At the 2023 Australian Open, three players have more on the line than just the first Grand Slam title of the year. By winning the championship in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas will all begin their seasons as the new No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
As long as neither Djokovic nor Tsitsipas win the championship, world No. 3 Ruud can also reclaim the top rank by making the final. Djokovic has an amazing 82-8 tournament record, a record of nine Australian Open titles, and he started the 2023 season by winning his 92nd tour-level trophy at the Adelaide International 1.
Meanwhile the No. 3-ranked Ruud is vying for his first Grand Slam victory, which would give the Norwegian double reason to celebrate. Tsitsipas too is aiming for his maiden major crown and to become World No. 1 for the first time. The reign of current World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who will not compete in Melbourne due to injury, will continue if none of those outcomes occur.