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Trio each has chance to overhaul injured Alcaraz in Melbourne
Three players have something more than just the opening Grand Slam crown of the year to play for at the 2023 Australian Open. Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas all start their campaigns knowing they will become the new No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings by lifting the trophy in Melbourne.

World No. 3 Ruud can also claim top spot by reaching the final, as long as neither Djokovic nor Tsitsipas wins the title. If none of those scenarios play out, the reign of current World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, not playing in Melbourne due to injury, will continue.

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World No. 5 Djokovic arrives in Melbourne as one of the title favourites. He has won a record nine Australian Open titles, owns an 82-8 tournament record, and began his 2023 season in impressive fashion by lifting his 92nd tour-level trophy at the Adelaide International 1. He can return to World No. 1 for the first time since 6 June by winning his record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

The 35-year-old Serbian also has past experience on his side when it comes to battling for the top ranking. The seven-time year-end No. 1 has spent 373 weeks as World No. 1 across his career, longer than anyone else in history.

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The No. 3-ranked Ruud is chasing his maiden Grand Slam crown in Melbourne and achieving the feat would give the Norwegian double cause for celebration. He would become the first Norwegian World No. 1 at the age of 24, having already become the first ATP Tour titlist, Nitto ATP Finals competitor, and Grand Slam finalist from his country.

Should both Djokovic and Tsitsipas fall before the final in Melbourne, Ruud can seal top spot by reaching the championship match. He made that stage twice at Grand Slams in 2022, at Roland Garros and the US Open, where he was beaten by Alcaraz in what was a straight shoot-out to become World No. 1. Ruud’s current best showing at the Australian Open is a fourth-round appearance in 2021.

Like Ruud, Tsitsipas is aiming for his maiden major crown and to become World No. 1 for the first time. The World No. 4 can count on vocal crowd support in Melbourne, which is home to a large Greek community, and his record there suggests the 24-year-old relishes the vibrant atmosphere. Tsitsipas reached the semi-finals in 2019, 2021 and 2022, and holds a 15-5 tournament record overall.

The nine-time ATP Tour titlist Tsitsipas must win the title in Melbourne to become World No. 1. The closest he has come to victory at a Grand Slam was at Roland Garros in 2021, when he fell to Djokovic in a five-set thriller.

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios seeded to meet Ram/Salisbury in quarter-finals
Top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski could face Stefanos Tsitsipas and Petros Tsitsipas in a popcorn second-round clash at the Australian Open following the doubles draw Sunday.

The Dutch-British pair, who lifted seven tour-level titles in 2022, are aiming to win their maiden Grand Slam title as a team and will open against John-Patrick Smith and Alexander Bublik. If Koolhof and Skupski can negotiate through the field, they are seeded to meet sixth seeds Harri Heliovaara and Lloyd Glasspool in the quarter-finals. Haliovaara and Glasspool have already tasted success this year, lifting the trophy at the Adelaide International 1.

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Fourth seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic are potential semi-final opponents for Koolhof and Skupski at the hard-court major. The Croatians arrive in Melbourne in impressive form, having lifted the title in Auckland. The 2021 Australian Open semi-finalists open against Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni.

In the bottom half, reigning champions Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios start their title defence against Nicolas Barrientos and Ariel Behar. In a tough draw, the Australians could play 2018 finalists Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the fourth round and 2020 champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in the quarter-finals. The American-British tandem Ram and Salisbury start against Marcos Giron and Constant Lestienne.

Third seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Marcelo Arevalo start against Diego Hidalgo and Emil Ruusuvuori, while fifth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek play Marcelo Melo and Mackenzie McDonald.