Meet each Aussie on this yr’s Open

Withdrew from this week’s Adelaide Worldwide after choosing up a glute subject in Brisbane final week, however declared on Thursday he could be match to face fellow Australian Marc Polmans within the first spherical. Ten-time champion and world No.1 Novak Djokovic possible awaits the winner in a frightening second-round match-up. Popyrin loved a powerful 2023 season, and has at all times revelled in enjoying at Melbourne Park, together with his five-set upset of American Taylor Fritz final yr.

Max Purcell

Age: 25
Rating: 45
Greatest AO end result: R1 (2020, 2023)

What a distinction a yr makes. The vastly improved Purcell battled via qualifying in 2023 to make his second main-draw look, however is now on the cusp of a slam seeding. This time round, Purcell will tackle a qualifier. The 2022 Wimbledon doubles champion centered extra on singles final yr and celebrated his top-100 debut by March and went on to make the Cincinnati Masters quarter-finals, the place he pinched a set off Carlos Alcaraz.

Jordan Thompson

Age: 29
Rating: 47
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2017, 2019-20)

Added the legendary Rafael Nadal’s scalp within the Brisbane Worldwide quarter-finals to his large profession wins, together with over Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andy Murray. Thompson is a greater participant than his Melbourne Park file suggests and simply wants some luck along with his draw. He begins towards countryman Aleks Vukic, however will face No.7 seed and final yr’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas or Matteo Berrettini within the second spherical if he advances.

Aleks Vukic

Age: 27
Rating: 63
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2022)

Vukic is an archetypal late bloomer who needed to do the laborious yards on the decrease reaches of the tour earlier than breaking into the highest 100 for the primary time in Might final yr earlier than reaching his first ATP remaining in Atlanta two months later. Cuts an imposing determine on the courtroom and his victory over top-20 rival Borna Coric on the Toronto Masters proved he can compete with top-liners. Fellow Sydneysider Jordan Thompson is his first-round opponent.

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Age: 27
Rating: 68
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2014-15, 2021, 2023)

Kokkinakis’ hype nonetheless outweighs his output to this point. His serve and forehand can blow away even essentially the most cussed and prime quality of opponents, evidenced by top-10 victories over Roger Federer, Andrey Rublev and Raonic. Nevertheless, Kokkinakis has by no means produced the consistency required to be ranked higher than No.65. He’ll must be at his finest to beat Sebastian Ofner, then possible No.13 seed Grigor Dimitrov, the Brisbane champion.

Rinky Hijikata

Age: 22
Rating: 70
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2023)

The youngest of Australia’s 9 males within the high 100, Hijikata received final yr’s Australian Open doubles title with countryman Jason Kubler – however making the final 16 in singles on the US Open actually turned heads. Packs a punch from the baseline, notably for somebody of 178 centimetres and 72 kilograms, and has the power to make life uncomfortable for the world’s finest. Hijikata will hope to do precisely that to German twenty fourth seed Jan-Lennard Struff.

Chris O’Connell

Age: 29
Rating: 71
Greatest AO end result: R3 (2022)

Surprised Diego Schwartzman en path to the spherical of 32 on the Australian Open two years in the past, and has been entrenched within the high 100 since late 2022 after some early profession struggles with harm and cash. O’Connell reached the third spherical at Wimbledon and defeated the likes of Zverev, Roberto Bautista Agut, Botic van de Zandschulp and Lorenzo Sonego final yr. Cristian Garin can be a check in his first-round conflict.

James Duckworth

Age: 31
Rating: 96
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2012-13, 2015, 2021)

Duckworth has overcome myriad accidents and surgical procedures to battle his approach again inside the highest 100 forward of the Melbourne Park grand slam after qualifying then advancing to the Brisbane quarter-finals. A robust run at Challenger degree on the finish of final yr adopted him sneaking into the US Open as a fortunate loser. Newly married, Duckworth will look to proceed his momentum on the Australian Open towards French teenager Luca Van Assche.

Jason Kubler

Age: 30
Rating: 112
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2023)

Kubler’s rating is again in triple figures after one other knee harm – the curse of his profession – sidelined him after final yr’s US Open, earlier than he performed doubles alongside Hijikata on the year-ending ATP Finals. The Aussie pairing certified due to famously, and shockingly, profitable final yr’s Australian Open doubles title. Kubler will meet Colombia’s Daniel Elahi Galan within the first spherical as he bids to return to the highest 100.

Marc Polmans

Age: 26
Rating: 156
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2020)

Anybody within the know will let you know Polmans is without doubt one of the hardest staff in Australian tennis. An ankle surgical procedure noticed his rating balloon past 300 however he greater than halved it whereas enjoying greater than 100 matches final yr, to attain himself an Australian Open important draw wildcard. Polmans joked this week he needed to keep away from Novak Djokovic within the first spherical however was blissful to play him second-up. That could be a actuality if he can defeat countryman Alexei Popyrin.

Adam Walton

Age: 24
Rating: 176
Greatest AO end result: Debut

One other success story from the US faculty system. Graduated in 2022 from the College of Tennessee – a program numerous Australians have gone via – with All-American honours and new-found confidence he might make it as an expert participant. Walton has not stopped climbing the ATP rankings since, and a maiden Challenger title in August helped him rating an Australian Open wildcard. Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi awaits him.

James McCabe

Age: 20
Rating: 278
Greatest AO end result: Debut

Who was the one participant to hit with Djokovic on Rod Laver Area earlier than the world No.1’s controversial deportation in 2022? The reply is McCabe. He additionally sparred on courtroom frequently with Nick Kyrgios, and was enjoying Dominic Thiem in Brisbane qualifying when a snake slithered on courtroom. However the big-striking wildcard is graduating to the large leagues after slashing 130 spots off his rating final yr. Begins towards American Alex Michelsen.

Omar Jasika

Age: 26
Rating: 341
Greatest AO end result: R2 (2016)

Jasika is lengthy faraway from his teenage prodigy days, when he turned the primary participant in 28 years to win each the US Open boys’ singles and doubles titles in 2014. He appeared destined for large issues, however for numerous causes he struggled to make the transition to the lads’s tour, together with a constructive cocaine check that resulted in a two-year ASADA ban. However Jasika has labored laborious to make it again and can face ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz after qualifying for his dwelling slam.

Dane Sweeny

Age: 22
Rating: 257
Greatest AO end result: Debut

Sweeny peaked at No.21 within the junior rankings however continues to be making his approach on the principle tour, so his effort to qualify for his first grand slam important draw is a titanic enhance, particularly to his coffers. He’s assured a $120,000 payday, even when he falls brief towards Argentine No.22 seed Francisco Cerundolo. Sweeny additionally certified and received a spherical on the Shanghai Masters in October, so he’s on the right track.

WOMEN’S DRAW