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The biggest names get the biggest courts and the prime-time slots. But the matches worth watching can be squeezed between others far from the main stadiums. Do that research. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy.
MEN
Jannik Sinner.
Jannik Sinner | ItalyAge: 23Ranking: 1*Biggest moment: Bringing joy to redheads everywhere by winning AO 2024
The fleet-footed Italian redhead is defending champion, world No.1, and remains apparently serene, despite some storm clouds overhead off court. He’ll be attempting to emulate the likes of Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as a back-to-back winner in Melbourne.
Alex de Minaur.
Alex de Minaur | AustraliaAge: 25Ranking: 8Biggest moment: Cracking the top 10 in 2024
Shh. Keep it quiet. Because, once again, he’s Australia’s greatest hope of ending a drought stretching back to 1976 – the last time a local won the men’s singles. If he can shut out the hype, and politely refuse requests to be photographed draped in the Aussie flag, the dogged baseliner, now entrenched in the top 10, may yet find his happy ending.
Carlos Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz | SpainAge: 21Ranking: 3Biggest moment: So much, so soon: topping the rankings at age 19
Jordan Thompson.
Jordan Thompson | AustraliaAge: 30Ranking: 27Biggest moment: Slow burner – best results last year
Gaël Monfils.
Gaël Monfils | FranceAge: 38Ranking: 52Biggest moment: Moments (plural) – Mr Charisma anywhere
Catch him while you can. He’s 38 but still one of the most spectacular shot-makers in the game. While never hitting the heights once tipped for him (his highest ranking was No. 6 in 2016), he’s long been a crowd favourite because of his fizz and flair. He likes the Open, too, having twice advanced to the quarter-finals.
Daniil Medvedev.
Daniil Medvedev | RussiaAge: 28Ranking: 5Biggest moment: Winning the US Open in 2021
Frances Tiafoe.
Frances Tiafoe | United StatesAge: 26 (Happy birthday for January 20)Ranking: 17Biggest moment: Reaching the US Open semis in 2022 and ’24
Oh boy, those muscles. Sleeveless shirts were made for this all-American guy. At the last major, the US Open, he came so close to the final. If he gets on a roll, his bazooka serve could take him even further here. The heat doesn’t bother him and he loves a big crowd. Perfect for prime-time viewing.
Adrian Mannarino.
Adrian Mannarino | FranceAge: 36Ranking: 73Biggest moment: Achieving his highest-ever ranking (17) at 35
The French veteran is the ideal answer to the question: Is tennis today all crash, bang, wallop? Well, not when Mannarino, who has twice reached the AO’s fourth round, is your man. His changes of pace, guile and court-craft can leave less versatile players flummoxed and frustrated before they head for the exit.
Alexei Popyrin.
Alexei Popyrin | AustraliaAge: 25Ranking: 25Biggest moment: Winning his first Masters 1000 title; Canadian Open 2024
The lanky young Australian is the anti-Adrian. Power is his middle name, and he harnessed it to full effect in 2024, winning a Masters 1000 title and leaping inside the world’s top 30. Knocking off Djokovic at the US Open en route to the fourth round boosted his confidence, credibility and chances of doing even better here.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard | FranceAge: 21Ranking: 30Biggest moment: Reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2024
Remember this name. All of it. Big predictions are being made about the sky-scraping 21-year-old from Lyon, who didn’t make it through the Australian Open qualifying rounds last January, but then romped into the fourth round at Wimbledon, sending down 51 aces – yes, 51 – in one match. By year’s end, he was being held in seriously high regard.
WOMEN
Aryna Sabalenka.
Aryna Sabalenka | BelarusAge: 26Ranking: 1*Biggest moment: Winning her first grand slam title, AO 2023
She’s the defending champion, winner of last year’s US Open and world No. 1. It gets better: she’s reached the quarter-finals or better in her last seven major tournaments. Plus, the Belarusian is a throwback to the Maria Sharapova shrieking days. Sometimes it’s best to admire Aryna with the volume turned down.
Iga Świątek.
Iga Świątek | PolandAge: 23Ranking: 2Biggest moment: Winning the first (of four) French Open titles in 2020
A Polish problem: why has the winner of five major titles never reached a final in Melbourne? Is it the heat? The balls? The courts? The cuisine? At her best (usually in Paris), she hands out bagels and breadsticks – sets won 6-0 and 6-1. Not so much elsewhere. A change of patisserie could do the trick.
Ajla Tomljanović.
Ajla Tomljanović | AustraliaAge: 31Ranking: 116 Biggest moment: Highest ranking (32) in 2023
Sorry, Ajla, but the pressure is on to reprise past glories (quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, 2022). Health issues derailed her in 2023 and made progress patchy in 2024, but runs to quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022 (see you later, Serena) prove her quality. Deserves a chance to shine.
Coco Gauff.
Coco Gauff | United StatesAge: 20Ranking: 3Biggest moment: Winning the US Open in 2023
Like Alcaraz, Gauff’s achievements belie her age (still 20). Last year, she couldn’t defend her US Open title from 2023, but did reach the semis at both the Australian and French Opens (she also snared a doubles title at the French). She finished 2024 as world No. 3 and winner of the WTA Finals. There’s nothing but blue skies ahead for this young American.
Qinwen Zheng | ChinaAge: 22Ranking: 5Biggest moment: Striking gold at the Paris Olympics 2024
Qinwen Zheng
The 22-year-old Chinese slugger surprised many (though not herself) by reaching last year’s AO final. Then proved this was no fluke by striking gold at the Paris Olympics, defeating Swiatek (on Iga’s favourite court) along the way. She finished the year well inside the top 10 and with unfinished business in Melbourne.
Olivia Gadecki.
Olivia Gadecki | AustraliaAge: 22Ranking: 106Biggest moment: Becoming the highest-ranked Australian woman
Fellow Queenslander Ash Barty is both a fan and mentor. Last year, Gadecki posted solid wins over former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and AO finalist Danielle Collins – results that helped her achieve her best ranking to date inside the top 100. The January heat won’t worry the 22-year-old. As Barty might say: bring it on.
Victoria Azarenka.
Victoria Azarenka | BelarusAge: 35Ranking: 22Biggest moment: Winning her first grand slam title – the AO in 2012
Australian Open champion in both 2012 and 2013, the veteran took time off for motherhood and then bounced back, reaching the semis in Melbourne in 2023 and the fourth round last year. Her endurance is admirable. Like fellow Belarusian Sabalenka, she plays without a “mute” button. Should they play each other, you’ll hear all about it.
Katie Boulter.
Katie Boulter | United KingdomAge: 28Ranking: 23Biggest moment: Achieving her best ranking (23) in 2024
Britain’s No.1 ranked woman is absolutely not here because of her relationship with “our Alex”. (Though, who’s not a sucker for a love story?) Following strong results last year, she has hit her highest singles ranking to date – 23 – and claimed the title of best‑performing Brit. Having now also earned honorary Aussie status, she’s bound to be a fan favourite if she chalks up some wins.
Jelena Ostapenko.
Jeļena Ostapenko | LatviaAge: 27Ranking: 17Biggest moment: Winning the French Open, 2017
Having put Latvia on the tennis map by snaring the 2017 French Open, she’s channelled Ol’ Blue Eyes by doing things her way ever since. That means thumping the ball as hard as possible, whenever possible, and occasionally tangling with an official or opponent, depending on her mood. Never dull. Often noisy.
Jasmine Paolini.
Jasmine Paolini | ItalyAge: 29Ranking: 4Biggest moment: Achieving her best ranking (4) after turning pro in 2011
The Italian makes up for her lack of height with outsized pluck and power. A fourth-round result in Melbourne last year didn’t hint at what followed: runs to the finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, followed by the doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics. She finished 2024 at No. 4 in the world and plans to climb even further.
WHEELCHAIR EVENTS
Heath Davidson.
Heath Davidson | AustraliaAge: 37Ranking: 8*Biggest moment: Winning the first of four AO doubles titles in 2018
The Australian is ranked eighth in the world in Quad Singles – Dylan Alcott’s feature event – last year reaching the AO quarter-finals. He’s made the semis at both the Australian and French Opens and was runner-up at Wimbledon in 2023. The 37-year-old won four AO doubles titles with Alcott and last year reached the second round with Canadian Robert Shaw.
Diede de Groot.
Diede de Groot | NetherlandsAge: 28Ranking: 1 (both singles and doubles)Biggest moment: Winning the first (of many) grand slam titles at Wimbledon in 2017
Where do you start? The Dutch wheelchair player, aged 28, has racked up an astonishing 42 major titles in women’s wheelchair events: 23 in singles and 19 in doubles, including both in Melbourne last summer. Oh yes – she also tops the world rankings in both singles and doubles.
Tokita Oda.
Tokita Oda | JapanAge: 18Ranking: 1Biggest moment: Winning the French Open in 2023
A star in men’s wheelchair tennis. Still a teenager (the Japanese gun will turn 19 in May), he will be the defending champ in singles, having also been runner-up (with compatriot Takuya Miki) in the doubles. Having announced himself with victory at the 2023 French Open, after just turning 17, he now tops the world rankings.
Yui Kamiji.
Yui Kamiji | JapanAge: 30Ranking: 2Biggest moment: Winning the Grand Slam of doubles titles in 2014
The Japanese veteran, aged 30, must have an inkling of what it was like to be playing against someone like Serena Williams in her pomp. Kamiji is ranked just behind De Groot in both women’s wheelchair singles and doubles; she was runner-up (to you-know-who) at the 2024 AO. Last year, she added a pair of Paris Olympic gold medals to her imposing collection of 28 major titles.
* Rankings by the ATP, WTP and ITF for January 6, 2025.
