Overview
- Novak Djokovic said he can "beat anybody" when healthy but admitted he's "missing a little bit of juice" in his legs before opening against Pedro Martinez on Rod Laver Arena.
- The 10-time Melbourne champion skipped Adelaide to rebuild after niggles, is chasing a 25th major without calling it now-or-never, and explained his recent exit from the PTPA over governance concerns.
- Emma Raducanu's pre-season was curtailed by a right-foot bone bruise that limited practice and led to a United Cup withdrawal, and she lost in the Hobart quarter-finals to Taylah Preston.
- Arriving in Melbourne on Friday, Raducanu was slated for the second night slot on Sunday on Margaret Court Arena against debutant Mananchaya Sawangkaew and called the late start and minimal acclimation "very difficult."
- Sports scientist Stephen Smith cautioned that overloading a bone bruise risks a stress fracture, while Mats Wilander forecast that Raducanu may only be positioned to win a couple of matches this fortnight.