Nick Kyrgios has not only played his last grand slam as a teenager but also almost certainly as an unseeded dangerman following his run to the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Kyrgios will jump from 53rd to a career-best world No.35 on Monday and is on track to lead one of Australia’s largest contingents in years at the French Open.
Australia is likely to have at least three seeds at Roland Garros – and possibly even two each in both the men’s and women’s events – following its encouraging campaign at Melbourne Park.
Former runner-up and two-time semi-finalist Samantha Stosur has been Australia’s only realistic second-week hope in recent years, but the country’s long-time No.1 will have a strong support cast in 2015.
In addition to Kyrgios, every one of Australia’s top 10 men will receive a rankings boost next week, with six players set for direct entry in Paris.
With virtually no rankings points to defend between now and May, Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic – who will also rise 18 spots to No.46 in the world – have a huge opportunity to push for a seeding.
After his charge to the third round in Melbourne, Sam Groth will surge to a career-best 70th, while Marinko Matosevic (79th) and Lleyton Hewitt (83rd) – if he plays on – should all automatically make the main draw of the French.
James Duckworth, projected to climb 14 spots to a career-high world No.106 – right on the cut-off mark for grand slam direct entry – can also give Roland Garros qualifying a miss if he continues his rankings improvement in coming months.
Exciting teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis, who reached the second round at Melbourne Park for the second year in a row, is only on the climb.
“The Aussies have got a lot to be excited about,” said former top-10 star Mark Philippoussis.
“Kyrgios is definitely spearheading Aussie tennis right now, but you’ve got Kokkinakis, Tomic, who has been playing great, Groth is having a great summer.
“So we have a lot to be excited about.”
Stosur is predicted to fall two spots to world No.23 but also has minimal rankings points to defend before the French Open, while Casey Dellacqua is set to slip from 29th to 35th and needs to return to the top 32 to guarantee herself a Roland Garros seeding.
PROJECTED RANKINGS FOR AUSTRALIA’S TENNIS STARS AFTER THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MEN
35. Nick Kyrgios (up 18 spots)
48. Bernard Tomic (+18)
70. Sam Groth (+12)
79. Marinko Matosevic (+2)
83. Lleyton Hewitt (+4)
106. James Duckworth (+14)
136. Jason Kubler (+5)
143. Thanasi Kokkinakis (+4)
147. John Millman (+4)
160. Luke Saville (+4)
WOMEN
23. Samantha Stosur (-2)
35. Casey Dellacqua (-6)
54. Jarmila Gajdosova (+8)
158. Olivia Rogowska (-24)
