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Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title and a record-equalling 11th at the Australian Open, which begins Sunday in Melbourne.
Top-seeded Djokovic will not face second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz or third-seeded Daniil Medvedev until the final on January 28.
He enters the tournament on a 28-game winning streak at the Australian Open since his last loss in the round of 16 in 2018.
But Djokovic's 43-game winning streak in Australia came to an end last week at the United Cup, the only tune-up match for the Australian Open. Australia's Alex de Minaur dominated him, but Djokovic said he was affected by his wrist injury.
more: Australian Open Women's Draw
In 2023, Djokovic swept the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open titles, and came one set away from victory in the Wimbledon final against Alcaraz, becoming the first men's singles player since Australia's Rod Laver in 1969. He narrowly missed winning the Calendar Grand Slam.
Still, he tied and broke Rafael Nadal's record of 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles, passed Serena Williams' record of 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era, and surpassed Margaret Court's record of 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles. He tied the singles championship record.
Djokovic could break his tie with Court at this year's Australian Open. Court won 13 of his 24 titles before professionals were allowed to compete in Slam tournaments in 1968 and the Open Era began.
He could also match Court's record of 11 Australian Open singles wins, but her seven wins pre-date the Open era, and all of them were primarily wins in the Australian field. be.
At 36, Djokovic could become the second-oldest player to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open Era, overtaking Roger Federer. Her record holder is Australian Ken Rosewall, who won the 1972 Australian Open at the age of 37.
In what was probably his final year before retiring, Nadal withdrew before the Australian Open due to muscle strain.
Another story is the battle for the four spots in the U.S. Olympic men's singles.
Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Francis Tiafoe are currently the top four in the race to Paris, with Sebastian Korda and Chris Eubanks also right behind Tiafoe. Teams will be drawn from the ATP rankings after the French Open in early June.
2024 Australian Open Men's Singles Draw
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