Australian Open 2014: Players Gaining Momentum Ahead of Year’s First Grand Slam

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: January 7, 2014

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The 2014 Australian Open is on the horizon as tennis' best prepare to ring in the new year with one of the season's most grueling Grand Slam tournaments. 

Defending men's and women's champions Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka enter the year's first massive test with a chance to win for the fourth and third straight time, respectively. But with a deep field of challengers and the pressure mounting on each, nothing will come easy.

Wondering which dark-horse contenders could possibly shred their hopes Down Under?

Below we'll highlight a few players gaining key momentum ahead of the season's first major.

 

Lleyton Hewitt 



Veteran Aussie Lleyton Hewitt has never won his home Slam, coming closest in 2005 as a finalist. However, a brilliant start to 2014 has the 32-year-old on everyone's radar coming into Melbourne. 

Hewitt is coming off a strong run in Brisbane to begin the new year, where he defeated Roger Federer in the tournament final. The world No. 43 dropped just two sets en route to his 29th career singles title.

Having won a pair of Grand Slams in the past, Hewitt is well aware of what it takes to go the distance at a two-week-long major tournament like the Australian Open, per BBC Sport: 

If I play like I did this week I have a chance of doing damage to some serious players. It gives me a lot more confidence going out there believing in how well I'm hitting the ball at the moment and that I can match up with the best guys.

Remember, Hewitt lost in straight sets in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open and won't be lacking motivation to come out firing in 2014.

 

Ana Ivanovic



A finalist in Australia back in 2008, Serbia's Ana Ivanovic is an outside contender to keep an eye on this January in the women's draw. 

While she's ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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