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Australian Open: Players to watch

The first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, is fast approaching and there will be plenty of players that believe they have the credentials to claim major silverware.

The Australian Open, which takes place at Melbourne Park, is one of the early sporting highlights of the year and it attracts the best male and female tennis players in the world.

Jannik Sinner is the defending men’s champion, with the world number one claiming the Australian Open title before enjoying a stellar campaign, while Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her crown in the women’s event.

The tournament takes place from Sunday 12th January until Sunday 26th January, which will be the date of the men’s final. The women’s final is the headline on Saturday 25th January.

To increase the excitement ahead of the first tennis major of 2025, we take a look at two players from both singles competitions that could be worth watching.

Australian Open

Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev will start the Australian Open at a career-high ranking of number two and the German is surely edging ever closer to claiming a maiden Grand Slam title.

While Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could dominate the ATP Tour for many years to come, there are still plenty of bright days ahead for Zverev, who enjoyed a fruitful 2024 with Masters 1000 titles in both Paris and Rome.

The German also finished runner-up to Alcaraz at the French Open, which was his second Grand Slam final defeat, while he was an Australian Open semi-finalist, which highlights his versatility regarding the surface.

The 27-year-old had made at least the quarter-final in 11 of his last 17 Grand Slam appearances and that consistency at the top should soon be rewarded.

Zverev has already been in competitive action this season, representing Germany in their United Cup defence, and he should be sharper than most as he bids to hit the ground running in Melbourne.

Being second seed should also provide him with a generous early draw and will mean that he avoids defending champion Sinner until at least the final, meaning that he could go well at 10/1 for those looking for some value.

Jack Draper

Jack Draper enjoyed a sensational 2024, which featured taking home titles in Stuttgart and Vienna as well as finishing runner-up to Sinner at the US Open final.

It is now time for the British number one to kick on and, providing he stays healthy and injury free, then he could have a big season, starting with a successful run at the Australian Open.

Draper is evidently considered to be British tennis’ next up-and-coming star and the 23-year-old is at a career-high ranking of 15, which provides him with better opportunities for success.

The Londoner is armed with one of the ATP Tour’s most devastating serves and his power and athleticism make him a formidable opponent, so there is a chance he could outrun Australian Open title odds of 60/1.

Qinwen Zheng

Sabalenka is rightly favourite for the Australian Open and, while she may be tough to stop in her pursuit of a third straight win at Melbourne Park, Qinwen Zheng should soon have her say in Grand Slam events.

The 22-year-old was Sabalenka’s final victim last season and she went on to make the US Open quarter-final, while also claiming Gold medal at the Paris Summer Olympics with her victory over Dona Vekic.

The 22-year-old is the world number five and she has very few weaknesses to her game, which was evident on her run to last season’s WTA Finals, where she bumped into a determined Coco Gauff.

The Chinese star should challenge for at least one Grand Slam title this season, such is her versatility regarding surface, and at 16/1 she shouldn’t be underestimated in Australia.

Mirra Andreeva

Mirra Andreeva has long been touted as a future Grand Slam champion, such is the noise she has created in her early days on the WTA Tour.

The Russian made her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open last season while she is also already a two-time finalist on the WTA Tour, claiming her first title at the Iasi Open in Romania in July.

Andreeva made three WTA 1000 quarter-finals last season, which further highlights her capabilities, and on natural ability alone she is a danger to all providing she keeps her emotions intact.

The world number 16 looks like a star of the future and she could be ready to make her make this season, with her odds of 25/1 for the Australian Open more than worth a second glance.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.

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