While the likes of Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray remain strong favourites to take the title at the Australian Open starting next Monday, there are quite a few players who could surprise us at the Open. A rejuvenated Federer, a resurgent Dimitrov, a confident Nadal, & a motivated Kyrgios can surely spoil the party that people are expecting the Serb and the Brit to have at Melbourne Park.
Let us take a closer look at the players who could cause some serious damage in Melbourne.
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#1 Roger Federer
This is surely the biggest story at this year's Australian Open. Tennis fans can hardly imagine Grand Slams without Federer, for he had taken part in 65 consecutive Grand Slams, starting from 1999. This streak was halted at the French Open last year, due to an injury.
He would then also go on to miss the US Open a few months later. It goes without saying that the Swiss maestro was dearly missed at these two Grand Slams, and his fans would really look forward to watching him play in Melbourne.
Federer has worked really hard in the off-season, training with Lucas Pouille and coach Ivan Ljubicic in Dubai. He made his return to competitive tennis at the Hopman Cup last week, in a tournament that acts as preparation to the first Grand Slam of the year.
Out of the three singles matches he played, he won comfortably against Britain's Dan Evans & France's Richard Gasquet, and lost a very close match to Germany's Alexander Zverev. But the best part of his campaign at the Hopman Cup was that he bettered his performances with every match.
Without even exaggerating, he looked like Roger Federer of the old in the match against Richard Gasquet, hitting backhand winners at will, a proof of him getting his old touch back.
Federer last won a Grand Slam in 2012, but has always looked dangerous to win another one. He reached three Grand Slam finals after that, losing to Novak Djokovic on all three occasions. It's just the last step that was missing. Federer fans would be hoping that his six-month hiatus from the game might just act as the magic potion that would help him take that final step.
Also Read: What Should You Expect From the Big Four in 2017?
#2 Rafael Nadal
"If I didn't believe I could win, I would have been home fishing." These are the words Nadal has said heading into his Australian Open campaign. Even though the Spaniard might not have been in the best of forms lately, one can never write him off.
His 2016 season was plagued by injuries, but 2017 already promises to be better. Nadal started the season with a title at the Mubadala Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi, defeating the likes of Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych on his way to the title.
While one might argue that it was not a big event, Nadal looked in prime touch. A few of the shots that he hit on the dead run, gave fan glimpses of the old Rafa. And with a player as great as Nadal, it's the winning feeling that matters. If the confidence is there, he can rattle any opposition. And that title at Abu Dhabi would have given him exactly that.
Also, for the first time ever, Nadal has decided to make changes to his coaching team. Nadal, who has been coached by uncle Toni Nadal ever since he held a racquet, has roped in former Grand Slam champion Carlos Moya to help him with his game, who is working alongside Toni.
This clearly shows how eager Rafa is to win big titles again, and we might just see that happening in Australia in a couple of weeks' time.
Also Read: 5 Reasons why Rafael Nadal is set for a resurgence in 2017
#3 Nick Kyrgios
According to a recent analysis done by the ATP in association with Infosys, Nick Kyrgios's serve is better than the likes of Pete Sampras & Roger Federer. The fact that he had 13.8 aces per match in average last year only adds weight to these claims. The huge serve enables Kyrgios to get out of tricky situations in a match, fending off break points at will.
One area of concern for the Australian could be the freakish injury he suffered to his left knee while playing basketball. It has had him racing against time to be fit for his home Grand Slam. But Kyrgios is not thinking about the injury too much, as he looks to give it his all in Melbourne.
“I’m going to lay it all on the line in Melbourne. Whether it hurts or not, I’m going to push it to the limit,” he said.
Kyrgios is one player who likes the big stage. Having made the quarter-finals at the Australian Open two years back at the age of 19, he had given ample indication of the enormous potential he possesses. And the Australian has gotten so much stronger and fitter since then.
Buoyed by the vociferous Australian crowd, there's absolutely no one that Kyrgios can't beat in the playing field.
#4 Grigor Dimitrov
The 25-year-old from Bulgaria has had a dream start to the season, winning the ATP 250 Brisbane International last week. This was his first ATP title since winning the Queen's Club Championships in 2014. It will act as a huge morale booster to him for the rest of the season.
Dimitrov has always been one player who has been over-pressurized by the weight of expectations, having names like "Baby Federer" dished out to him at a very young age. His perfect start to the season will definitely help him in his quest to finally realise the extraordinary potential that he possesses.
In Brisbane last week, he beat three top-10 players, namely Thiem, Raonic and Nishikori, back-to-back, on his way to the title. To put that achievement into context, he had three top 10 wins in all of 2016.
A little bit of time away from the game has done him a world of good. “I played motor bikes, we played cars, basketball. Every time I was going to bed, I was, like, Wow, that feels so good," said Dimitrov, when quizzed about his sudden rich vein of form in Melbourne.
His fans would be hoping that he carries this same state of mind 850 miles down south to Melbourne.
#5 Alexander Zverev
19-year old Alexander "Sascha" Zverev is exactly what tennis needs. A young superstar, who can challenge the big guys. Zverev has done exactly that. At just 19, he's already won his first ATP title, has beaten top players like Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, & Tomas Berdych on the ATP Tour.
But the tall, lanky German hasn't exactly been able to replicate these performances at Grand Slams, his best effort being reaching the Round of 32 at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2016. Zverev's never made it past the first round in Melbourne, but with the kind of improvement he's shown towards the end of last year, there's no reason why he can't have a big run next week, especially with his brand of power tennis.
Zverev's backhand is as powerful as most player's forehand on tour. Same is the case with his second serve, that would put most players' first serve to shame. Add them to an ever-improving forehand, & this Australian Open could be the big breakthrough that this German teenager and his fans are passionately dreaming of.
Also Read: 5 Breakthrough Performers from 2016 in Men's Tennis (ATP)
