Australian Open 2017: Top 5 contenders for the title

4) Milos Raonic

Raonic last year made his first Grand Slam final – and his form indicates he could well repeat the feat

Raonic might not have had the ideal starts to the year, having failed to defend his Brisbane title from last year, but there's been such a stark, visible improvement in his ground game. Raonic has been putting in constant work on his fitness, and it clearly reflects on court.

Beating Nadal or not beating Nadal is a different thing, but the fact that he was able to match Rafa shot for shot in their rallies at the recently concluded Brisbane International quarter-finals, says a thing or two about the progress the 6ft 5in Canadian has made in his groundstrokes.

His forehand down the line is one of the best in the game now, and the best part is that he's not afraid to use it at crucial junctures in the match. And with the kind of serve that he possesses, Raonic will definitely be a force to be reckoned with at the Open this year.