Australian Open: Andrey Rublev, Naomi Osaka, Denis Shapovalov and other young players to watch

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  • One the rise: Andrey Rublev.

    A host of 20-year-olds like Jelena Ostapenko, Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic have already made waves on tour: Ostapenko won the French Open last year, Zverev ended 2017 ranked No. 4 in the world and Bencic was world No. 7 two years ago before injuries slowed her down but the Swiss is currently on a 15-match winning streak and climbing back up the rankings.

    The Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan introduced to the world some of the brightest young prospects in the men’s game, but there are many more to keep an eye on over the next 12 months.

    Here are some 21-and-under players to watch at next week’s Australian Open…

    ANDREY RUBLEV

    The young Russian ended 2017 by making the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals, and started 2018 by reaching the final in Doha, where he lost to Gael Monfils. Rublev, ranked a career-high No. 32 in the world, is already a Grand Slam quarter-finalist (US Open 2017). He hits a big ball and has a quirky personality.

    The 20-year-old was handed a tough opener in Melbourne though. He faces ex-world No. 3 David Ferrer in the first round and could take on third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the last-32. The good news for Rublev is that he actually beat Dimitrov, in straight sets, at the US Open last year en route to the quarter-finals. If he gets past Ferrer, he could get the confidence he needs to cause some major upsets Down Under.

    NAOMI OSAKA

    The 20-year-old Japanese has made the third round in five of the seven Grand Slam main draws she’s participated in so far in her young career. A power-hitter with impressive composure on the court, Osaka‘s highlights from last season include wins over Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams.

    Agnieszka Radwanska, a player with high tennis IQ, told Sport360 in an interview last year that she thinks Osaka plays “adult tennis”. “That surprises me. I think she thinks I’m like a brainless ball-basher,” said a self-deprecating Osaka in response.

    Osaka peaked at 40 in the world in 2016 (was named WTA Newcomer of the Year), and is currently at No. 70. Come for the fiery groundstrokes, stay for the hilarious press conferences!

    Osaka was drawn in Simona Halep’s quarter of the Australian Open draw and could face home favourite and No. 18 seed Ashleigh Barty in what would be a must-see third round.

    ALEX DE MINAUR

    To put it simply, Alex de Minaur is just pure fun. The 18-year-old, ranked 167 in the world, is already proving to be a smash hit this Australian summer, making the semis in Brisbane last week — taking out Milos Raonic along the way — and backing that up by reaching the final in Sydney this week (faces Daniil Medvedev).

    He drew Tomas Berdych in the first round of the Australian Open and the way things are going so far this month, it’s actually looking like a tough draw for the veteran Czech rather than De Minaur.

    CHUNG HYEON

    The Next Gen ATP Finals champion hit a career-high No. 44 in the rankings last year and started 2018 with an impressive win over world No. 25 Gilles Muller in Brisbane. The South Korean upset John Isner in Auckland this week en route to the quarter-finals. He has a difficult Australian Open draw, facing last year’s quarter-finalist Mischa Zverev in the first round, before possible showdowns with Thanasi Kokkinakis or Alexander Zverev.

    ASHLEIGH BARTY

    One of the most enjoyable players to watch on the WTA tour, we’re all thankful Barty did not stay too long away from tennis, having spent a stint pursuing a cricket career. Seeded 18 in Melbourne, Barty heads to the Australian Open with lots of confidence, courtesy of her final showing in Sydney this week (plays Kerber in the final on Saturday). She’s in a difficult section of the draw, alongside top-seeded Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Osaka.

    DENIS SHAPOVALOV

    The Canadian teen is probably the most exciting of the young crew. From his attacking one-handed backhand to his fearlessness on the court, the left-handed Shapovalov has already claimed big scalps in his young career, defeating both Juan Martin del Potro and Rafael Nadal en route to the semis at the Masters 1000 in Canada in 2017, before reaching the fourth round at the US Open, as a qualifier.

    He takes on fellow Next Gen player Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open first round and is in a loaded section of the draw with Nick Kyrgios, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Grigor Dimitrov and Rublev.

    CORENTIN MOUTET

    Perhaps less-touted than the players listed above, this 18-year-old wildcard could be France’s next big hope. Ranked 155 in the world, Moutet went on a tear on the Challenger and Futures circuit towards the end of last year, winning 28 of 31 matches in the span of two months, that included claiming a first Challenger title in Brest, France. He will make his Grand Slam main draw debut against Italian Andreas Seppi in the first round in Melbourne.

    MARKETA VONDROUSOVA

    The latest talented lefty to come out of the Czech Republic, the 18-year-old Vondrousova is the youngest player in the WTA top-100. She won 17 tour matches in a row last year, claiming a maiden WTA title, as a qualifier, in Biel, before winning a $100k in Trnava then reaching the French Open second round as a qualifier.

    The world No. 66 faces Japan’s Kurumi Nara in the Australian Open first round before a possible clash with eight-seeded Caroline Garcia.

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