Tim Henman gives his Australian Open verdict – and he is not backing Jannik Sinner

The verdicts are in from the greats of the tennis world ahead of the Australian Open and former British No 1 Tim Henman has broken rank by predicting Jannik Sinner will be dethroned as champion in Melbourne.

Sinner’s pre-tournament plans have been rocked by the news that the appeal launched by the World Anti-Doping Agency into his failed drug tests last year will be heard on April 16-17 at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Now the Italian needs to block out the noise around him building up to the first Grand Slam of 2025, even though he knows this is likely to be the last major he plays this year if the appeal goes against him.

Sinner faces a minimum one-year suspension if he loses his appeal and the turmoil that case is creating has to affect his mindset ahead of his Australian Open defence.

Here are the verdict from the star-studded Eurosport and discovery+ broadcast team ahead of the Australian Open, with Grand Slam champions Boris Becker, Justine Henin and Mats Wilander joining Alex Corretja and Henman in casting their vote for a winner of the men’s title in Melbourne.

Tim Henman (Former British No 1)

I believe the winner will come from (Carlos) Alcaraz, Sinner, (Novak) Djokovic, or (Alexander) Zverev. If I had to pick one, I’d go with Alcaraz. I’d say Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the two main favourites, especially after their performances last year, where they won all four Grand Slams between them.

Players like Matteo Berrettini or Cameron Norrie could cause upsets. Both have the experience and talent to make deep runs. Denis Shapovalov is another to watch, as he’s been playing better recently.

Boris Becker (three-time Wimbledon champion)

I wouldn’t focus on the rankings. I’d go with Sinner, Alcaraz, Zverev, and Djokovic. Those four are my favourites. Hopefully, they all stay healthy and make it through the first week. We’ll take it from there.

Mats Wilander – Eight-time Grand Slam champion

I’ll go with the two number ones, Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka. Both are strong hard-court players and have won major titles recently. Sinner and Sabalenka are slight favourites, though not as dominant as past champions like Djokovic or Serena. Still, they’re the top contenders in my eyes.

Novak (Djokovic) is still a contender, especially at the Australian Open, where he’s won ten times. Five-set matches help him at his age. He could also do well at Wimbledon, but I think Australia is his best shot this year. There’s a lot of pressure on players mentally early in the season, but Novak thrives in that environment.

Alex Corretja (former world No 2)

Sinner and Alcaraz are strong contenders but don’t rule out Djokovic. Zverev also has potential, given his experience. The Australian Open is always unpredictable, as it’s the first big event of the season, and players come in with different levels of preparation. Players like Ruud could surprise too, depending on their form.

You should never doubt legends like Novak. He’s proven us wrong many times. Hiring Andy Murray shows he still believes he has something to prove. This year will be crucial for him, but I wouldn’t count him out. He and the other legends have that special quality that sets them apart from regular players.

Justine Henin (former world No 1)

I’d go with Jannik Sinner. Djokovic and Alcaraz are likely to face each other in the quarters, which makes things tricky. Alcaraz had a tough start to last year, but his motivation to start strong this season is huge. He can handle the pressure, so he’s my favourite.