By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

 

With Australian players looking to make the second week in Melbourne, no wonder the country feels upbeat about its tennis future.

Photo Credit: Corleve

We are just entering the second round of this year's Australian Open. But down under it's already cause for celebration.

Australian Open: Pick Four on Day Three

That's because the host country is enjoying, so far, a banner year for its local players at their home Grand Slam. After the opening round, six men and three women from the continent are into the second round. That equals the most homegrown players to reach the last 64 in Australia since 2004.

From veterans like former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt who, as we all know, could always be playing his last year on tour to US Open winner Sam Stosur, whose nervy struggles at home are well documented, so far this Australian Open is going much better than the home crowd could have ever hoped.

Stosur, after her opening round win, was asked to muse on another Australian, Marinko Matosevic, and his recent comment that it was now a "Golden Age" for Australian tennis.

"I think it's really fantastic. Yesterday was an unbelievable day here with how many Aussies got through and great matches. Having so many of us in the draw at the moment is I guess maybe a bit different from the last two, three years. Yeah, I think it's really exciting. There is obviously those young guys coming up, and I'm hopeful there will be more girls in coming years. Look, I think we're in a really good spot, and obviously we're all trying hard to keep getting to the top of world tennis, not just Australian tennis."

The real focus though is on several young Aussie "mates" who are tipped for even bigger things in the future.

Both Australian No. 1 Nick Kyrgios and his friend Thanasi Kokkinakis gutted out five set wins to reach the second round. Now that their victories have been celebrated far and wide across the continent, the real challenge begins on Wednesday.

Kyrgios gets a tough test against big serving Ivo Karlovic. Kokkinakis faces a similar test against fellow Aussie in Sam Groth who currently holds an unofficial record for the fastest men's serve ever hit.

In even better news for the locals, if Bernard Tomic beats No. 22 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber during their second round match, he will face the winner of either Kokkinakis or Groth. End result - an Australian man will definitely at least make the round of 16.

While no is expecting, outside of a long shot, for any Australian to actually win the whole thing, it's refreshing and downright a relief to see this many Aussies actually being in the conversation of a major, especially their own during the first week. The nation enjoys one of the richest tennis histories in the sport. But, after Hewitt's heyday as World No. 1 a decade ago, Australia has only had fleeting moments of relevance on the biggest of stages.

While Stosur's breakthrough by winning the 2011 US Open and Kyrgios' own at last year's Wimbledon certainly reminded everyone that Australian players can certainly deliver when it counts, it feels like the fans back home definitely want more of that on a daily basis as they enjoyed it back in the glory days of Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson and Margaret Court.

Today's players appear ready for the challenge.

Kyrgios, echoed the thoughts of his fellow players by saying, "It's exciting when you have guys like Lleyton Hewitt still playing and guys coming up. I don't think Australian tennis has been in this position for a long time. Sam Groth's playing some unbelievable tennis. He has a lot of confidence. (James) Duckworth. There's so many names right now, so it's just an exciting time."

Whatever happens over the next two weeks in Melbourne, one thing is for sure. The cry of "Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi! Oi Oi!" is likely to be heard more often as the new season stretches across the globe.