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Should Alcaraz really be the favourite heading into the Australian Open?

By Myre Aberdan

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in his Men's Singles Third Round match against Matteo Berrittini of Italy during day five of the Australian Open 2022 at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Andy Astfalck/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in his Men's Singles Third Round match against Matteo Berrittini of Italy during day five of the Australian Open 2022 at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Andy Astfalck/BSR Agency/Getty Images) /
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Every year, another big expectation is heaped on a new grand slam champion.

Early last year, it was Medvedev who pundits were speculating about.  Having just won the US Open, the talk of the summer was where Medvedev would win his next major in 2022. Many pundits believed that Medvedev would at least win 1 major in the 2022 season. Last year, Medvedev was gunning to become the first male player outside of the big-3 to win consecutive majors (since Andre Agassi in 1999-2000). Daniil was simply 2 games away from putting his hands on the trophy. However, in a most unexpected sequence, Nadal demonstrated the unthinkable to clinch the Australian Open trophy in an emphatic  5-hour 26-minute ordeal.

Similarly, when Dominic Thiem won the US Open in 2020, many thought that Dominic Thiem  would win a major a year like clockwork in the following years. Instead, he was a complete shadow of himself, succumbing to injury and failing to make the quarterfinal of a major for 3 straight years and counting. It definitely seemed like Thiem had hit a roadblock- much the way that Medvedev seemed to have in 2022. Many athletes and people from all walks of life fail to continue to replicate the highs of the previous year. That is completely normal. In the world of sports, however, such an occurrence is often met with wild derision. Often in careers, there seems to be an almost endless need for better results than the previous year.

If we are talking about Carlos Alcaraz, the kid just turned 20 in May. He has already tumbled plenty of records. Youngest world number 1 in history. Youngest top 10 player since Rafael Nadal. Youngest top 5 player since Nadal. The 3rd Youngest player in history to enter the top 10. The first 18 year old to win a big title (Miami) since Nadal, as well as being the youngest US Open and Wimbledon champion in a long time. A few weeks ago, it was still possible that Alcaraz could’ve finished as year end world number 1 for the second straight year. Yet the pressure being heaped on Alcaraz continued. Many put Alcaraz as the favourite coming into the US Open, but it was not to be. Now, leading into the new year and the first major of the year, is Alcaraz truly the favourite for the Australian Open? At every turn it seems like Alcaraz is being hailed as the favourite at majors. Should we simply ignore 10 time champion Novak Djokovic, or 22 time grand slam champion Nadal, who are also in the draw for  Australian Open 2024?

So, all in all, with the previous 2 grand slam champions failing to win a slam in the following season, do you believe Alcaraz is the favourite heading into January’s Australian Open?

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