Australian Open Countdown I: Players to watch and Absentees

Djokovic’s preview would be here, but he’s had his visa revoked and lucky loser Salvatore Caruso has taken his spot in the draw. The 2022 Australian Open starts without the number one seed, and with only one former winner in the draw, Rafael Nadal, who is the fifth seed. 

There are four former grand slam winners in the draw; Medvedev, Nadal, Cilic and Murray.

Now it looks like we’ll be getting a first time winner for the first time since 2014. Medvedev and Zverev are the two most likely candidates in the men’s draw.

The women’s draw starts with 14 former grand slam winners, four of which have won the Australian Open before: Osaka, Kenin, Kerber and Azarenka.

All four of last year’s slam winners are starting, Osaka, Krejcikova, Barty and Raducanu.

Previewed Players

Medvedev (2)

Zverev (3)

Tsitsipas (4)

Rublev (5)

Nadal (6)

Sinner (11)

Karatsev (16)

Barty (1)

Sabalenka (2)

Muguruza (3)

Krejcikova (4)

Sakkari (5)

Kontaveit (6)

Osaka (13)

Raducanu (17)

Others to watch

Berrettini (ITA) (7)

Ruud (NOR) (8)

Felix Auger Aliassime (CAN) (9)

Hurkacz (POL) (10)

Norrie (GBR) (12)

Denis Shapovalov (CAN) (14)

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) (15)

Monfils (FRA) (17)

Fritz (USA) (20)

Evans (GBR) (24)

Cilic (CRO) (27)

Harris (RSA) (29)

Alcaraz (ESP) (31)

De Minaur (AUS) (32)

Korda (USA)

Murray (GBR) (WC)

Kokkinakis (AUS) (WC)

Swiatek (POL) (7)

Badosa (ESP) (8)

Jabeur (TUN) (9)

Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (10)

Kenin (USA) (11)

Halep (ROM) (14)

Svitolina (UKR) (15)

Kerber (GER) (16)

Kvitova (CZE) (17)

Pegula (USA) (18)

Mertens (BEL) (20)

Bencic (SWI) (22)

Fernandez (CAN) (23)

Azarenka (BLR) (25)

Missing in action

Djokovic (nine time AO winner)

-world number one

-visa revoked

Federer (six time AO winner)

-world number 16

-Knee injury

Wawrinka (2014 AO winner)

-world number 103

-injury

Thiem (2020 US Open)

-world number 15

-wrist injury

Nishikori (former world number four)

-world number 46

-hip injury

Raonic (former world number three)

-world number 69

-thigh injury

Pliskova (2021 wimbledon finalist)

-world number five

-hand injury

Brady (2021 finalist)

-world number 28

-foot injury

Muchova (2021 semifinalist)

-world number 31

-injury

Andreescu (2020 US Open champion)

-world number 44

-injury

S. Williams (five time AO winner)

-world number 59

-recovery time needed

V. Williams (seven time grand slam winner)

-world number 316

-ranked too low