In her first Sky Sports column of the year, Gigi Salmon takes a swing at Nick Kyrgios ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne. She also asks the key questions ahead of the first Grand Slam of 2025, the case for Coco Gauff, British hopes and being a supportive friend to Daniela Hantuchova.

“The toughest part of the Australian Open is getting there – not physically, that’s just a really long flight – but emotionally after a few weeks at home for Christmas. With a young family it’s hard to leave, even if top-class tennis and 30-degree temperatures await.

“In between prepping for the tennis and planning for the time I’m away – which this month includes a lot of U10 football matches and birthday parties – it’s been fascinating to watch the opening weeks of the new season and with the time difference, waking up each morning to a seemingly new Nick Kyrgios quote as he marks his return from injury.

“He is talking a good talk but his body has stuttered and he’s currently nursing an abdominal injury. All being well he will take to the court in a match against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the first round of the Australian Open.

“While there’s no question that Kyrgios is a great talent, his finger always seems to be hovering close to the self-destruct button. You wonder if his current digs on social media at world No 1 Jannik Sinner and whoever else dares question him are a way of distracting people from the tennis that he will be looking to play but hasn’t been able to due to injury.

“It’s got to the stage where you want to say, ‘just let your tennis do the talking’ and maybe someone with access can change the passwords on his social media accounts so he can’t use them!”

Key questions ahead of Australian Open

“The first honours of the year have gone to USA winning the United Cup, plus Aryna Sabalenka, Clara Tauson, Jiri Lehecka and Alexandre Muller. As I write this on the plane from Perth to Melbourne there are still four titles to be claimed before the Australian Open gets underway on Sunday.

“So what are some of the questions that we have going into the first Grand Slam of 2025? Will Novak Djokovic win an 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam singles title? Will the Djokovic-Andy Murray partnership survive the Australian summer? Can Sabalenka become the first player since Martina Hingis in the late 90s to win a third consecutive women’s singles title at Melbourne Park? And will Nick Kyrgios’ actions match his words.

“In short in answer to those, no, yes, yes and no!”

Random WhatsApp messages

“It’s also worth keeping a close eye on Coco Gauff, winner of last season’s WTA Finals and recently helping the USA to the United Cup in a run that included a great win against Iga Swiatek.

“I remember at the WTA 1000 event in Madrid last year as we were watching the match of the year unfold between eventual champion Swiatek and Sabalenka a discussion began as to whether a ‘Big Three’ – that we had in men’s tennis for so long – was forming in the women’s game.

“There was total agreement that Swiatek and Sabalenka were in it but then no agreement on who the third player could be, with – at the time – Elena Rybakina being the popular choice.

“Making a strong case for Gauff to be that player was Colin Fleming, despite the much talked about weaknesses in her game. Our discussion would continue throughout the rest of the season, largely over WhatsApp with random messages arriving when Gauff did well saying ‘Big Three?’

“While I continued to resist I have to say from what we have seen from Gauff in the last few months – her ability coming in line with her mental strength – I’m getting closer to agreeing. But she has a tough first match, one of the ties of the round up against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.”

British hopes in Melbourne

“British involvement sees four British women in the main draw and three men. British No 1 Katie Boulter is the 22nd seed following the best season of her career which saw her win two titles from three finals. As a seed, she will avoid another seed until at least the third round.

“Boulter kicks off against the Canadian Rebecca Marino who she has beaten in their two previous meetings.

“Emma Raducanu faces a seeded player in world No 27 Ekaterina Alexandrova who she was due to play at Wimbledon before Alexandrova withdrew on the eve of the tournament.

“Sonay Kartal – in her first Australian Open main draw – will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the reward for the winner being a meeting with world No 1 and defending champion Sabalenka or Sloane Stephens.

“If Jodie Burrage can navigate her first-round opponent, qualifier Leolia Jeanjean of France, Coco Gauff or Sofia Kenin await in round two.”

Could we see Draper and Alcaraz clash in Melbourne?

“British No 1 Jack Draper is in Grand Slam action for the first time since his run to the semi-finals in New York and in competitive action for the first time since the Paris Masters at the end of October after a hip injury he sustained in pre-season saw him pull out of the United Cup.

“He faces Argentina’s Mariano Navone and, should he get that far, would more than likely meet Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round.

“Cameron Norrie has been handed one of the most difficult first-round ties up against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who reached the semi-finals in Australia in 2022 and most recently helped Italy defend their Davis Cup title.

“They have met once before on the grass in 2021, with the Italian taking the win at Queens.

“If Kyrgios is fit to play, he will face Fearnley in round one, remembering that the Scot took a set off Novak Djokovic on his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last summer.

“Highlighting just how important getting into Grand Slam main draws has become is the first-round prize money, which stands at A$132,000 (£66,000). The total prize money has increased by nearly 12 per cent and the singles winners will walk away with A$3.5 million (around £1.74m).”

‘Supportive friend’ to Hantuchova

“Last year I was kept busy in Melbourne with a dual role. Alongside covering the event for Radio One, I was also named as ‘coach’ – which came complete with official accreditation – for former world No 5 Daniela Hantuchova, who was entered into the legends doubles with former Australian Open champion Li Na.

“I was fired after their first match (which they won) due to missing Dani’s 7am practice, which is apparently a sackable offence!

“Luckily I was re-hired in time for the celebrations when they won the event. Friendship firmly intact, I’m hoping to be a supportive friend this year and not a ‘coach’ as I can confirm the player box is a terrifying place to be when a point doesn’t work out as they intended and they turn to look at you as if it’s your fault!

“In terms of who walks away with Daphne and Norman in Melbourne, I think it will be a double defence with Sinner and Sabalenka coming out on top again!”

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

• ABN AMRO Open Rotterdam (ATP 500) – 3-9 February
• Dallas Open (ATP 500) – 3-9 February
• Delray Beach Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February
• IEB+ Argentina Open (ATP 250) – 10-16 February
• Open 13 Provence (ATP 250) – 10-16 February
• Transylvania Open (WTA 250) – 3-9 February
• Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) – 3-8 February
• Qatar TotalEnergies Open (WTA 1000) – 9-15 February
• Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) – 16-22 February

Watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live on Sky Sports in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.