USO 2017:
Lajovic, Daniel, Mayer, Dolgopolov, Rublev, Delpo, Anderson (none ranked in top 25). Delpo was a stronger opponent than on paper due to injury prior, so sure. Call him a strong opponent, even if he's far removed from his 2009.
AO 2023:
RCB, Couacaud, Dimitrov, ADM, Rublev, Paul, Tsitsipas (likely).
In no world is 2023 AO even close to 2017 USO. Tsitsipas is a good parallel to Delpo, even if I think Tsitsipas could be more dangerous than old Delpo would've been here. Let's say equals. Then 2023 Rublev absolutely crushes anyone in the 2017 draw. Solely by rankings, that's evident. At the very least he'd crush the first 5 rounds Nadal played. Anderson v Rublev could be a match, but I still think Rublev takes it. ADM then also is probably better than the first 4-5 rounds in 2017, and Dimitrov easily takes on Lajovic, Daniel, Mayer, and Dolgopolov. Yes, RCB and Couacaud were poor opponents but I don't think their chances of causing an upset were that much lower than Lajovic's and Daniel's (mostly through virtue of their chances already being so low.)
In essence... there's no reason to think Djokovic's 2023 AO draw was easier than 2017 USO. Maybe this has something to say if Tsitsipas ends up losing to Khachanov, but even then I think I give it to 2023 AO. Even if Djokovic crushed his R4 and QF opponents that doesn't mean they were necessarily weak. No one in their right minds is calling 2019 AO Nadal a weak opponent.
By rankings, level of play, historical rankings. All of it swings 2023 AO's way.
