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Our own 'Big 4' looking to upset the order at the 2015 Australian Open

Roar Rookie
19th December, 2014
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Bernard Tomic has missed out on qualifying for the Australian Open. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
Roar Rookie
19th December, 2014
1

It’s been 38 years since Mark Edmonson lifted the Norman Brookes trophy to be Australia’s last Open champion, so how are we looking in 2015?

Despite the constant reports of the demise of Australian tennis, this summer sees the first of what should be a generation of prosperity from our local stocks.

2014 saw the emergence of Nick Kyrgios, a young, incredibly gifted athlete from the ACT who on the way to the Wimbledon quarters knocked off 14-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal. What was more impressive however was the way he did it, Kyrgios showed he has the weapons to cause headaches for the sport’s best for years to come.

In the aftermath of Wimbledon we saw Bernard Tomic win his second ATP title and perhaps just remind the Australian public that he should not be written off.

Both Tomic and Kyrgios are former Australian Open Boy’s Champions and both will be looking to ascend to the senior crown this year.

Behind these two we have another name you shouldn’t forget. Thanasi Kokkinakis has done an outstanding job this year, raising his ranking to 150 and after winning a round at last year’s open he will be doing everything he can to defend those points in 2015. Kokkinakis possesses a huge serve and at 1.96 metres tall and only 18 years of age he is one breakthrough win away from becoming a force on the tour.

And of course it would be ill of me not to mention Australia’s most successful Davis Cup player. Lleyton Hewitt enters what will be his 19th consecutive Australian Open and while he is in the twilight of his career, don’t be surprised if he is still around at the beginning of the second week.

So who can make a charge at this year’s title? For me it has to be Tomic.

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At 22 his time is now, and while he still has time the clock is begging to tick on the boy wonder. What Tomic does better than most in the men’s game is read a situation and more importantly an opponent.

Tomic has blasted opponents off the court in the past only to come out in his next round and run rings around his rival with placement and finesse. The challenge for him is to do it consistently for seven matches straight.

What is certain is the stranglehold the Big 4 have had on the game is coming to an end. With two new grand slam winners in 2014, the time for the next generation to seize control is 2015.

Can our Aussie boys climb to the top?

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