LIVE: Forgotten threat to Djokovic coronation

Rarely, possibly never, has a 4th effect been specified a short priced favourite for a expansive slam tourney but Novak Djokovic is nary mean player.

The Serbian's satellite ranking has dropped owed to his good documented refusal to get vaccinated for COVID-19 but astir experts expect him to romp to a record-extending 10th Australian Open title.

One starring bookmaker has him astatine $1.83 to assistance the silverware but Wally Masur has identified the 2 players astir apt to upset the pome cart.

The Australian tennis large likes the look of the in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas but besides past year's losing finalist Daniil Medvedev.

The Russian was the favourite successful Djokovic's lack past twelvemonth but the decision to Rafael Nadal successful an epic come-from-behind last seems to person enactment him successful a tailspin.

Medvedev has dropped to eighth successful the satellite rankings with John McEnroe saying "he ne'er recovered from his mislaid Australian Open final."

But Masur begs to differ.

"Daniil Medvedev, not overmuch speech astir him but he's conscionable made the semi-final of a starring lawsuit (losing to Djokovic successful the Adelaide International)," Masur said connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily preview show.

"I similar him due to the fact that I deliberation the 5 acceptable format - he's similar h2o dripping connected your forehead.

"He conscionable ne'er goes away. He's truly hard to beat, 1 of the large antagonistic punchers.

"We're not talking astir him arsenic overmuch arsenic we whitethorn person successful erstwhile years but I really deliberation on with Tsitsipas, he's a existent threat...

"He's been there, done that and he's so, truthful hard to bushed implicit 5 sets."