Social media photographs of the world’s finest tennis gamers taking long-haul flights down below, hitting the recognisable blue courts and posing with Australian wildlife imply one factor: the 2024 season is about to start.
A brand new 12 months brings new hopes and the chance of some new names – or newer if in case you have already been following – capturing the eye of a wider viewers.
With the assistance of British former world quantity 4 Greg Rusedski, BBC Sport picks out the younger stars to keep watch over in 2024…
‘Little doubt he is the true deal’ – the lads chasing Djokovic
Jannik Sinner, 22, Italy
Sinner is way from a brand new title, in fact.
Nevertheless, a surprising finish to the 2023 season – a ceiling-breaking ATP 1000 title in Toronto, vital wins over the perfect and provoking Italy to Davis Cup victory – has introduced him to the forefront of dialog when discussing Grand Slam champions in 2024.
Together with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner is now thought of probably the most more likely to stand an opportunity of ending Novak Djokovic’s near-stranglehold on the most important prizes.
“No query about it, Sinner is the true deal. He is a type of who you suppose might win a significant in 2024, he is that good,” says Rusedski.
“I do not suppose there might be a lapse or a let down from his nice finish to the season – he is too good, too skilled and too many instruments within the locker.
“I feel he is at all times had the idea he could possibly be among the many easiest, however I am unsure he at all times had the instruments.
“His serve was the large tweak, he modified it twice and his ball toss is in a greater place. He is getting extra free factors and in addition has the willingness to return ahead.
“Not solely are the modifications mentally and bodily, it is tactically and technically the place he has made variations and that may assist him push ahead subsequent season.”
Ben Shelton, 21, United States
At first of 2023, Shelton had by no means even performed outdoors of america. A number of weeks later, in his first journey overseas, the huge-serving American was an Australian Open quarter-finalist.
Coping with the rigours of taking part in full-time on the worldwide ATP Tour supplied challenges over the next months, earlier than he wowed the crowds again on residence soil on his strategy to the US Open semi-finals.
“I feel the sky is the restrict for him to be fairly sincere,” Rusedski says.
“He performs a unique type, serve and volley, comes ahead and is aggressive and attacking. He has obtained the sport and the persona to make the highest 10 subsequent 12 months.
“Can he get to the very high of the sport is one other query. There’s a lengthy strategy to go, however I feel he’ll make the highest 10 with the expertise he has.”
Holger Rune, 20, Norway
Each younger tennis participant needs to emulate Djokovic and Roger Federer, so hiring two coaches who’ve helped hone greatness appears a wise transfer.
Rune first introduced in Boris Becker, the six-time main champion who impressed Djokovic in one of many best durations of his profession, and this month determined so as to add Federer’s confidante Severin Luthi too.
“Boris was an awesome acquisition as a result of Rune nonetheless has quite a lot of enchancment to make – tactically, technically and coming ahead,” Rusedski says.
“It’s the ‘smarts’ on court docket which Boris will add to his sport. Bodily Rune is an incredible athlete, he has quite a lot of energy however would not at all times know the best way to use it correctly.
“Severin is a good acquisition too – the query mark is how are these two personalities going to work. How will they steadiness out and who would be the primary voice after they’re all collectively. It is so intriguing.
“I feel it’s going to take Rune longer than Sinner to determine the best way to win a significant. This could possibly be a type of years the place he has to solidify within the high 10 – then push ahead in 2025 for the large prizes.”
‘We want an actual rivalry’ – the WTA stars attempting to push Swiatek
Coco Gauff, 19, United States
One of many tales of 2023 – if not the story – was Gauff fulfilling the potential she had lengthy promised by successful her first main in entrance of an exultant residence crowd on the US Open.
Gauff was considered one of three new main champions within the ladies’s singles final season – together with Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne and Marketa Vondrousova at Wimbledon – and has lengthy been tipped for a lot of extra titles.
“The query now could be can she problem Swiatek, who has been dominating the sport since Ash Barty retired, frequently,” Rusedski says.
“We want somebody like Coco within the ladies’s sport to proceed successful majors and pushing the sport ahead.
“I additionally suppose we’d like an enormous rivalry within the ladies’s sport and it’s dying for possibly Coco, Swiatek and Sabalenka going face to face in any respect the majors.
“It will add an actual totally different dimension if Coco goes down below and wins the Australian Open.”
Mirra Andreeva, 16, Russia
When a participant of Andy Murray’s ilk is pinging over a congratulatory textual content message, you already know you are creating fairly the stir.
Andreeva had already earned notable wins on the Madrid Open as a 15-year-old earlier than crediting Murray’s assist for uplifting her to a primary Grand Slam match win on the French Open shortly afterwards.
Though her run was ended by Gauff within the third spherical at Roland Garros, Andreeva additional demonstrated her prodigious expertise by reaching the final 16 at Wimbledon – having by no means even performed on grass till that British summer season.
“All people is speaking about her being the subsequent massive factor within the sport,” Rusedski says.
“She takes the ball actually early, has an awesome two-handed backhand and has an awesome mentality. It’s a type of seasons the place she ought to break into the highest 20, near the highest 10, with the flexibility she has proper now.
“It is so fascinating within the ladies’s sport as a result of though Swiatek has been a dominant drive and others like Gauff and Sabalenka received majors, there are at all times these openings for the subsequent era.
“To have her doing so nicely so younger as a young person is absolutely spectacular.”
‘One of the vital thrilling prospects I’ve seen’ – the longer term British quantity ones
Jack Draper, 22
The discuss inside British tennis circles – and now additional afield after glimpses of his potential on the ATP Tour – has lengthy been that Jack Draper could make it to the highest of the sport.
A collection of accidents have stalled the heavy-hitting left-hander’s progress however Draper has the flexibility to make deep runs and beat high quality opponents when he’s constantly match.
The indicators in current months have been encouraging. A run to the final 16 of the US Open was rapidly adopted with a primary ATP Tour last in Sofia, earlier than he ended the 12 months with two victories over Rune on his strategy to successful the Final Tennis Showdown exhibition occasion.
“For me, Jack is a top-10 participant no query about it,” Rusedski says.
“However well being is your wealth on this sport. The extra wholesome you may keep, the higher likelihood you have got of attaining your targets.
“I would not be stunned if he completed as British primary subsequent 12 months and, though high 20 is his aim, he might presumably finish within the high 10.
“By way of Grand Slams, he is nonetheless just a few years away from having the ability to win one but when he stays match he could possibly be within the combine.”
Hannah Klugman, 14
Whereas Emma Raducanu will understandably entice quite a lot of consideration as she begins her comeback, it’s value keeping track of the progress of one other younger Briton.
Klugman, who turns 15 in February, received the celebrated Orange Bowl junior championships earlier this month – an occasion which the likes of Gauff, Chris Evert and Caroline Wozniacki have claimed up to now.
Nevertheless, she is not going to be seen usually on the WTA Tour but as a result of an age eligibility rule limits the variety of top-level tournaments for gamers below 18 to assist their long-term growth.
“Hannah wants time, in fact, however she is one to be careful for. It may not be this 12 months she makes a breakthrough on the WTA Tour, however she is sweet sufficient and can get there,” Rusedski says.
“I hit along with her final 12 months – I do know her coach Ben Haran very nicely – and you might see there was one thing particular there.
“She’s obtained each shot within the guide, which could be very uncommon to have. She will be able to slice the backhand and comes over fantastically two-handed, her forehand has improved out of sight, she has a superb serve and good volley.
“She’s probably the most full and thrilling prospects I’ve seen on this planet at her age – she’s that good.”
