Sinner, Sabalenka favourites for Australian Open: Sania Mirza

Bengaluru: The passing of the baton is nearing completion. A new generation of tennis players have taken over the realms of what once was in the larger part of the 21st century. 

As the new season in the sport’s international calendar gets underway, the year’s first Grand Slam - the Australian Open, also known as the happy Slam - begins on January 12 with fans letting go of the old to settle in for younger heroes to follow and admire.

Among those who took tennis to greater heights in the last two decades stands a lone representative - Novak Djokovic, still hungry as ever to chase his 25th Slam and extend the lead from his greatest rivals Roger Federer at 20 and Rafael Nadal at 22 trophies, both now retired. 

And according to Sania Mirza, though the front-runners this time might be the current World No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, something about Djokovic and the Australian Open, which he has won 10 times, still makes him the favourite.   

“Novak always brings in something special to the Australian Open all the time. You can’t ever write him off,” says Sania, former tennis player and multiple doubles Grand Slam champion. 

“To be very honest, on the contrary, it’s going to be a problem for the other title contenders because nobody wants to see Djokovic in the quarterfinals. They would rather play him in the finals,” she offers based on the fact that the 37-year-old has a win-loss record of 94-9 and a clean sheet in the 10 finals since debuting in 2005. 

In an interview mid-season last year, the former world no. 1 had termed the competition at the highest level without his two biggest rivals - Federer and Nadal - as ‘strange’. So does the tournament not having the other two of the ‘Big 3’ change the equation for Djokovic? 

“It’s unfair to say that he doesn’t have the best opponents. Of course we will miss watching their iconic rivalry because we were so used to it. But, I think Novak is taking this new situation in his stride and knows what he is up against now,” says Sania who is rooting for Sinner to be the winner in the men’s singles come January 26. 

Speaking about the Serb’s move of bringing in another one of his rivals - Andy Murray - into his team as coach, Sania feels it will add more excitement into the mix.

“It’s super cool. At this point in Novak’s life he is looking for someone to motivate him and to keep him going. Who better than one of your greatest rivals and competitors? I’m actually excited to see Andy in the box and how much he has to say.” 

Sabalenka hat-trick?

From a player who was termed ‘a choker’ a few seasons ago, Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka has turned the tables to become one of the most dreaded opponents on the women’s side. 

Having won the event in 2023 and 2024, the 26-year-old World No. 1 is once again pitted to be the hot favourite to get her hands on the title to make it three in a row in Melbourne. 

“She has come together really well as a complete player. She had that kick on her serve where she was making so many double faults,” expressed Sania who feels USA’s Coco Gauff will be the other player to watch out for. 

“But Aryna has worked on herself mentally, physically and has a great team. She has proven to everybody how a player can turn things around. I mean, her serve now is one of the strongest on the tour.” 

(Australian Open will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Ten 2, Ten 5 & Sony LIV from January 12)