A look at some of the more intriguing players in this year's Australian Open.
Kei Nishikori
With superb movement and a dominating forehand, Nishikori has shot up in the rankings. Like Roger Federer, he uses his quick first step to cover the court with ease, then goes on the offensive at surprising times. Perhaps buoyed by his run to the quarterfinals here last year, Nishikori became a more solid, reliable competitor in 2012. At 23, he has the quiet confidence to make a deep run into the second week of the Australian Open.
Juan MartÃn del Potro
The tall, laconic del Potro has been trying to get back to the sublime form he displayed when he overpowered Roger Federer to win the 2009 United States Open. While del Potro recuperated from a serious wrist injury, the Big Four of Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray separated themselves from the rest of the men as they took tennis to an astonishingly high level. Del Potro has persevered, and he scored a breakthrough win at the Olympics, defeating Djokovic for the bronze medal. At his best, del Potro, 24, bludgeons opponents with big serving and blistering ground strokes. He is hungry to win his second major, and his rising confidence could make him a legitimate threat.
Janko Tipsarevic
Get up early Monday to watch the first-round match between the indefatigable veteran Lleyton Hewitt and the eighth-seeded Tipsarevic. You will see two baseliners struggling to advance. The match will be reminiscent of the stirring five-set quarterfinal Tipsarevic lost to David Ferrer at the United States Open last September, with remarkable rallies, superb court coverage and gritty competitiveness. Tipsarevic, 28, has ascended to the top 10 by transforming himself from a talented underachiever to one of the fittest players in the game. If he can survive the Hewitt caldron, Tipsarevic could get a rematch with Ferrer in the quarterfinals.
Sloane Stephens
She has played well in Grand Slam tournaments, thrilling crowds with her impeccable technique, fearless shot-making and exuberance. Seeded 29th, she faces a possible showdown with Petra Kvitova in the third round. Stephens, 20, is improving with every match. Although she can be prone to mental lapses, her focus and concentration go up a notch in important matches as she handles the pressure of the big points with the calm of a born competitor.
Caroline Wozniacki
Two years ago, Wozniacki was a point from reaching the Australian final, but Li Na caught fire and hit a gutsy winner to turn the match her way. Since then, Wozniacki has tumbled to 10th in the rankings from No. 1, through upsets, injuries and a carousel of coaches who tried to change her game. The consensus was that Wozniacki played too defensively, that she could never win a Grand Slam with her counterpunching style. But she seems to have returned to her identity as a fearsome backcourt warrior, who doesn't beat herself and wears opponents down with superb shot selection and court positioning. Wozniacki, 22, is flying under the radar, and if she can get by the hard-serving Sabine Lisicki in the first round, she could be tough in the late rounds.
Angelique Kerber
She has not looked back since her breakout run to the semifinals of the 2011 United States Open. She won 60 matches in 2012, climbing to No. 5 in the world and earning a reputation as one of the toughest female competitors.
Kerber, 24, is rock solid from the baseline, with the ability to absorb her opponents' pace and patiently wait for an opening. A strong, physical left-hander, Kerber hits the ball flat with a low trajectory, but she makes few unforced errors, which could wear down opponents in the Melbourne heat.
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