Wawrinka, Felix & Kyrgios To Star In Melbourne 2
There will be no shortage of star power at Melbourne 2, one of two ATP 250s being held alongside the ATP Cup from 31 January to 6 February.
Leading the way will be former World No. 3 and three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, inimitable Aussie Nick Kyrgios and Canadian #NextGenATP star Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Wawrinka, the No. 18 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings, is the highest-ranked entrant in the field. The Swiss, who went 15-8 in 2020, will try to lift his first ATP Tour trophy since May 2017 in Geneva.
Kyrgios has always enjoyed competing at home, and he will get a chance to get his 2021 season off to a strong start in Melbourne. The Aussie, who earned home glory at 2018 Brisbane, has not played since Acapulco last year. The 25-year-old opted not to play following the Tour’s five-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Auger-Aliassime has made six tour-level finals over the past two years, but he has not lifted a trophy. The Canadian will hope to change that in Melbourne, where he is projected to be the third seed. The 20-year-old is currently just outside the Top 20 at World No. 21.
Other players to watch at Melbourne 2 include 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, rising American Taylor Fritz and French sensation Ugo Humbert. Fritz and Humbert are alumni of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.
Other Melbourne 2 entrants who have competed in the 21-and-under season finale include Borna Coric, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Casper Ruud, Frances Tiafoe and Mikael Ymer. Former World No. 3 and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic is also set to compete in this event.