The Australian Open, tennis’s first major of the 2015 season, is just under three weeks away as we head into the New Year. Last year, Li Na took home the championship on the women’s side and it was Stanislas Wawrinka defeating Rafael Nadal to win the men’s championship. It was the second – and what will most likely be final after she retired following the 2014 season – major championship for Na and the first Grand Slam victory for Wawrinka. Though the game of tennis has been dominated for some time by a few heavyweights on both the men’s and women’s sides, last year demonstrated that anyone can win a Grand Slam.
The favorites for this year’s Australian Open will be the same as they have been for quite some time: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer on the men’s side, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova on the women’s side. While odds are strong that one, and perhaps two, of those five will take home a trophy in Melbourne this year, there’s one particular youngster that could have a dramatic impact on the tournament if he were to do what Wawrinka did last year and win his first Grand Slam.
Nick Kyrgios is just 19 years of age, but what he has already accomplished has been extraordinary. In 2013, he gained the Number 1 World Junior ranking and won the 2013 Junior Australian Open. In 2014, he continued his success with a first round victory in the 2014 Australian Open and he reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals after defeating Nadal in the fourth round. His star continues to rise and the 2015 Australian Open is the next opportunity for him to showcase his talents.
And if Kyrgios can advance far into the tournament, the Aussies will adore him. Because he is one of them. Born in Canberra, Australian, Kyrgios has a rabid following in his home country and could create an incredible amount of demand for Australian Open tickets, according to Queen of Tickets, the top Australian ticket marketplace.
Queen of Tickets has been the premier marketplace for all Australian concerts and sporting events over the past five years. According to a spokesperson with the company, a deep run by Kyrgios would lead to the most in-demand Australian Open sessions in recent memory. Currently, the cheapest available Australian Open Finals tickets for the Men’s Final is $484. Expectations are that number could double, and possibly even triple, if Kyrgios were to advance that far into the tournament.
While a run by Kyrgios all the way to the Final is unlikely, there’s no doubting his talent. His victory over Nadal featured arguably the “shot of the year” when he went between the legs to get a volley winner. It was an absolutely remarkable shot and demonstrated his incredible skill level. While he may be a year or two away from being a consistent threat to Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic, it would be far from a surprise to see Kyrgios play exceptionally well at this year’s Australian Open.
Monday, January 19th will be the first session of this year’s Australian Open. Fans will flock to Melbourne to see their favorite players and many of them will be rooting hard for the top players. Nonetheless, the biggest cheers will most likely be directed at Nick Kyrgios and if the young sensation can stay on the court, they will only get louder and louder.
