Star’s $56m stunner as staggering earnings revealed; best chances to end 49-year drought — Burning Qs

Dawn has broken and what shapes as an intriguing 2025 Australian Open will begin in Melbourne later today with several fascinating subplots set to unfold over the next fortnight.

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Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has teamed with his great mate Andy Murray as he seeks to win a record 25th grand slam singles title, while Australia has three men seeded at a major for the first time since Wimbledon in 2000.

Aryna Sabalenka has been the dominant player in women’s tennis on hardcourts for a couple of years and is seeking a three-peat in Melbourne this year, but challengers including Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek are shaping as key rivals for the Belarusian.

And three years after Ash Barty became the Australian Open champion, are we starting to see her influence in an array of talented local players?

Welcome to the Burning Questions for this year’s Australian Open.

CAN AN AUSSIE BREAK THE DROUGHT?

It is an enduring drought in men’s tennis and one no-one could have foreseen coming.

When Mark Edmondson, who at 212 remains the lowest-ranked player to win a major in the ATP rankings era, upset the great John Newcombe to win the 1976 Australian Open, he continued a local dominance of the grand slam. An Aussie Open? It was party time at home.

Dating back to Frank Sedgman’s second Aussie Open success in 1950, the title had been won by non-Australians only four times, with Jimmy Connors (1974), Arthur Ashe (1970), Alex Olmedo (1959) and Dick Savitt (1951) adding an American flavour down under.

But the triumph of Edmondson, who mopped floors in hospitals early on to earn enough money to pursue his career, turned the universe on its head for Aussie hopes at home.

Pat Cash was a back-to-back finalist in 1987 and 1988, Pat Rafter played an epic semi-final against Andre Agassi in 2001 and Lleyton Hewitt reached the decider back in 2005.

Ash Barty ended another mega drought dating back to Chris O’Neil in 1978 in magnificent fashion in 2022 and there is depth in numbers this year headed by Alex de Minaur.

The challenge ahead is mega given the brilliance of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who is a 10-time winner of the tournament. But … there is a but.

For the first time since Rafter, Hewitt and dual-grand slam finalist Mark Philippoussis were seeded at Wimbledon in 2000, Australia has three men seeded at a grand slam this year.

De Minaur, clearly, is coming off a career-best year and as the No.8 seed theoretically has his best chance of reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time.

The 25th-ranked Alexei Popyrin beat Djokovic at the US Open, a month after winning the Montreal Masters, and is a player who tends to save his best tennis for the biggest stages.

And Jordan Thompson is also seeded in a grand slam for the first time at 27 and is hoping for a top 20 breakthrough in singles and to claim the No.1 ranking in doubles, if possible.

Then there is Nick Kyrgios who, as the most recent Australian to make a grand slam final back at Wimbledon in 2022, is well-versed in what it takes to push deep in a major.

He likes what he is seeing at the moment from the top trio of Aussie men and others including his good mate Thanasi Kokkinakis, who posted some strong results in 2024.

“Men’s tennis in Australia right now is ridiculously strong. We have a lot of players. It’s very deep. I’m super happy for these guys because they put in all the hard work,” he said.

“All these Aussie guys are really good. They’re really, really good. We have a good crop of young guys coming through, as well. It’s a good time to be an Australian tennis fan.”

CAN THE ‘POP’ PUSH DEEP? AND WHAT ABOUT THE LATE BLOOMER?

While de Minaur deserves top billing after a superb 2024 which saw him break into the top 10 for the first time, Popyrin and Thompson enjoyed breakout seasons as well.

It is worth noting all three were in contention at the US Open heading into the second week and will fancy their chances of another deep run in Melbourne if fit and firing.

Popyrin, who defeated three top 10 ranked rivals in Canada in August when joining Rafter, Hewitt and Philippoussis as the only Aussies to win a Masters event, has made the third round three times in Melbourne.

The 25th seed faces talented Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the opening round and could play another Aussie Rinky Hijikata, who made the Rd of 16 in New York in 2023, in the second round.

“My mindset hasn’t changed. I’ve made it to third rounds not being seeded before,” he said. “It’s definitely (about) doing the same things and working the same way and just trying to get past that third round hump. I’ve been in the third round a few times in AO already.

“We are just trying to make it to the second week for the first time here. That is the main goal for the year.”

Former US Open quarterfinalist John Millman told foxsports.com.au recently that Popyrin is the “type of player Australians can really get behind”.

“He’s had the firepower in a one-off match to beat anyone, in my opinion, because his game is so big,” Millman said.

“But to go and do it six times in a row to win a Masters event really has proven he is a force.”

Thompson, who is seeded in a major for the first time after claiming a maiden ATP Tour title in Mexico last year, started well in the Brisbane International before a foot issue flared.

The Sydneysider, who will play Dominik Koepfer, feels he has overcome the issue as he seeks to produce his best effort on home soil in what will be his 12th Australian Open.

Coached by former professional Marinko Matosevic, the 30-year-old feels a more complete player now as he seeks to reach at least the third round for the first time at home.

“Probably (my) mentality on the court. I’m trying to be more aggressive. I’m trying to use, like, all the aspects of the game to win points,” he said.

“(I’m) trying to push forward to the net as much as I can. (I’ve) got to use my speed and volleys to my advantage. Obviously I can use the speed to defend when needed.

“But that’s not Plan A. I guess I’m just taking the game on a little bit more. It’s definitely paid off, so hopefully I can keep pushing forward.”

Kyrgios is a big fan of Thompson and said he was delighted to see the Sydneysider, who is aiming for a top 20 breakthrough, earning the rewards for his hard work.

“I’ve known Thommo since basically (when) he was in diapers,” Kyrgios said.

“Just to see how well he’s transitioning (and) finally he got into that seeding at a grand slam where it can really open up for him. He’s more than capable of doing some damage as well.”

WHAT CAN ANDY MURRAY OFFER NOVAK DJOKOVIC?

It shapes as one of the most fascinating partnerships of the Australian Open, with five-time finalist Andy Murray joining Novak Djokovic’s camp as coach for the tournament.

Among the points of intrigue are to see what the three-time major champion can add to the record-breaking star and what will happen should the Serbian start screaming towards him.

Both stars, who were born a week apart from each other in 1987 and faced each other 36 times on the tour, possess the habit of screaming towards their boxes when under pressure.

But for the first time, it is Murray’s turn to sit in the coaching hot seat and as Djokovic searches for his 25th major title, he may yet cop the wrath from his old rival and mate.

“I would think that I’d be one of the people that would maybe hopefully understand that side of things,” Murray said at Melbourne Park last week.

“I know it’s not easy out there and it’s stressful and at times he’s going to want to vent towards his team and his box. Provided he’s giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I’m absolutely fine with him expressing himself however he wants.”

Djokovic, who won 25 of their 36 outings including all four Australian Open finals between the pair, has immense respect for the Scottish star’s nous on the court.

Murray, who overcame a career-threatening hip injury to return to tennis prior to his retirement after Wimbledon last year, was one of his fiercest rivals.

“It’s a pleasure and honour to have Andy as a coach,” Djokovic said.

“I was thinking about the names that I would like to have next to me for this season. I wanted to have somebody that won multiple slams. The list is not that long. Somebody that really understands what it means to win a slam, what it means to face adversity, the pressure, the expectations.

“Andy just finished his playing career six months ago. It was somewhat of a surprise for him when I called him. But I think his tennis IQ is very high. We all know that. He has done an incredible job, particularly after he got the surgery (and) his artificial hip, winning tournaments after that. He is someone that is a legend of the sport, just showing everyone what it means to be a champion in a real sense of that word.”

Having known each other since they were boys, the Paris Olympics gold medallist believes Murray’s knowledge of current stars and also himself will help him rediscover the winning formula in grand slams after he failed to add to his landmark tally of majors last year.

“He really has inspired myself and a lot of people around the world,” Djokovic said.

“I think that his unique perspective on my game is the fact that he has played with me for 25 years. (The) first time we faced each other was when we were 12-years-old. He knows the evolution of my game (and) I guess the weaknesses and strengths of my game.

“He also knows the game, the tennis game, of the biggest players in the world right now, because he has just recently retired as a player. He was practising and also playing against all the best guys in the world up to recently. I guess he’s up to speed with what’s happening on the tour.

“He’s very meticulous. He’s a very dedicated professional. So far I’ve been enjoying this collaboration.”

WHAT IS THE NEXT GREAT RIVALRY IN WOMEN’S TENNIS?

After a relatively lean major season by her lofty standards, American Coco Gauff capped 2024 with a flourish by winning the prestigious WTA Tour Finals for the first time.

But in a season where Aryna Sabalenka confirmed herself as the world’s finest hard court player and Iga Swiatek continued her clay court dominance, Gauff was also a big winner.

Women’s tennis may lack a head-to-head match-up at the moment that mirrors the legacy-enhancing rivalries of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, or Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, or a generational standard-bearer like Serena Williams.

But it has not hurt the hip pocket of the very best in the world, as evidenced by the earnings of Gauff which emphasise again the global profile enjoyed by the sport.

According to the annual Forbes rich-list, the 20-year-old American earned almost A$56 million in 2024, with A$40million of that coming from endorsements off the court.

Gauff, who was the American flag bearer at the Paris Olympics alongside LeBron James, has an extremely broad portfolio of sponsorships that helped make her the world’s highest-paid women’s athlete last year.

Six of the top seven highest-earning women athletes in 2024 are tennis players and include Sabalenka, who is seeking a three-peat in Melbourne, Swiatek, Chinese star Qinwen Zhang, the all-time Queen of earnings Naomi Osaka and England’s Emma Raducanu.

Dual-Australian Open champion Osaka, who lit the torch for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, peaked at an income of A$93 million that year, eclipsing the 23-time major winner Williams, who pocketed almost A$75 million in 2021 according to the financial magazine.

China’s freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu was estimated to be the fourth highest earner, based largely on the A$34 million she earned off the slopes last year.

Golfer Nelly Korda was ranked at eight, with one-third of her $20 million earned on the golf course, while Venus Williams remains a top 10-earner despite barely playing.

US Olympic legend Simone Biles rounded out the top 10 courtesy of earning more than A$17 million away from the high beams and pommel horse and gymnastics floor.

The premature retirement of Aussie star Ash Barty, along with Osaka’s time away from the tour to become a mother, robbed tennis of what had shaped as a fascinating rivalry.

But the youth and form of the current top-liners suggests this may yet unfold.

Sabalenka and Swiatek, who have rotated as world No.1 for more than one year, have played 12 times, with the Polish champion winning eight of them.

Swiatek has won eight of her 11 clashes with Gauff, though the American is younger and has clearly bridged the gap.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, has won five of her nine outings against Sabalenka.

IS THE BARTY LEGACY COMING TO FRUITION?

Three years after the crowning moment of Barty’s career in Melbourne, the benefits of her time at the top may be visible at Melbourne Park over the next fortnight.

In the aftermath of her Australian Open triumph in 2022, coaches across the country reported a boom in the numbers of young girls and boys being booked in for lessons.

It is still too early for those youngsters to have an impact on majors but there are a number of emerging talents who have been inspired by spending time with the three-time champion.

While there is immense depth in the men’s ranks headed by Alex de Minaur, with Barty retired and Ajla Tomljanovic and Daria Saville hindered by injuries, there has been less success in women’s ranks in recent years.

But there are an array of women making inroads on the tour including Olivia Gadecki, Maya Joint, Kimberly Birrell and teenager Emerson Jones. And some have been directly influenced by the three-time major champion Barty.

Jones, a 16-year-old from the Gold Coast who practised with Barty at Wimbledon last year, is the world’s No.1 ranked junior and will make her Australian Open debut this week.

She said her fellow Queenslander had been an inspiration for her for many years and was always on hand for a chat if requested.

“She’s always helped out with hitting and giving me advice before I play the bigger tournaments,” Jones said.

“I think it is great when people say that I’m following in Ash Barty’s footsteps. Obviously she was a crazy tennis player with unreal results.”

Olivia Gadecki, who hit regularly with Barty as she was preparing to return to the tour after the pandemic, broke through for a maiden WTA Tour and into the top 100 last year.

“Ash was an incredible player. We’ve got a lot to strive towards,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s any pressure. She’s always there for us Aussie girls. She always takes her time to talk to us.

“If anything, we’ve got really good footsteps to follow, which is very exciting. We have a lot of top women players right now. Yeah, if we can do something with that, that would be great.”

Birrell, who broke into the top 100 last year and qualified for the Australian Open after a strong performance to start the season in the Brisbane International, is a peer of Barty.

A former top junior, she has overcome a career-threatening elbow injury and is starting to deliver more regularly on her undoubted potential.

Heading into the Australian Open as the nation’s new No.1 woman, she believes a number of Aussies can push into the top 100 this year.

“It’s amazing (to be the No.1),” she said.

“It’s really, really cool (and) something that I dreamed of as a little kid. But obviously I’m aware that we have so many amazing female tennis players in Australia.

“A few of us have been plagued by injury. I think when Ajla and Dash and Liv, all those girls are playing at their best, their rankings are going to be well inside the top 100.

“I hope we can all make that push this year. I’m not really thinking too much about that No. 1 spot, even though it is a very, very cool feeling.”