In Melbourne, it’s Novak Djokovic versus Nick Kyrgios right away.

Tasty appetizer between two of the favorites to win the Australian Open finals

Protagonists of a beautiful final in the Wimbledon theater last July 10 – a match that sealed the seventh victory on London’s Championships grass for Novak Djokovic, who on the occasion also touched the peak of 21 career Slams won – the Serbian champion and Nick Kyrgios, the home idol of the Australian public, warm up their engines ahead of the first Slam of the season.

Placed in the inner circle of favorites for the final victory, the two will treat themselves – and the public – to a tasty appetizer on Jan. 13, just three days before the main draw of the Australian Open. The occasion is provided by the training-exhibition session dubbed ‘The Arena Showdown,’ which will take place on Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, which will host matches of a completely different kind from Jan. 16-29. The two athletes will test their form against each other. Tickets for the event-which is open to the public, and whose proceeds will go to the Australian Tennis Foundation for charity-have sold out immediately within hours.

Novak Djokovic, known to all as Nole, is considered one of the best tennis players in history by virtue of records and titles won. In 2021, he came close to achieving the Grand Slam feat only achieved by Rod Laver in the Open Era in 1969 – but was defeated in three sets by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the Us Open final. The Serb is, moreover, the tennis player who has finished the season the most times (7) as No. 1 in the ATP ranking, as well as holding the all-time record of having spent a total of 373 weeks at the top of that ranking.