Djokovic's advantage, Gauff's growth: Lindsay Davenport shares what to look for in Melbourne

Less than a week prior to the 2023 Australian Open, with the same clear and direct manner that earned her three Grand Slam singles titles (including the 2000 Australian Open), Tennis Channel analyst Lindsay Davenport took time Tuesday to share her views on a wide range of topics pertaining to the tournament, notable men’s and women’s hopefuls, and even a few thoughts on how tennis might better organize itself.

Any discussion about the Australian Open must surely zero in rapidly on Novak Djokovic, back Down Under in pursuit of a tenth men’s singles title. “He is obviously ready to go in January,” said Davenport.

“There’s no doubt he knows what he has to do, he's ready to play. He's obviously so comfortable moving on the hard courts. For maybe some of us that didn't move so well, it's so hard to watch him because he makes it look so easy, right? In and out of the corners, changing directions, keeping so centered, the balance. He is really one of the first tennis players to come along that is flexible like a gymnast. He is quick like a sprinter. Keeps his balance and changes direction with ease. That kind of flowing ability, that kind of balance, gives him such a huge advantage against everybody else.”

As far as other men’s contenders go, Davenport is intrigued about the possibilities of a wave of young North American hopefuls. Talking about her fellow Southern Californian, Taylor Fritz, Davenport said, “He looked good at the United Cup. He’s going to make a pretty big breakthrough at a Slam.”

Regarding Fritz’s compatriot, Sebastian Korda, who last week in the final of Adelaide 1 held a championship point versus Djokovic before losing that match in three sets, Davenport was impressed by his improved serve. According to Davenport, “Now we just have to see physically if he can handle three-out-of-five sets and how many of those matches in a row.”

Then there’s the Canadian, Felix Auger-Aliassime. Said Davenport, “He trusts his game and backs it in the biggest moments, where maybe it took him an extra year or so to get to that point.”

He looked good at the United Cup. He’s going to make a pretty big breakthrough at a Slam. —Lindsay Davenport on Taylor Fritz

And what of the defending champion, Rafael Nadal? “I think that he needs a good first week to really give him that kind of extra push and confidence to get through the second week,” said Davenport.

“We all know he can do it, right? We all know that he has the ability. Looks like physically he's doing better, doesn't have the ab issue. Hopefully that stays away. His foot seems to be okay. I think he needs a couple of matches where he plays really well early on in Melbourne, doesn't get too fatigued out there, doesn't get injured, gets that confidence up. If he's able to enter the second week with that kind of belief, then look out. Everybody knows that.”

Assessing the women’s field, world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, and Coco Gauff were among the contenders Davenport cited. Speaking about Gauff, Davenport said, “I think really the sky's the limit for her. The arc of her potential, I think she can continue to keep on improving for years. . . Everything about her game got better.

“The forehand, she can manage it really well at times. It's obviously not a huge strength right now, but I think her other strengths on the court, her movement. I think her serve has gotten much, much better. Much more consistent. We didn't see the double faults like we've seen a couple of years before. You know she's been working really hard on that. Her backhand is one of the best in the business. You know what she does better than anyone else? Finish points at net. If she sees a short ball, she never back pedals. So many players get in the mid-court, they don't trust themselves or have that experience. This is a huge advantage for her, that ability. Seamless.”

Beyond the Australian Open, Davenport cited a couple of ways tennis might change. Inside the lines, she now believes it would beneficial to abolish let serves. “There’s too many that aren’t called,” she said. “There’s too many problems that come around it. I’m around to that maybe the last two years or so.”

Beyond the lines, Davenport addressed scheduling. “I actually wish that we could, for pro tennis specifically, kind of start over with the calendar,” she said. “It's always hard to have a major in week three of the new season. It's incredibly difficult to play two majors on two different surfaces, now I get it with three weeks. Ideally you would have a longer runway into Australia played in March. You would maybe have the French in May, Wimbledon... You would just try to space it out a little bit better, give the players a little bit more time to be at their absolute best for those tournaments.”