With the non appearance of world number one Carlos Alcaraz because of injury, the defending champion Rafa Nadal is the top seed for this year’s Men’s Singles at the Australian Open.
It won’t be an easy defence for the Spaniard - his form since arriving in the country has been average, and his great rival is back.
Still, looking at the draw, the early rounds should be just what Nadal needs to pick up his standard.
Jack Draper is first, and a stern test, the young Brit just having been a semi finalist in Adelaide.
After possibly Yoshihito Nishioka (31) in round three, things become tougher with either Karen Khachanov (18) or Frances Tiafoe (16) in the fourth.
Tiafoe beat Nadal in the 2022 US Open round of sixteen.
Waiting in the quarters for Nadal should be the man he beat in last years final.
Daniil Medvedev (7) hasn’t been handed a simple run to the quarters, likely to face Sebastian Korda (29) in the third round.
Korda pushed Djokovic to the limit in the Adelaide final, at one stage holding match point.
Medvedev may also need to find a way past Denis Shapovalov (20) or Hubert Hurkacz (10) before Nadal.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) leads the third quarter of the top half of the draw.
In his section sit Pune title winner Tallon Griekspoor, and Italian pair Lorenzo Musetti (17) and Jannik Sinner (15). The Italians are likely to meet in the third round for the right to play Tsitsipas.
Stef has too many cards of varying suits in his deck.
Cameron Norrie (11) has just flown across from Auckland, where he was the beaten finalist in the ASB Classic, and lands in the quarter headed by Felix Auger-Aliassime (6).
Unseeded Kwon Soon-woo is floating dangerously in Norrie’s section, as is Borna Coric (21).
The major early concern for Felix may well be former AO champ Stan Wawrinka, but I believe the sixth seed is safely through to the fourth round, and then favourite for a quarter final berth.
In the bottom half, Andrey Rublev (5) is seeded to play Holger Rune (9) in a round of sixteen match.
But each has hurdles to clear prior to that occurring.
Rublev must beat wildcard Dominic Thiem in round one, and probably Dan Evans (25) in round three.
Rune has Filip Krajinovic straight up, and likely the winner of Nick Kyrgios (19) and Auckland trophy holder Richard Gasquet in the third round.
A Rublev / Kyrgios clash awaits.
The second quarter of the bottom half of the draw is the Djokovic section.
He should beat Grigor Dimitrov (27) or Aslan Karatsev in the third round and then a choice of:
Pablo Carreno Busta (14), John Isner, Adrian Mannarino, or Alex de Minaur (22) in the round of sixteen.
Djokovic will overcome Rublev in the quarter finals.
Taylor Fritz (8) is fast becoming a factor in discussions surrounding who might win a major.
His game has developed and addressed most weaknesses.
His quarter of the draw will mean defeating Miomir Kecmanovic (26), then in the fourth round Alexander Zverev (12).
Zverev, back from long out with injury, has not an easy run, David Goffin and Diego Schwartzman (23) possible opponents before Fritz.
Fritz will be eyeing a quarter final with Casper Ruud (2).
Ruud must navigate a path through possibly Jenson Brooksby, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (30), and Matteo Berrettini (13) or Roberto Bautista Agut (24).
Fritz may be primed for this major.
Predictions
Quarter finals
Daniil Medvedev (7) defeating Rafael Nadal (1)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime (6)
Novak Djokovic (4) defeating Andrey Rublev (5)
Taylor Fritz (8) defeating Matteo Berrettini (13)
Semi finals
Daniil Medvedev (7) defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas (3)
Novak Djokovic (4) defeating Taylor Fritz (8)
Final
Novak Djokovic (4) defeating Daniil Medvedev (7)
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