Coco Gauff, Jack Draper, Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova: Six young players to watch at Australian Open 2023

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 13/01/2023 at 17:55 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz might be missing from the Australian Open but there will be plenty of other young talent on display at the Grand Slam. From Jack Draper, who faces Rafael Nadal in the first round, to Holger Rune, Coco Gauff and Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova, we pick out some of the players aged 21 and under to keep an eye on in Melbourne. The tournament starts on January 16.

The absence of world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz from the Australian Open means the youngest player in the ATP top 100 will not be playing the opening Grand Slam of the season.

But there are plenty of other young talents who could make their marks in Melbourne.

From Jack Draper to Holger Rune and Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova, we pick out some of the players aged 21 and under to keep an eye on across the next few weeks.

ATP Rome

Are Nadal, Alcaraz, Djokovic playing Italian Open? When does it start?

an hour ago

Holger Rune

Holger Rune has not been shy with his ambitions.

“That’s my goal, to be world No. 1,” said the 19-year-old after upsetting Novak Djokovic in the final of the Paris Masters in November.

If Rune is to get to No. 1 this year he will likely need a good start seeing as he will have plenty of points to defend in the back end. It’s tricky to assess his chances in Melbourne seeing as he has only previously played one match at the Australian Open – losing in the first round last year – and was surprisingly beaten in his 2023 opener in Adelaide by world No. 33 Yoshihito Nishioka. His last competitive win was against Djokovic.

His form to finish last season was excellent though.

He soared up to No. 10 in the rankings after victory in Paris, where he not only beat Djokovic but also four other top-10 players. Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou is working with Rune and says they have “very high goals in the short term”. A potential quarter-final rematch with Djokovic awaits in Melbourne.

Jannik Sinner

With a new coach in his corner – Australian Darren Cahill – Jannik Sinner will be hoping to take another step forward this season.

He made three Grand Slam quarter-finals in 2022 and in two of them was beaten in five sets after leading – by Djokovic at Wimbledon after winning the first two sets and by Alcaraz at the US Open after having a match point.

• Henman: Draper has nothing to lose against Nadal
• Projecting Djokovic and Nadal's paths to glory

Sinner is clearly a very talented player with a great game but he’s yet to win a big title – he has won one ATP 500 tournament and five at ATP 250 level. In his only Masters final in Miami in 2021 he lost in straight sets.

Cahill has enjoyed success in the past with Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and most recently Simona Halep, and it will be fascinating to see if his input can drive Sinner to another level.

Jack Draper

How far will Jack Draper go on his Australian Open debut?

The British No. 3, who was playing second-tier ATP Challenger Tour events in Italy this time last year, has a sizzling first-round match in Melbourne against defending champion Rafael Nadal.

Draper could cause Nadal problems. He has been called “one of the best prospects on the tour right now” by former world No. 1 Andy Murray, and it’s easy to see why with his formidable lefty serve and piercing groundstrokes. His serving quality was on show in Adelaide this month when he fired 10 aces and won 88 per cent of his first-serve points in a victory over world No. 35 Tommy Paul.

If Draper can continue to play at his highest level while developing further he should be set for more movement up the rankings this year and may even threaten Cameron Norrie’s position as British No. 1.

Coco Gauff

Reminder: Coco Gauff is a year younger than men’s world No. 1 Alcaraz.

It feels like Gauff has been around for ages – she did make her breakthrough at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old in 2019 – but unlike Alcaraz, she has not yet shot to the top. Gauff’s rise has been far more steady as she has continued to build and make progress each year.

In 2022 she made her first Grand Slam final at the French Open and also made the quarter-finals of the US Open. She kicked off 2023 by lifting the title in Auckland without dropping a set, although also without playing a top-50 player.

'I don't miss!' - Gauff gets best of Tiafoe in hilarious rally in Tennis Plays for Peace

The challenge for Gauff is beating the best. She has a 7-16 record against top-10 opponents and lost all three singles matches at the season-ending WTA Finals in 2022.

But if the last few years are anything to go by then Gauff should continue to improve and could contend at another major this year.

Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova

Meet the Fruhvirtova sisters, you might be hearing a lot about them in the future.

Linda Fruhvirtova, 17, was one of our breakout players to watch this year after winning her first WTA title in 2022. She has been described as an “incredible competitor and fighter” by Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who also said he thinks that “mentally she has the full package”.

Fruhvirtova is the youngest player in the top 100 and will likely soon move much higher than her current position of No. 80 in the rankings.

Linda Fruhvirtova is the youngest player in the WTA top 100

Image credit: Getty Images

While Linda Fruhvirtova secured an Australian Open main-draw spot following her impressive 2022 season, younger sister Brenda Fruhvirtova, 15, earned a place through qualifying.

She is the youngest player in the top 250 in the world and is the fifth-youngest qualifier in Australian Open history. If her form on the lower rungs last year is anything to go by she also has a bright future; she won eight ITF singles titles and at one point reeled off a 27-match winning streak.

Czech women’s tennis looks in good hands for years to come.

Qinwen Zheng

Qinwen Zheng was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year after rising over 100 places to break into the top 25. The 20-year-old looks to be one of the top young talents on the WTA Tour and spoke confidently about her abilities after upsetting Anett Kontaveit this month.

“I always know that I have the level to beat all of them,” she said.

Qinwen’s victory over Kontaveit was her fifth against a top-20 player in her last six attempts. She had some strong runs at tournaments last year and was the only player to take a set off world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open.

“I felt on my racquet today that she can play some really heavy topspin,” said Swiatek afterwards. “I feel like if she's going to use it the right way she can really be a great player.”

Qinwen could be a danger at the Australian Open.

- - -

Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk. Play our Australian Open Predictor Game - choose your bracket for the men's and women's draws in Melbourne

Tennis

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

24/04/2024 at 08:40

WTA Stuttgart

'She has the game' - Swiatek ends Raducanu run in Stuttgart, Sabalenka and Gauff stunned

19/04/2024 at 21:56

WTA Stuttgart

Raducanu cruises past Kerber in straight sets, Gauff battles past Vickery

18/04/2024 at 06:06