Tim Henman named some of his favourites for the Australian Open title.
Every player will be aiming to start 2025 with a bang when the season commences Down Under.
With one of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments in the game on offer at the start of the year, players have very little time to ease their way into the season.
Therefore, it remains to be seen who has what it takes to find their form straightaway and chase glory at the Australian Open.
Sometimes it can be difficult to select a winner for the Australian Open given it starts so early in the season. Therefore, Tim Henman decided to base his predictions on form, meaning he has to look back at the 2024 season.
After doing so, the former British number one selected Aryna Sabalenka as his favourite for the women’s title. On the other hand, Henman found it difficult to name just one male player to lift the Australian Open title.
“I probably will go on form. I think on the women’s side, I think Sabalenka was rightly the player of 2024. She played so well on hard courts and has such a big game,” Henman told Sky Sports.
“I think she has got rid of some of the serving issues on second serve, so I think she is definitely the player to beat.
“In the men’s Alcaraz and Sinner are the favourites but Djokovic has won 10 down there, he knows what it takes. With Murray in his corner it will be interesting to see how he fares.”
It comes as no surprise that Henman views Sabalenka as the favourite for the Australian Open title.
She will enter the 2025 edition of the event as the two-time defending champion and Sabalenka finished a great 2024 campaign as the World number one.
Sabalenka also claimed the US Open in September, meaning she has not lost a Grand Slam match on hard courts since the 2023 US Open and it would take something special to beat Sabalenka at Melbourne Park in January.
Jannik Sinner is the ATP’s number one and also won the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. He will face stiff competition from Carlos Alcaraz, who is trying to become the youngest man to win all four Grand Slams if he triumphs at Melbourne Park.
Of course the record 10-time winner Novak Djokovic, cannot be ruled out given his success at the tournament. He now may have an edge over his opponents after hiring Andy Murray as his coach, as Djokovic goes in search of a 25th Grand Slam title.
Related Posts