So the clay season is about to start, and it isn't a traditional strength for Australians.
I think this year might mark the start of a new era though, so thought a thread to keep a track of what happens might be worthwhile, and to kick it off, here's my appraisal of some of the prospects. Others may have a different take though, and I haven't included everyone here, so please do add/comment on the list (more or less in order of how well I think they'll do).
Kyrgios (current liveranking: 34)
Mr Kyrgios' ATP player profile says that he 'enjoys playing on all surfaces' and will surely be looking to at least equal his grass and hard slam quarter-final runs with a clay run at Roland Garros this year. And he has every prospect of doing so in my view.
His challenger record on clay is outstanding - two titles, and a 10:1 win: loss ratio.
More importantly, Kyrgios' first ever grand slam match win was at Roland Garros back in 2013 (when he was still also playing juniors), over Radek Stepanek, then ranked 52. He went down in the next round to then world number 11 Marin Cilic.
Last year he was unlucky to draw Raonic in the first round of RG. If he manages to stay uninjured long enough to play a few lead up matches, though, this year he could be seeded for RG, and could then hope to earn enough points to put him in pole position for his Wimbly run...
Kokkinakis (current live ranking: 106)
Mr Kokkinakis nominates his favourite surfaces as clay and hard.
The clay is easy to understand - he won his very first professional ranking point on it almost exactly four years ago at the tender age of 14 (albeit a week shy of his fifteenth birthday).
His best result to date on clay is a semi-final last year at the Heilbronn Challenger, his deepest challenger run to date (and given his tour level results he may well never play another challenger!). Admittedly his other two clay results last year were first round crash outs but that largely reflects some unlucky draws in the form of Donald Young (81) and one Nicolas Kyrgios.
Expect Kokkinakis to make the jump into the top 100 (and more) early in the clay season this year.
Unless he is amazingly lucky though, unlikely to make the RG MD cut, since entry closes this coming week. Which raises an interesting question: will he get the TA wc (my bet would be yes)??!
Groth (current live ranking - 92)
Mr Groth made the RG doubles SF last year, and so will be looking to defend those points, as well as make his mark in doubles at least, at the clay masters.
Up until now he hasn't chosen to play much by way of singles on clay (beyond a few rounds of qualifying for RG). His lower level clay record isn't too shabby though - a futures title on clay, and semi-final at St Brieuc Challenger back in 2010.
Could be a dark horse once again in the Aussie field.
Tomic (live ranking: 27)
Clay has never been a great strength for Tomic (except where the Davis Cup is involved) and last year the only match he won was qualifying round 1 at Madrid v Llodra.
But last year he was still recovering from that hip surgery. He also seems pretty keen to keep up with or better Messrs Kyrios/Kokkinakis, plus will have seeding, so might yet surprise.
Matosevic (current live ranking: 78)
Made his grand slam breakthrough last year at Roland Garros so will clearly be hoping to go one better this year. Had a reasonable set of results on clay last year, including qualifying for Monte Carlo and Madrid, and winning three tour level matches (including one at Madrid).
Duckworth (current live ranking: 85)
Clay isn't his preferred surface, but he does have five futures titles on it. Some of his most inconsistent results last year occurred on clay though, making it a little hard to assess his prospects.
But he made the finals of the Santiago challenger last year and has made it through qualifying for RG twice, so in with more than a chance of doing well now that he has the ranking for main draw direct entry in the bag.
Bolt (current live ranking: 159)
In hot form at the moment and has a fairly good record on clay, currently 8:5 at challenger level. Could make a good showing in RG qualifying.
Kubler (current live ranking: 154)
Australia's clay specialist, with one challenger title from last year. Kubler is yet to be really tested at tour level however. He made a poor start to the year (currently stands at 0:2) and hasn't played for the last couple of months, and so has dropped back in the rankings. Makes a return at Sarasota next week though and doesn't have many points to defend over the next couple of months.
At the beginning of the year he looked like he had a lock on the RG wildcard. Lack of recent form and competition in the form of Mr Kokkinakis (and others) though may have put that in jeopardy.
Hewitt (live ranking: 108)
Clay is obviously not his surface, but he is just two match wins short of a hundred on clay, would be so nice to get those before he retires. That said, only managed one win last year off four tournies, and his form since has fallen drastically. He is entered for Houston though, so may yet make it if he gets a good draw.
Will he want to play RG this year? Seems doubtful - he hasn't won a match there in five years.
I think this year might mark the start of a new era though, so thought a thread to keep a track of what happens might be worthwhile, and to kick it off, here's my appraisal of some of the prospects. Others may have a different take though, and I haven't included everyone here, so please do add/comment on the list (more or less in order of how well I think they'll do).
Kyrgios (current liveranking: 34)
Mr Kyrgios' ATP player profile says that he 'enjoys playing on all surfaces' and will surely be looking to at least equal his grass and hard slam quarter-final runs with a clay run at Roland Garros this year. And he has every prospect of doing so in my view.
His challenger record on clay is outstanding - two titles, and a 10:1 win: loss ratio.
More importantly, Kyrgios' first ever grand slam match win was at Roland Garros back in 2013 (when he was still also playing juniors), over Radek Stepanek, then ranked 52. He went down in the next round to then world number 11 Marin Cilic.
Last year he was unlucky to draw Raonic in the first round of RG. If he manages to stay uninjured long enough to play a few lead up matches, though, this year he could be seeded for RG, and could then hope to earn enough points to put him in pole position for his Wimbly run...
Kokkinakis (current live ranking: 106)
Mr Kokkinakis nominates his favourite surfaces as clay and hard.
The clay is easy to understand - he won his very first professional ranking point on it almost exactly four years ago at the tender age of 14 (albeit a week shy of his fifteenth birthday).
His best result to date on clay is a semi-final last year at the Heilbronn Challenger, his deepest challenger run to date (and given his tour level results he may well never play another challenger!). Admittedly his other two clay results last year were first round crash outs but that largely reflects some unlucky draws in the form of Donald Young (81) and one Nicolas Kyrgios.
Expect Kokkinakis to make the jump into the top 100 (and more) early in the clay season this year.
Unless he is amazingly lucky though, unlikely to make the RG MD cut, since entry closes this coming week. Which raises an interesting question: will he get the TA wc (my bet would be yes)??!
Groth (current live ranking - 92)
Mr Groth made the RG doubles SF last year, and so will be looking to defend those points, as well as make his mark in doubles at least, at the clay masters.
Up until now he hasn't chosen to play much by way of singles on clay (beyond a few rounds of qualifying for RG). His lower level clay record isn't too shabby though - a futures title on clay, and semi-final at St Brieuc Challenger back in 2010.
Could be a dark horse once again in the Aussie field.
Tomic (live ranking: 27)
Clay has never been a great strength for Tomic (except where the Davis Cup is involved) and last year the only match he won was qualifying round 1 at Madrid v Llodra.
But last year he was still recovering from that hip surgery. He also seems pretty keen to keep up with or better Messrs Kyrios/Kokkinakis, plus will have seeding, so might yet surprise.
Matosevic (current live ranking: 78)
Made his grand slam breakthrough last year at Roland Garros so will clearly be hoping to go one better this year. Had a reasonable set of results on clay last year, including qualifying for Monte Carlo and Madrid, and winning three tour level matches (including one at Madrid).
Duckworth (current live ranking: 85)
Clay isn't his preferred surface, but he does have five futures titles on it. Some of his most inconsistent results last year occurred on clay though, making it a little hard to assess his prospects.
But he made the finals of the Santiago challenger last year and has made it through qualifying for RG twice, so in with more than a chance of doing well now that he has the ranking for main draw direct entry in the bag.
Bolt (current live ranking: 159)
In hot form at the moment and has a fairly good record on clay, currently 8:5 at challenger level. Could make a good showing in RG qualifying.
Kubler (current live ranking: 154)
Australia's clay specialist, with one challenger title from last year. Kubler is yet to be really tested at tour level however. He made a poor start to the year (currently stands at 0:2) and hasn't played for the last couple of months, and so has dropped back in the rankings. Makes a return at Sarasota next week though and doesn't have many points to defend over the next couple of months.
At the beginning of the year he looked like he had a lock on the RG wildcard. Lack of recent form and competition in the form of Mr Kokkinakis (and others) though may have put that in jeopardy.
Hewitt (live ranking: 108)
Clay is obviously not his surface, but he is just two match wins short of a hundred on clay, would be so nice to get those before he retires. That said, only managed one win last year off four tournies, and his form since has fallen drastically. He is entered for Houston though, so may yet make it if he gets a good draw.
Will he want to play RG this year? Seems doubtful - he hasn't won a match there in five years.
