Top Aussie men to watch at the Australian Open

The first Grand Slam of the 2017 season is just around the corner, and it's a perfect opportunity to lay the foundation for the year ahead. While the big players will be under the brightest spotlight, the Australian players will be watched closely.

Here are the homegrown ATP stars that stand a chance of going deep in Melbourne:

1

Age: 21

Ranking: No. 14

Best Australian Open result: 2015, quarterfinals

Kyrgios had a tumultuous, yet wildly successful, 2016. He was suspended in October for allegedly tanking a match during in Shanghai and the incident hasn't been the only unruly behavior from the Aussie. However, despite the controversy surrounding him, one thing is certain: he has plenty of talent.

While he didn't defend his 2015 Australian Open run last year, he did win three titles— Marseille, Atlanta and Tokyo— while reaching a career-high ranking of No. 13. The 21-year-old did seem sincerely regretful about how his season ended in Shanghai, and even with his knee-injury concerns, he could be ready for a fresh start in 2017 by ruffling more feathers in Melbourne.

2

Age: 24

World ranking: No. 27

Best Australian Open result: 2016, round of 16

As the other "bad boy" of Australia, Tomic has also had some trouble with on-court spats and even an off-court arrest. However, like his counterpart, he has skills on court that place him as one of the country's front-runners.

His 2016 wasn't as eventful as Kyrgios, but he did make final in Acapulco, the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and the fourth round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. As the No. 2-ranked Australian, Tomic can't be counted out.

3

Age: 29

Ranking: No. 171

Best Australian Open: 2015, third round

Groth hasn't stepped into the spotlight much since almost breaking the Top 50 in 2015, and the wildcard entry will be one of the Australian underdogs. However, the 29-year-old made some strides in the rankings in the latter half of 2016 on the ATP Challenger circuit and, with the right draw, he could get a chance at repeating a third-round performance or better in Melbourne.

Also, his one-handed backhand is one of the most underrated in the game while his serve is one of the best.

4

Age: 20

World ranking: No. 275

Best Australian Open: 2015, round of 16

Kokkinakis has been through injury hell for the past year. The 20-year-old only played one competitive match in 2016 due to shoulder and groin problems. It may seem like a major disadvantage for the youngster, but he has already ripped into 2017, winning his first career ATP doubles title in Brisbane (with Jordan Thompson).

While Kokkinakis still has a long way to go to reach his potential, he'll be hungry to get after it, with nothing to lose, in front of a home crowd in Melbourne. While he's planning to play doubles, he has said he's not sure if he's ready for a five-set singles contest just yet (he'd have to use a protected ranking).

Other notable names to keep an eye on are Thompson (ranked No. 75), John Millman (ranked No. 82) and James Duckworth (ranked No. 102).

Check out a preview of the Australian women.

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