NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)

Age: 34

Ranking: 1

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US151,870,635

Career titles: 86

Grand slam titles: 20 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16, 2019-21; French Open 2016, 2021; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021; US Open 2011, 2015, 2018)

Australian Open win-loss record: 82-8

Best Australian Open results: champion 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021

The unvaccinated superstar remains a doubtful starter as he anxiously awaits a decision on whether or not Australia's Immigration Minister cancels his visa. What mental and physical toll the whole ordeal has on the world No.1 is anyone's guess.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV (RUS)

Age: 25

Ranking: 2

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US22,126,356

Career titles: 13

Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2021)

Australian Open win-loss record: 13-5

Best Australian Open result: finalist 2021

If there was any debate around who is Djokovic's heir apparent, the Russian emphatically ended all arguments with his comprehensive straight-sets victory over the Serb in last year's US Open final.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV (GER)

Age: 24

Ranking: 3

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US30,047,875

Career titles: 19

Grand slam titles: 0

Australian Open win-loss record: 16-6

Best Australian Open result: semi-finalist 2020

Germany's Olympic and season-ending champion is under pressure to finally land his maiden major after declaring he and Medvedev had replaced Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Big Three of men's tennis.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS (GRE)

Age: 23

Ranking: 4

Plays: right-handed

Career prize money: $US16,345,212

Career titles: 7

Grand slam titles: 0

Australian Open win-loss record: 10-4

Best Australian Open results: semi-finalist 2019, 2021

The two-time semi-finalist and 2021 French Open runner-up would ordinarily be considered one of the leading title fancies but has arrived in Melbourne under a fitness cloud following elbow surgery in November.

ANDREY RUBLEV (RUS)

Age: 24

Ranking: 5

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US9,997,504

Career titles: 8

Grand slam titles: 0

Australian Open win-loss record: 10-5

Best Australian Open result: quarter-finalist 2021

The Russian has emerged as a perennial second-week grand slam challenger in recent years and collected four hardcourt titles last season to confirm his status as a genuine Melbourne Park threat.

RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)

Age: 35

Ranking: 6

Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US125,050,235

Career titles: 89

Grand slam titles: 20 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005-08; 2010-14; 2016-2020; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; US Open 2010, 2013, 20

Australian Open win-loss record: 69-15

Best Australian Open results: champion 2009; finalist 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019

Like Djokovic, the great Spaniard is chasing a record 21st grand slam crown and opened his season in style with a watershed title in Melbourne that made him the first man to lift a trophy for 19 consecutive years.

BEST OUTSIDER

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME (CAN)

Age: 21

Ranking: 9

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US5,923,135

Career titles: 0

Grand slam titles: 0

Australian Open win-loss record: 3-2

Best Australian Open result: fourth round 2021

Doubts remain over the two-time grand slam semi-finalist's big-match steel following defeats in all nine of his tour finals but a win over Roberta Bautista Agut in Canada's ATP Cup-deciding tie this month may prove a turning point.

BEST AUSSIE HOPE

ALEX DE MINAUR

Age: 22

Ranking: 34

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US6,028,156

Career titles: 5

Grand slam titles: 0

Australian Open win-loss record: 5-4

Best Australian Open result: third round 2019, 2021

A bout of COVID-19 knocked the one-time world No.15 about but wins over 2021 Wimbledon finallist Matteo Berrettini and rising Frenchman Ugo Humbert at the season-opening ATP Cup have lifted his spirits.

Australian Associated Press