Australian Open 2022 will miss its men's singles defending champion, Novak Djokovic. The world No. 1 tennis star's hopes of playing at the Australian Open were dashed on Sunday after a court dismissed the Serb's appeal against a deportation order. (More Tennis News)
Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, will remain in detention in Melbourne until he is deported but there will be enough action to savour for the tennis fans between January 17 and 30. Watch Australian Open 2022 live on TV and digital devices.
The morning session of Australian Open will start at 5:30 AM IST. Matches can be watched live On SONY TEN 2 and SONY TEN 2 HD. Live streaming can be availed through SONYLiv app.
The evening session of Australian Open will begin from 1:30 PM IST. Live streaming will take place simultaneously on smart phones and smart TV. Evening session starting at 4:30 PM IST can be seen on additional channels like SONY SIX and SONY SIX HD, SONY TEN 4 and SONY TEN 4 HD, SONY TEN 3 and SONY TEN 3 HD (Hindi). Live streaming continues on SONYLiv.
The absence of nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will rob the tournament of some glamour but there will be plenty of action to feast on.
They may not be the outright favourites at Australian Open 2022, but Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza have the necessary Grand Slam pedigree to be considered major threats at Melbourne Park.
Nadal enters the tournament after missing the second half of 2021 with a foot injury, but with enhanced confidence following his victory last week at the Melbourne Summer Set – his first title on Australian soil in 13 years.
Nadal, an Australian Open champion in 2009, is in the next fortnight targeting a men's record-breaking 21st Grand Slam singles title.
While compatriot Muguruza is yet to hoist the trophy at Melbourne Park, she is a Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, and a former world No.1, who came within a set of the Australian title in 2020.
Fresh off her victory at the WTA Finals in November and back up to world No.3, Muguruza, too, believes more Grand Slam success is within her grasp.
World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas may not be speaking with as firm belief as Nadal or Muguruza, but the Greek star certainly finds himself in a better position than two weeks ago.
Tsitsipas endured a stop-start ATP Cup campaign, feeling the lingering effects of minor elbow surgery he underwent in late 2021. But it was apparent on Saturday his confidence is returning.
Another player seeking confidence is Emma Raducanu, who, like Tsitsipas, suffered through an interrupted lead-up.
Raducanu contracted COVID in December, and in her only match of 2022 so far, in Sydney, the reigning US Open champion managed to win only one game in a loss to Adelaide finalist Elena Rybakina.
But the British teenager is keeping things in perspective ahead of her first-round match against fellow US Open winner Sloane Stephens.
(With inputs from ausopen.com)
