Ricky’s picks for the Australian Open males’s and girls’s singles occasions

The Australian Open will get underway on Sunday, so it’s time to make my picks for the title.

On the ladies’s facet, Aryna Sabalenka is a substantial favourite–and for good purpose. She is the world No. 1 and two-time defending champion in Melbourne. The Belarusian additionally triumphed on the U.S. Open in 2024, so she has been dominant on the hard-court majors in current seasons.

Nevertheless, I can’t look previous Coco Gauff. The third-ranked American wrapped up final yr with the WTA Finals title and she or he opened this one by going 5-0 in singles en path to United Cup glory for america. Gauff beat each Iga Swiatek and Karolina Muchova in straight units at that group competitors, so she is on an absolute roll. Relationship again to 2024, the 20-year-old is driving a nine-match successful streak.

Gauff finds herself in Sabalenka’s half of the draw, however the excellent news is that she wouldn’t should face both Swiatek or Elena Rybakina till the championship match.

All issues thought-about, I like Gauff to safe her second Grand Slam title.

Sinner is a heavy favourite on the boys’s facet, however I truly suppose it’s fairly huge open. The world No. 1 and defending champ nonetheless has a doping scandal hanging over his head; it received’t be solved till no less than April, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a distraction. Carlos Alcaraz has been inconsistent since successful the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024, Alexander Zverev has by no means received a significant, and Novak Djokovic is 37 years outdated. No person is a slam dunk.

That’s why I believe the door remains to be open for Djokovic. Being in Alcaraz’s part of the bracket isn’t ultimate, however Djokovic beat the Spaniard in one of the crucial essential matches of his profession final summer time–the gold-medal match on the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, Djokovic is a 10-time champion at Melbourne Park. That is his favourite match…besides when he will get deported and banned!

Does Djokovic have another slam left in him? In all probability. And if he does, it can virtually definitely be in Australia.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.