Rafael Nadal is finally back after being sidelined for much of last season due to a myriad of injuries. Now that he has returned, this means that two-thirds of the famed Big 3 are going to compete in the ATP Tour this year.
Speaking of the Big 3, Novak Djokovic is also back in action this week. As he prepares to defend his Australian Open crown, the 24-time Grand Slam winner is currently competing in the United Cup in Perth.
Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz is also preparing for the upcoming Australian Open, which will start in two weeks. He didn’t play last year after injuring his hamstring in practice, so he’s out for vengeance.
Without further ado, here are the latest ATP 2024 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Nadal open to playing beyond 2024
Nadal’s return has drawn positive reactions from the tennis world. That is because, in his first match back, the 37-year-old managed to beat former US Open champion Dominic Thiem, 7-5, 6-1, in the first round of the Brisbane International yesterday.
The Spaniard barely showed signs of rust since he lost only six points on serve throughout the match and made few unforced errors against a former world no. 3. In what was an almost perfect display, Nadal finished with 12 winners, including three aces, and won 90-per cent (28-of-31) of his first-serve points.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner had not played singles since a second-round loss at the Australian Open last year because he underwent keyhole hip surgery in June.
Because he has been out for a long time, there were fears that his illustrious tennis career could be over. However, Nadal made it clear that he was always determined to make it back for the 2024 season.
Before the match against Thiem, Nadal admitted that there was a “high percentage” that this was going to be his last year, although he isn’t closing the door to playing beyond this year, depending on how his body holds up.
“You never know what’s going on, you know? I can’t predict how I’m going to be in the next six months. But if I’m here next year, don’t tell me, ‘you said it’s going to be your last season’ because I didn’t say it,” said Nadal.
After defeating Thiem, Nadal will face Jason Kubler in the second round after the Australian got a bye when Aslan Karatsev was forced to withdraw his last match due to injury after two sets.
Djokovic remains the hunted
Serbia are through to the quarter-finals of the United Cup, thanks in large part to Novak Djokovic’s 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-1 win over Jiri Lehecka last night.
Novak Djokovic was actually dealing with a wrist injury. But it didn’t look like it, especially in the first set, where he was dominant.
In the second set, Lehecka hit back by winning four games in a row and serving for the set before eventually leveling the match at one set apiece.
However, the Serbian international regained his bearings in the penultimate set by racing to a 5-0 lead and serving it out.
As has been the case throughout his career, Djokovic enters the new season as the top-ranked player in the ATP, and he is poised to achieve new milestones as long as he stays healthy.
“It’s not a secret that I want to break more records and make more history of the game. That’s something that keeps on motivating me,” said Djokovic.
Big year ahead for Alcaraz
However, the player standing in Djokovic’s way is Carlos Alcaraz, at least according to the pre-season ATP 2024 odds. The 20-year-old was once at the top of the ATP rankings, but he eventually ceded to Djokovic after a dip in form towards the end of last season.
Despite missing out on several trophies last year, Carlos Alcaraz still had a great campaign overall, as he has reached at least the semi-finals in his past four Grand Slams.
He has finished 2023 with an 89.5-per cent win percentage at Grand Slams, which is second only to Rafael Nadal’s (2007, 91.7-per cent) among players under 21 in the Open Era.
A win in the Australian Open would surely provide a huge boost for Alcaraz, and he will fancy his chances since he has been superb in hard-court tournaments, winning the Miami and US Opens in 2022 and Indian Wells in 2023 (45-9 record in the past two seasons).
Alcaraz also mentioned that it would be his dream to win gold at the Paris Games, even suggesting that he wants to team up with countryman Rafael Nadal to play doubles.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE SPORTS STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
