Leading Australian Open men's contenders
HOW THE LEADING MEN SHAPE UP FOR THE 2018 AUSTRALIAN OPEN STARTING ON MONDAY
RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)
Age: 31
Ranking: 1
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US94,588,627 ($A120.32 million)
Career titles: 75
Grand slam titles: 16 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005-08, 2010-14, 2017; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010, 2013, 2017)
Australian Open win-loss record: 51-11
Best Australian Open result: champion 2009
The world No.1 remains under a fitness cloud having played just one competitive match in three months due to injury but will surely challenge for more grand slam spoils if his knees hold up.
ROGER FEDERER (SUI)
Age: 36
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US111,885,682 ($A142.32 million)
Career titles: 95
Grand slam titles: 19 (Australian Open 2004, 2006-07, 2010, 2017; French Open 2009; Wimbledon 2003-07, 2009, 2012, 2017; US Open 2004-2008)
Australian Open win-loss record: 87-13
Best Australian Open results: champion 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017
The great Swiss is a clear favourite to defend his crown after an incredible renaissance in 2017 in which he also won Wimbledon among a tour-topping seven titles and lost just five times.
GRIGOR DIMITROV (BUL)
Age: 26
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed
Career prize money: $US14,083,976 ($A17.92 million)
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 16-7
Best Australian Open result: semi-finalist 2017
The Bulgarian is riding high at a career-best ranking after finally living up to his billing as tennis' next big thing with victory at the 2017 season-ending championships in London.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER)
Age: 20
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US7,041,628 ($A8.98 million)
Career titles: 6
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 2-2
Best Australian Open result: third round 2017
His talent and potential is unquestioned after collecting five trophies in 2017 but doubts remain about the German's ability to deliver on the biggest stages having yet to progress to a grand slam quarter-final.
DAVID GOFFIN (BEL)
Age: 27
Ranking: 7
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US9,075,195 ($A11.57 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 8-6
Best Australian Open result: quarter-finalist 2017
The Belgian Davis Cup hero joined an exclusive club of players to conquer Nadal and Federer at the same event en route to the season-ending championship final in a huge confidence booster.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)
Age: 30
Ranking: 14
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US109,805,403 ($A140.03 million)
Career titles: 68
Grand slam titles: 12 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16; French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015; US Open 2011, 2015)
Australian Open win-loss record: 58-7
Best Australian Open results: champion 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
The Serbian superstar enters the season's first major as somewhat of an unknown quantity having not played in six months due to an elbow injury but the six-time champion can't be discounted.
BEST OUTSIDER
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (ARG)
Age: 29
Ranking: 12
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US18,873,003 ($A24.07 million)
Career titles: 20
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2009)
Australian Open win-loss record: 17-8
Best Australian Open results: quarter-finalist 2009, 2012
The big Argentine is in the draw for the first time in four years and his quarter-final victory over Federer at Flushing Meadows confirms he's back to his dangerous best.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPE
NICK KYRGIOS
Age: 22
Ranking: 17
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US5,600,640 ($A7.14 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 8-4
Best Australian Open result: quarter-finalist 2015
The gifted but enigmatic youngster has never felt better entering the Open after breaking through for his first ATP title in Australia and looms as a genuine title chance - if he keeps his head.
