“There are some exciting young players in Emerson Jones and Taylah Preston coming through, Liv Gadecki is another one to watch. I hope to see Ajla back to her best this summer too, I always love watching her play.

“We have so many Australian players competing in the main draw across singles, doubles and mixed. It’s an awesome opportunity for the Australian public to watch and enjoy the next group of talent coming through. Fingers crossed we have a few going deep into the second week.”

While the women’s side of the draw was still building, former world No.33 John Millman believed male prospects were on the verge of delivering grand slam success.

Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson have come off career-best years, and now Australia appeared destined to have three seeded chances at the Australian Open.

Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios also revealed he intended to feature in Melbourne after a long injury layoff.

De Minaur has fought an injury-plagued end to 2024. A hip concern forced him to withdraw from the Wimbledon quarter-finals and Paris Olympics, before his strong run at the US Open was hampered by the issue.

However, Millman revealed he had spoken with the 25-year-old, and he appeared on track for an imminent comeback.

“I think he could’ve gone a little deeper at the US Open if his body was right. I’ve spoken to him, and … that body is definitely on the mend,” Millman said.

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“He’ll want it peaking this Australian summer, but then you’ve got Alexei Popyrin, our first Masters champion in over 20 years since the great Lleyton Hewitt.

“I think there’s a real opportunity, especially in men’s tennis, right now. There is probably a bit of a changing of the guard, and we know how good your [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcarazes are, but I think a couple of our boys aren’t too far away.”