Young Players Give Signs of Australian Tennis Revival

On Tennis

By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY

MELBOURNE, Australia — It was Rafael Nadal’s night at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, as he found a way to win when his body was sending him all the wrong signals.

But it was also Australia’s night, and from the look of the talent pool, there could be plenty more big nights ahead as the years of Lleyton Hewitt carrying the flag and the load at the Australian Open give way to a group effort.

There are no guarantees in men’s tennis: look at the Argentine star Juan Martín del Potro’s three wrist surgeries and the Swedish star Robin Soderling’s long-term absence after mononucleosis.

But the Australians, who once produced generation after generation of world-class players, have — after a lull — managed to generate a new wave of great promise, one that began with Bernard Tomic, who has now been joined by the teenagers Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

On Friday against Jaziri, Kyrgios will probably play on the same court, which he calls simply “Rod.” Groth and Tomic will face each other.

“A guaranteed Aussie in the fourth round, which is amazing,” Groth said.

If the new Australian wave lives up to its potential, the fourth round won’t be considered much of an adrenaline rush.

An earlier version of this article misstated Sam Groth’s world ranking. He is No. 82, not 87.

A version of this article appears in print on January 22, 2015, in The International New York Times. Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe

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