Fellow world No.1 Iga Swiatek enters the women’s event with the favoured status, as well, but has the likes of defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and US Open winner Coco Gauff to contend with, as well as four-time major champ Naomi Osaka, who is making her comeback to the sport after giving birth to her first child last July.
Djokovic was meant to be joined by fellow legend Rafael Nadal, who made his return to the sport after an 11-month layoff last week in Brisbane. But Nadal re-injured his hip, withdrawing from the event on Sunday (7 January) with a vow to be back on court later this year.
That leaves the challenge for generation next to try and dethrone Djokovic, led by Italian Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, the reigning Wimbledon champion.
Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka lead women’s field
Women’s world No.1 Swiatek has been in fine form after bowing out of the US Open in the fourth round as defending champion. She is 17-1 since then, winning titles in Beijing and the WTA Finals to close 2023 and leading Team Poland to the United Cup final last week, where she and Hubert Hurkacz finished as runners-up to Germany (led by Zverev and another mum on the comeback, Angelique Kerber).
Swiatek will have the strong play of Sabalenka and Gauff to contend with, Sabalenka finishing runner-up in Brisbane (to Elena Rybakina) and Coco repeating as champion in Auckland. Those four – Swiatek, Sabalenka, Rybakina and Gauff – will be the top four seeds when the draw is made on Thursday (11 January).
Osaka and Kerber lead a collection of mums at the event, which also includes 2018 winner Caroline Wozniacki, who played several events in mid-2023, her first action since giving birth to two children.
Another mum, Elina Svitolina, looks to continue her strong showings at the majors since she came back in April of last year. She was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in July.
Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova and runner-up Ons Jabeur, are among the top eight seeds, while American Jessica Pegula is eyeing a first-ever major semi-final.
There are plenty of darkhorses to keep an eye on, including former world No.1 and two-time AO champ (2012 & 13) Victoria Azarenka, as well as rising Chinese star Zheng Qinwen.
