MELBOURNE: For the first time in 43 years, there are three Australian men’s seeds competing at their home grand slam tournament.

Yet guess who is hogging all the headlines?

The one and only Nick Kyrgios, of course, as he prepares to play in his first grand slam event since the 2022 US Open.

Watch the Australian Open live & free on the 9Network & 9Now. Stan Sport is the only place to watch every match ad-free, live & on demand with centre court in 4K

The uber-talented but polarising 29-year-old insists his theatrics are good for tennis but it will be a relief to finally see his actions do the talking again – providing his abdominal injury allows.

“Personally I’d like to start talking more about the potential champions than people that are making cameos,” Mark Petchey said on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily preview show on Sunday.

“And obviously from Nick’s point of view, he’s made himself super relevant with the things that he’s been saying, in terms of newsworthiness and everything else.

READ MORE: Cult hero oldest man to win tour-level title in 48 years

READ MORE: Legend tips Sinner to cop monster doping ban

READ MORE: Roddick issues AO challenge to ‘influencer’ Kyrgios

“But listen, we’re here for the tennis, we’re here to see somebody that can light things up, and Nick can do that. There’s no question.

“He comes here undercooked, obviously he’s got the ab strain, he’s got the wrist potential problem there as well, but he is that good that he could go through this draw to some degree. I’m fascinated to see what sort of shape he hits the courts in.”

Kyrgios will start his singles campaign against Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley on Monday.

Petchey is a former professional player who also coached Andy Murray before becoming a respected analyst.

While acknowledging Kyrgios’ undeniable talent, Petchey argued the biggest story at the Australian Open should be Carlos Alcaraz’s bid for a career grand slam.

The Norman Brookes Challenge Cup remains the only grand slam title to elude the Spanish superstar and he told Stan Sport last year about his burning desire to smash idol Rafael Nadal’s record.

Eight men have achieved career grand slams: Nadal, Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Nadal was the youngest to collect the full set of silverware when he won his first US Open as a 24-year-old in 2010.

“Yeah, hurry up Carlos – I mean, what are you doing?” Petchey laughed in conversation with GSD host Chris Stubbs.

“I mean, seriously, you know, the career grand slam, and you haven’t done it by 21?

“I mean, honestly, I mean this guy is slacking big time. Listen, obviously from his point of view, he’s had a couple of tough losses here, but he knows obviously how to win slams – and on hard courts.

“He comes in here not with just a fresh (hair) cut on the head, but also with a new service motion, a slightly heavier racquet.”

Alcaraz’s best result at the AO to date is the quarter-finals last year, losing in four sets to Alexander Zverev.

“He is looking for the edge that’s going to take him through the finishing line here in Australia for the first time,” Petchey said.

“And arguably this is the biggest story for me. I mean, if he can do the career grand slam by the time he’s 21, faster than any male player has ever done it, it is off the charts in terms of an achievement.”