Expert Picks: Predicting the 2023 Australian Open's champions, sleepers and disappointments

WATCH ABOVE: Mark Knowles and Jimmy Arias take a look at the Top 16 seeds slated to compete in the women's and men's singles draws at the 2023 Australian Open.

FULL DRAWS: Click here to view the view the complete men's and women's brackets.

Men's Sleeper

Peter Bodo—Sebastian Korda: A runner-up in three of his last four tournaments, including a quality three-set loss to Djokovic just days ago. Does the 22-year old, just one spot off his career-high ranking, have the overall fitness to win a major?

Joel Drucker—JJ Wolf: Not saying he’ll win the title, but possible second-rounder against Schwartzman could be a fine chance for this ascending American to earn a notable victory.

Matt Fitzgerald—Borna Coric: He has proven himself capable of stringing together quality wins on outdoor hard courts (recall Cincy last year), and his section presents a nice opportunity to heat up again.

David Kane—JJ Wolf: The flashy American could make a splash in his Australian Open debut, in a section with a slumping Schwartzman and a rusty Zverev.

Jon Levey—Sebastian Korda: The American impressed in Adelaide, putting Djokovic on the ropes in the finals. He’s got a tough opener against Garin, but overcoming an early challenge can get the train rolling.

Stephanie Livaudais—Dominic Thiem: The 2020 finalist showed encouraging signs at the end of his comeback season, and now has a chance to cause a bit of draw chaos, should he make it past an out-of-sorts Rublev in his opener.

Steve Tignor—Sebastian Korda: The young American was in form in Adelaide, where he had a match point against Djokovic. Here he could be in for a showdown with Medvedev in the third round.

Women's Sleeper

Peter Bodo—Barbora Krejcikova: She’s a former French Open champion and reached the quarters in Melbourne last year, but the world No. 21 hasn’t generated much buzz—despite roaring back from injury in mid-2022 to win two titles.

Joel Drucker—Barbora Krejcikova: Seeded 20th, if the 2021 Roland Garros champion can navigate past compatriot Kvitova in the third round, she has enough skill and variety to go quite further.

Matt Fitzgerald—Zheng Qinwen: Assuming her Adelaide 2 withdrawal was precautionary, the 20-year-old has all the makings of a player capable of going deep.

David Kane—Leylah Fernandez: The Canadian plays her best tennis under a spotlight, and could get a shot at the newly-minted WTA Finals champ Garcia in the second round. Does another deep Slam run await?

Jon Levey—Zheng Qinwen: The 2022 WTA Newcomer of the Year, Zheng has big strokes and burgeoning confidence. A meet-up with Gauff in the third round would be a young guns showdown.

Stephanie Livaudais—Elena Rybakina: From surprise Wimbledon champion to Grand Slam sleeper pick in less than a year, Rybakina is someone whose best work happens under the radar. After a few rounds to work out her nerves, she could easily catch fire in a section anchored by Swiatek and Collins.

Steve Tignor—Ajla Tomljanovic: Even after a career year in 2022, she comes to her home major unseeded. But she’s already proven she has second-week-at-the-Slams game.

Men's Disappointment

Peter Bodo—Jannik Sinner: The former No. 9 seems to have gotten lost in the young-gun shuffle while the likes of Rune and Ruud flourished. Sinner is just 7-6 since his US Open quarterfinal loss to Alcaraz.

Joel Drucker—Andrey Rublev: Has yet to soar at a major. With a potential fourth-round match against either Rune or Kyrgios, it’s not easy to see Rublev justifying his No. 5 seed.

Matt Fitzgerald—Holger Rune: His first time as a Top 10 major seed doesn’t come easy. Could find a tricky second-round test with Cressy, and is projected to face Kyrgios directly after.

David Kane—Rafael Nadal: He hasn't looked sharp to start the season and is in a section beset by in-form Americans—and that's assuming he gets past Next Big Brit Draper.

Jon Levey—Hubert Hurkacz: There’s so much to like about Hurkacz’s game, except for his consistency at Slams. The worst of it so far has been in Australia, where he’s just 2-4 in his career.

Stephanie Livaudais—Rafael Nadal: Still looking for his first win of 2023, Rafa hasn’t gotten in the reps he’d prefer before a Slam, and didn’t look fully fit at United Cup. None of this is unusual, but it’s hard to call him a tournament favorite in his current state.

Steve Tignor—Matteo Berrettini: He made the semis last year, but is seeded just 13th this time; he could get a test from local Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round.

Women's Disappointment

Peter Bodo—Aryna Sabalenka: She's ranked No. 5 and has won 11 WTA main-tour events. But despite reaching three Grand Slam semifinals, she consistently has trouble handling big-match pressure.

Joel Drucker—Danielle Collins: The No. 13 seed has reached just one semi since her run to the final last year. Possible early-round opponents are formidable: the versatile Muchova and/or the Wimbledon champ Rybakina.

Matt Fitzgerald—Caroline Garcia: As inspiring to see CarGar’s 2022 journey end with the WTA Finals crown, anything short of a career-best major run here would feel inadequate.

David Kane—Jessica Pegula: The American hit a high plateau in 2022; can she keep climbing at her most successful Slam? Her WTA Finals performance cast doubt on whether she's ready to be a Top 3 player, and she drew some tricky youngsters in her section.

Jon Levey—Aryna Sabalenka: She could win the tournament or flame out early in the first week. With possible early tests from Rogers and Muguruza, the latter feels more likely.

Stephanie Livaudais—Anett Kontaveit: Ranked No. 2 just a few months ago, Kontaveit hasn’t bounced back after COVID-19 derailed her 2022 season. She’s now 0-2 on the year, and feels like a nonfactor at her most successful Grand Slam event.

Steve Tignor—Caroline Garcia: If her career history is any guide, this could be the time for the No. 4 seed, and WTA Finals champion, to start coming down to earth.

Men's Champion

Peter Bodo—Stefanos Tsitsipas: It’s time for still Slam-less No. 4 to close the deal, and all of his excruciatingly close matches with Djokovic (and others) have prepped him for a breakthrough.

Joel Drucker—Novak Djokovic: Hungrier than ever after missing the last Aussie Open as well as the last Slam. Flawless preparation and as buttoned-up a playing style as tennis has ever seen make him exemplary Down Under.

Matt Fitzgerald—Novak Djokovic: Good draw + Extraordinary record in Australia + Putting 2022 Down Under behind him = 10th Australian Open crown

David Kane—Novak Djokovic: To pick against Djokovic is to pick the field, which feels exceedingly foolhardy given the once and future world No. 1's absurd momentum and zen-like comfort on Melbourne's hard courts.

Jon Levey—Novak Djokovic: He hasn’t lost a match at this tournament since 2019, and has won the championship nine times. Best not to overthink this one.

Stephanie Livaudais—Novak Djokovic: The Djokovic Revenge Tour stops in Melbourne next week. If his Adelaide run is anything to go buy, there’s no one who can stop him from reclaiming his Australian Open crown for the tenth time

Steve Tignor—Novak Djokovic: He does have Kyrgios in his quarter, but he doesn't have Alcaraz in the draw. Either way, he's been the best player in the world since the US Open.

Women's Champion

Peter Bodo—Jessica Pegula: The surface in Rod Laver Arena suits her game perfectly; moreover, she seems grounded and poised, more than capable of rising to the challenge of becoming the next American Grand Slam champion.

Joel Drucker—Iga Swiatek: Only a zoning Danielle Collins kept her from reaching last year’s final. Swiatek has since concurrently improved and generated superb results. Will be interesting to see what dimensions she continues to add.

Matt Fitzgerald—Jessica Pegula: If it’s gonna happen, this is a good time for the No. 1 American to see it through. And if she and Iga clash again, it’ll mean Jessie snapped her winless streak in major singles quarterfinals.

David Kane—Aryna Sabalenka: Is this, at last, Sabalenka's moment to win a Slam? She's in a comfortable section after carrying her WTA Finals form to an Adelaide title. Should Swiatek look less than her best, the tiger could pounce.

Jon Levey—Ons Jabeur: Ons' half of the draw seems the more gettable. She has made the previous two Slam finals, and the third time will result in her first major title.

Stephanie Livaudais—Aryna Sabalenka: Picking up where she left off at the WTA Finals, Sabalenka exorcised her service demons in Adelaide and lifted the trophy. She’s reached three career Slam semifinals and won doubles in Oz in 2021—and the next step looks closer than ever.

Steve Tignor—Aryna Sabalenka: It's a risk picking the hot-and-cold Belarusian to do anything, but she has put her 2022 slump behind her—and she has to win a Slam someday, right?