 10 again and he lost in the second round last year, so has not many points to defend. He can really take another step in the rankings.

“He’s been playing a bit more aggressive I think, and he’s looking fit as well…he was the man of the United Cup for me, because the way he played mixed doubles, you know you get self-confidence out of that as well.

“It was a perfect start for Alexander Zverev for the beginning of the year, and he’s definitely one to follow. He wants to win a Grand Slam title for so many years already. He got close at the US Open when he lost against Dominic Thiem, then he had this horrible injury, so things might fall together for him this year. Who knows?”

The Australian Open starts on Sunday, January 14.