8 players set to take the 2024 Australian Open by storm

The Australian Open is just around the corner and always serves as a sensation start to the tennis season. Let's take a look at some of the players who are set to step into 2024 in style with a big showing at the Oz Open.

At just 19 years-old, Gauff was able to play her best tennis when it mattered most to capture the U.S. Open title on the women’s side. Although she poked a lot of fun at coach Brad Gilbert for his quirky ways, Gauff also acknowledged that his tutelage helped put her in a better headspace. Her confidence will be sky-high at this Aussie Open.

The unranked American was expected to bow out in the early rounds of the U.S. Open, but he made it all the way to the semifinals. He wasn’t able to get past Novak Djokovic, but showed impressive fortitude in the third set. Shelton rallied to make the all time great work hard to put him away, which bodes well for the Atlanta native.

He’s not mentioned in the upper tier of players, but Medvedev has found a way to knock at the door at majors. He was the runner up at this year’s U.S. Open, and has also made it to the finals of three other majors in the last four years. Medvedev will need to find a way to put his opponent away in the final match, but he’s a good bet to be lurking on the last weekend of a tournament.

Many tennis fans are prepared for Alcaraz to take the sport by the horns as the older generation of players starts to exit stage left. The Spaniard won last year’s U.S. Open and this year’s Wimbledon tournament, and was expected to compete deep into this year’s U.S. Open. Medvedev took him out, but the youngster should be ready to dominate once again in 2024.

Pegula has proven that she's one of the best players in the WTA, but has not gotten over the hump when it comes to winning majors. It's a reality that she's addressed on multiple occasions, and she should have a chance to change the narrative during the Australian Open.

Even though she didn’t come out on top against Gauff in the U.S. Open final, Sabalenka had a stretch she can be proud of. After Iga Swiatek’s stunning upset, Sabalenka claimed the number one ranking in women’s tennis after the major concluded, and will look to hold on to it heading into the Australian Open.

Jabeur is a little bit like Medvedev on the women’s side. She’s made three finals in the last two years, including this year’s Wimbledon. She hasn’t yet found a way to win the last match, and struggled at the U.S. Open as she overcame illness just to compete. The Tunisian still has a lot to look forward to heading into next year.

Zverev is still looking to find his groove after returning from a foot injury suffered in 2022. He's one of the most talented players on tour when healthy, but has not made the final of a major since the 2020 U.S. Open. The German is looking to get off to a good start in 2024 in order to prove to himself that he's completely healthy.