There will be no shortage of stars at the Great Ocean Road Open (Melbourne 2), one of two ATP 250s (with the other one being the Murray River Open) being held alongside the ATP Cup from 31 January to 6 February.
Leading the way will be former World No. 3 and three-time Grand Slam champion Stanislas Wawrinka, Aussie powerhouse Nick Kyrgios and Canadian Next Gen ATP star, Felix Auger-Aliassime. Wawrinka, ranked No. 18 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings, is the highest-ranked entrant in the field. The Swiss professional, who went 15-8 in 2020, will try to lift his first ATP Tour trophy since May 2017 in Geneva.
On the other hand, Kyrgios has always enjoyed competing at home, and he will get a chance to get his 2021 season off to a strong start in Melbourne as his hard-hitting forehands can work as the trump card for him. The Aussie, who earned home glory at 2018 Brisbane, has not played since Acapulco last year. The 25-year-old opted not to play following the Tour’s five-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Next Gen ATP star, Auger-Aliassime has made six tour-level finals over the past two years, but he has not lifted a trophy yet. The young Canadian sensation will hope to change his fortune in Melbourne, where he is projected to be the third seed. The 20-year-old is currently just outside the Top 20 at World No. 21.
Other star players to watch out for at the Great Ocean Road Open include 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, rising American Taylor Fritz and French sensation Ugo Humbert. Fritz and Humbert are alumni of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
Other Great Ocean Road Open entrants who have competed in the 21-and-under season finale include Borna Coric, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Casper Ruud, Frances Tiafoe and Mikael Ymer. Former World No. 3 and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic is also set to cAuger-Aliassime has made six tour-level finals over the past two years, but he has not lifted a trophy. The Canadian will hope to change that in Melbourne, where he is projected to be the third seed. The 20-year-old is currently just outside the Top 20 at World No. 21.
Other players to watch at the Great Ocean Road Open include 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, rising American Taylor Fritz and French sensation Ugo Humbert. Fritz and Humbert are alumni of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.