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Australian Open: Rafael Nadal raises fitness doubts as Nick Kyrgios shuns…

Express Sport brings you all the latest as the world’s best players prepare for the Australian Open.

Tennis stars are preparing for the first Grand Slam of 2024 with the Australian Open now a little over a week away. Players will arrive in Melbourne for the beginning of the tournament on January 14.

Novak Djokovic will hope to defend his crown despite a recent injury scare. The world No 1 suffered a wrist problem in a warm-up competition in Sydney.

There will be returns to Grand Slam action for Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu. Nadal has not played since last year’s Australian Open due to a hip injury, while British sensation Raducanu – who underwent three surgeries last year – has avoided qualifying due to several withdrawals.

Novak Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic is confident that the 24-time Grand Slam champion will be ready for the Australian Open, despite an ongoing wrist injury. The Serbian required medical attention during his United Cup defeat to home favourite Alex de Minaur, prompting questions over his participation at the upcoming Major.

“I think Alex played very well, intelligently from a tactical point of view,” Ivanisevic told Serbian broadcaster B92. “There is a problem with Novak’s wrist, but the most important thing is that he will be ready in 10 or 11 days.

READ MORE:Rafael Nadal shares a heartbreaking information on his health status

“We will take a few days of rest and then start training slowly. It is not a big deal. We came here to play a few matches, and he did. He played three good matches. Maybe yesterday wasn’t the case. It wasn’t a good match from a results point of view, but it was definitely good preparation – and that’s what he needed.