The Australian Open main draw is approaching, with players gearing up for the first Grand Slam tournament of 2025.
Players have been competing at warm-up tournaments in Brisbane, Adelaide, Hong Kong, Auckland, Sydney, and Perth for the United Cup.
This has produced some surprising results, including Novak Djokovic losing to Reilly Opelka in the Brisbane International quarter-finals.
These shocks are set to continue at the Australian Open, with Grand Slams renowned for producing some surprising results.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas is a former Australian Open finalist, having lost to Djokovic in the showpiece match just two years ago.
However, the Greek star struggled for form in 2024 and dropped outside the top 10 for the first time in five years.
Tsitsipas has revealed his goal to return to the top 10, but faces a tough opener at the Australian Open.
The current world number 11 will play talented young American Alex Michelsen, who is currently at a career-high ranking after a breakout season in 2024.
Michelsen also has the bragging rights in his head-to-head with Tsitsipas, having beaten him at the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo last year.
Both players will be sensing an opportunity if they win this match, as the winner will play either a wildcard in James McCabe or qualifier Martin Landaluce.
Alex de Minaur
Alex de Minaur enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, having broken inside the top 10 for the first time after adding two titles to his resume and reaching three Grand Slam quarter-finals.
It appears that the Australian has continued that form into this year, having won both of his singles matches at the United Cup and De Minaur also impressed in an exhibition win over Carlos Alcaraz.
On top of that, De Minaur has been given a big fitness boost, after revealing that he was feeling pain free from a hip injury that he endured in the second half of the 2024 season.
That all being said, De Minaur has been handed a tricky Australian Open draw against Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp.
Despite being ranked down at world number 82, Van de Zandschulp produced some big results towards the end of last season.
This included stunning Alcaraz at the US Open, beating the four-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets.
De Minaur will be wary of this, and will want to avoid an early upset in front of his home crowd at the Australian Open.
Hubert Hurkacz
Hubert Hurkacz has made some big changes during the off-season, after ending his long-term coaching relationship with Craig Boynton.
Boynton was then replaced by two former top players, with Hurkacz hiring both Ivan Lendl and Nicolas Massu for the 2025 season.
The Pole has had mixed results so far this year, having won only two of his five singles matches at the United Cup.
Hurkacz is unlikely to find things much easier with his first round draw at the Australian Open, as the 18th seed is set to play Tallon Griekspoor.
Despite being the seeded player, Hurkacz and Griekspoor are level in their four previous meetings, with the latter winning their most recent match in Rotterdam last year.
First-round matches at the Australian Open will begin on Sunday January 12.
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