clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
With Djokovic out, who will win the men's singles title?
Bill Connelly: Daniil Medvedev is good enough on hard courts at this point that it was already a Djokovic vs. Medvedev vs. the Field situation, or close to it. While Djokovic's absence certainly improves the odds for players such as Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz -- all originally on Djokovic's side of the draw -- Medvedev is very much the favorite now.
Tom Hamilton: Medvedev has shut himself off from all the outside noise and carried his US Open-winning form over to this year's ATP Cup. If he can get past potential tricky meetings with Nick Kyrgios early on (if Kyrgios tests negative for COVID-19), and then Ugo Humbert in the third round, then he will have the momentum to go all the way.
Aishwarya Kumar: I'm going back and forth between Zverev and Medvedev, but I'm going to say Zverev only because when it comes to big stages and opponents who are seeded higher, Zverev somehow finds it in him to up his game. We saw that at the US Open when he pushed Djokovic to a five-setter and looked like he was going to win it at several points during the match. Then he finished 2021 on a high, beating Djokovic and Medvedev to win the ATP Finals trophy. Since the Tokyo Olympics, which he won, Zverev has won 32 out of the 36 matches he's played -- that's a pretty darn good record.
D'Arcy Maine: There are some potential early tests against Kyrgios and Humbert, but Medvedev enters the tournament brimming with confidence and arguably boasting the best hard-court game currently on tour. When he's at his best and focused, as he was in the US Open final, he is virtually unstoppable. And his momentum has shown no signs of slowing down -- he had a dominant showing in the season-opening ATP Cup with wins over top-10 players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Matteo Berrettini.
Medvedev has proved he can win a major even with Djokovic in the draw -- and across the net in the final -- and now, as the top seed, this is his title to win.
Jake Michaels: It has to be Medvedev. He's the class player in the men's field now that Djokovic has been forced to withdraw, and he will take great confidence from his breakthrough win at last year's US Open. Don't forget, Medvedev cruised to the final last year in Melbourne, where he ultimately lost to Djokovic. That obstacle has gone and he's a better player 12 months on. It's Medvedev's tournament to lose.
Kevin Van Valkenburg: Going to make a sentimental pick here and say Rafael Nadal, who looked sharp in his return, winning his warm-up in Melbourne. If Djokovic was in his path, it would be hard to see him having enough fitness and firepower to get past him, but in his absence, why not turn back the clock and embrace his role as elder statesman, almost like Pete Sampras winning the US Open in 2002 after everyone thought he was done.
Matt Walsh: It is Medvedev's year. Think back to last Australian Open and how impressive he was; there was talk he should have been favorite against Djokovic after he dropped just two sets on his way to the final, but then Djokovic came out and blitzed him in straight sets. With no Djokovic on the horizon, I think Medvedev is primed to win a second straight Slam title.
Ohm Youngmisuk: I'm going to give the edge to Medvedev over Zverev. Zverev is poised for that Slam breakthrough that could come here. But Medvedev is coming off his greatest win and an historic one at that by derailing Djokovic at the US Open. Already considered a master tactician, Medvedev now knows what it takes to win a Slam. His US Open experience should propel him to another level, especially without Djokovic to deal with.
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Bill Connelly: Daniil Medvedev is good enough on hard courts at this point that it was already a Djokovic vs. Medvedev vs. the Field situation, or close to it. While Djokovic's absence certainly improves the odds for players such as Alexander Zverev, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz -- all originally on Djokovic's side of the draw -- Medvedev is very much the favorite now.
Tom Hamilton: Medvedev has shut himself off from all the outside noise and carried his US Open-winning form over to this year's ATP Cup. If he can get past potential tricky meetings with Nick Kyrgios early on (if Kyrgios tests negative for COVID-19), and then Ugo Humbert in the third round, then he will have the momentum to go all the way.
Aishwarya Kumar: I'm going back and forth between Zverev and Medvedev, but I'm going to say Zverev only because when it comes to big stages and opponents who are seeded higher, Zverev somehow finds it in him to up his game. We saw that at the US Open when he pushed Djokovic to a five-setter and looked like he was going to win it at several points during the match. Then he finished 2021 on a high, beating Djokovic and Medvedev to win the ATP Finals trophy. Since the Tokyo Olympics, which he won, Zverev has won 32 out of the 36 matches he's played -- that's a pretty darn good record.
D'Arcy Maine: There are some potential early tests against Kyrgios and Humbert, but Medvedev enters the tournament brimming with confidence and arguably boasting the best hard-court game currently on tour. When he's at his best and focused, as he was in the US Open final, he is virtually unstoppable. And his momentum has shown no signs of slowing down -- he had a dominant showing in the season-opening ATP Cup with wins over top-10 players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Matteo Berrettini.
Medvedev has proved he can win a major even with Djokovic in the draw -- and across the net in the final -- and now, as the top seed, this is his title to win.
Jake Michaels: It has to be Medvedev. He's the class player in the men's field now that Djokovic has been forced to withdraw, and he will take great confidence from his breakthrough win at last year's US Open. Don't forget, Medvedev cruised to the final last year in Melbourne, where he ultimately lost to Djokovic. That obstacle has gone and he's a better player 12 months on. It's Medvedev's tournament to lose.
Kevin Van Valkenburg: Going to make a sentimental pick here and say Rafael Nadal, who looked sharp in his return, winning his warm-up in Melbourne. If Djokovic was in his path, it would be hard to see him having enough fitness and firepower to get past him, but in his absence, why not turn back the clock and embrace his role as elder statesman, almost like Pete Sampras winning the US Open in 2002 after everyone thought he was done.
Matt Walsh: It is Medvedev's year. Think back to last Australian Open and how impressive he was; there was talk he should have been favorite against Djokovic after he dropped just two sets on his way to the final, but then Djokovic came out and blitzed him in straight sets. With no Djokovic on the horizon, I think Medvedev is primed to win a second straight Slam title.
Ohm Youngmisuk: I'm going to give the edge to Medvedev over Zverev. Zverev is poised for that Slam breakthrough that could come here. But Medvedev is coming off his greatest win and an historic one at that by derailing Djokovic at the US Open. Already considered a master tactician, Medvedev now knows what it takes to win a Slam. His US Open experience should propel him to another level, especially without Djokovic to deal with.
Expert picks: Who will win the 2022 Australian Open?
With Djokovic out of the Australian Open, questions abound. Our experts pick who will win, who will surprise -- and who they'll miss most.
