What’s happening Down Under?
What’s happening Down Under?At the age of 21, Australia’s Bernard Tomic will start the 2014 season as the No.1 ranked Aussie on the ATP World Tour, although that sounds impressive, the reality is that Tomic is not currently ranked among the world’s Top 50 players. Bernie will start 2014 ranked No.51 in the world and he will no doubt be keen to see that ranking rise in the coming season, Tomic is one of four Australian’s currently ranked inside the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings:
- No. 51 Bernard Tomic
- No. 60 Lleyton Hewitt
- No. 61 Marinko Matosevic
- No. 68 Matthew Ebden
With the 2014 Australian Open to be held in Melbourne now only one month away, the local Aussie players will be putting in plenty of training hours to attempt to shine on home soil in mid January, however from the list above, it would be a brave person who predicts a home grown Grand Slam title in Melbourne. Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No.1 and 32 year old veteran of the ATP tour, will compete in his 18th Australian Open in Melbourne and “Rusty” always seems to rise to the challenge when playing in front of his home fans.
Nick Kyrgios
However, it is a big serving 6’4” 18 year old by the name of Nick Kyrgios that many believe will be the next big thing in Australian tennis. The native from Canberra with the Greek surname got his first taste of Grand Slam action last season, beating Czech Radek Stepanek in the first round at Roland Garros and then coming through qualifying at the US Open before eventually going down to fourth seed David Ferrer in the first round.
Kyrgios is currently ranked No.182 having improved his ranking by some 652 places last season, the talented young Aussie has been battling an irritating elbow injury recently though, so he will most likely need to be granted a wildcard to compete in Melbourne in 2014….can Kyrgios get fit and break into the Top 100 in 2014?
By Tony Watson
