Australian Open 2025: Players to watch

Major tennis tournaments are like an inverted pyramid or upside-down iceberg. There’s much more at the ­bottom than the top. The Australian Open’s fortnight is a battle of attrition, with the number of competitors going down, down, down, until just a handful remain.

Finals get the focus and record audiences but, for spectators, there’s much more going on in the early rounds. More matches, more surprising results, a better chance of seeing players who are worth watching and possibly may never be back in town again. A little homework pays off. Scan the schedules and underline the names of former champions, veterans with flair and a little less leg-speed than before, and youngsters being touted as “Next Big Things”. There are fewer things in sport more ­satisfying than being able to say of a finalist, “Ah yes, I saw him/her close-up on Court 17 just a few years back when nobody knew who they were.”

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 | Italy
Age: 23
Ranking: 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 | Australia
Age: 25
Ranking: 8
Biggest 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 | Spain
Age: 21
Ranking: 3
Biggest moment: So much, so soon: topping the rankings at age 19

It’s ridiculous. He’s 21, has been world No. 1, and has won three of the four major ­titles. The only one missing? The AO. Nobody will be more aware of this than Alcaraz, who now, with Rafa Nadal in retirement, is everybody’s
favourite Spaniard. He’s already established ­intriguing rivalries with Sinner and Djokovic – and is never, ever dull.

Jordan Thompson | Australia
Age: 30
Ranking: 27
Biggest moment: Slow burner – best results last year

After a groundbreaking year in which he won an ATP singles title and the US Open doubles, the veteran Australian made his way into the world top 30 – which was appropriate as he also turned 30. He has all the shots and, more importantly, a pirate’s beard. Tennis needs a hairy champion, so back the bristles.

Gaël Monfils | France
Age: 38
Ranking: 52
Biggest 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 | Russia
Age: 28
Ranking: 5
Biggest moment: Winning the US Open in 2021

Every family show needs a pantomime villain; the lanky Russian has embraced the role. He’s overdue for a break. Three times he’s been runner-up in Melbourne. Twice – in 2022 and then last year – he led two sets to love in the final. One more set, Daniil, just one, and you can scrap your ­self-deprecating concession speech.

Frances Tiafoe | United States
Age: 26 (Happy birthday for January 20)
Ranking: 17
Biggest 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 | France
Age: 36
Ranking: 73
Biggest 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 | Australia
Age: 25
Ranking: 25
Biggest 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 | France
Age: 21
Ranking: 30
Biggest 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 | Belarus
Age: 26
Ranking: 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 | Poland
Age: 23
Ranking: 2
Biggest 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 | Australia
Age: 31
Ranking: 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 | United States
Age: 20
Ranking: 3
Biggest 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 | China
Age: 22
Ranking: 5
Biggest moment: Striking gold at the Paris Olympics 2024

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 | Australia
Age: 22
Ranking: 106
Biggest 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 | Belarus
Age: 35
Ranking: 22
Biggest 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 | United Kingdom
Age: 28
Ranking: 23
Biggest 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.

Jeļena Ostapenko | Latvia
Age: 27
Ranking: 17
Biggest 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 | Italy
Age: 29
Ranking: 4
Biggest 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 | Australia
Age: 37
Ranking: 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 | Netherlands
Age: 28
Ranking: 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 | Japan
Age: 18
Ranking: 1
Biggest 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 | Japan
Age: 30
Ranking: 2
Biggest 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.

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.