Hindi English Translation || Editorial || The first of the four: On the 2023 Australian Open

The first of the four: On the 2023 Australian Open

The Australian Open is set for intense (गहन) play despite (इसके बावजूद) the absence of a few stars

Popularly known as the ‘Happy Slam’, the Australian Open has been anything but in recent times. Unprecedented (अभूतपूर्व, अपूर्व) bushfires, COVID-19 lockdown (A restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely) restrictions and Novak Djokovic’s unsavoury (Objectionable or distasteful) deportation (निर्वासन) over his unvaccinated status marred (हानि पहुंचाना, बिगाड़ना) the competition in each of the previous three years. But come Monday, as the 2023 edition of the tournament gets underway, the season’s first Major looks set to regain its free-spiritedness. So unshackled (स्थिर होना) is the atmosphere that even COVID-positive players can compete, a far cry from the happenings of the last two years. It is expected that the on-court action would march in step, despite the absence of the now-retired duo of Roger Federer and Ash Barty, two-time Australian Open women’s singles champion Naomi Osaka, and the reigning (शासन-राज्य) men’s World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic’s mere presence makes him the automatic favourite, for Melbourne is to him what Paris is to Rafael Nadal. The Serb has won the event nine times, an Open Era (युग, वर्ष, काल) record, and was undefeated in his last 21 matches at the site. He has also warmed up well by securing the tune-up in Adelaide after saving a match-point in the final against Sebastian Korda. Nadal — the top seed, defending champion and a men’s record 22-time Major winner — looks underprepared, but as the Spaniard proved in 2022, he is not one to be discounted.

Among women, all eyes will be on World No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. A disappointing loss to Jessica Pegula in the United Cup and a right shoulder injury may have affected her preparations, but the Pole is still the player to beat. Second seed Ons Jabeur, who has emerged (उभरना, प्रकट होना) as a solid all-court threat, will look for her maiden (A young unmarried girl) Slam title after finishing as runner-up at the Wimbledon and US Open last year. The championship will also be an opportunity for the next rung of players to stake claim as the stranglehold (बोलबाला, निरोधन) of the ‘Big Three’ (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic) will only loosen going forward and the women’s game has already moved into the post-Barty, post-Serena Williams era. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion and a two-time finalist in Australia; Casper Ruud, runner-up at two of the four Majors in 2022; Stefanos Tsitsipas; and Felix Auger-Aliassime will all want to come good. So will the in-form American Pegula, also the third seed; Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia; Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka; and the continuously rising Coco Gauff.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Ought (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - अवश्य होना, चाहिए
English Meaning - Used to indicate duty or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions.

2.Perennially (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - निरंतर, बराबर
English Meaning - In a way that lasts or exists for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.

3.Legislature (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - विधान - सभा, विधान मंडल
English Meaning - The legislative body of a country or state.

4.Despite (Preposition)

Hindi Meaning - इसके बावजूद
English Meaning - In spite of

5.Intense (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - गहन
English Meaning - Having or showing strong feelings or opinions; extremely earnest or serious.

6.Unprecedented (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अभूतपूर्व, अपूर्व
English Meaning - Never done or known before.

7.Deportation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - निर्वासन
English Meaning - the action of deporting a foreigner from a country.

8.Mar (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - हानि पहुंचाना, बिगाड़ना
English Meaning - To damage or harm.

9.Unshackled (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - स्थिर होना
English Meaning - release from shackles, chains, or other physical restraints.

10.Reign (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - शासन-राज्य
English Meaning - The period during which a sovereign occupies the throne.

11.Era (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - युग, वर्ष, काल
English Meaning - A long and distinct period of history with a particular feature or characteristic.

12.Emerge (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - उभरना, प्रकट होना
English Meaning - To come out.

13.Stranglehold (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बोलबाला, निरोधन
English Meaning - a place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld.

14.Transient (Noun)

English Meaning - A person who is staying at a place only for a short time.

15.Lockdown (Noun)

English Meaning - A restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely.

16.Unsavoury (Adjective)

English Meaning - Objectionable or distasteful.

17.Maiden (Noun)

English Meaning - A young unmarried girl.