Jakub Mensik (CZE)

Czech Jakub Mensik had high hopes of becoming the first Czech men’s champion at Melbourne Park since Jiri Vesely 11 years earlier when he met Kuzuhara in the juniors final in January.

The 16-year-old beat the top-ranked American at the previous US Open but succumbed in a marathon showdown as severe thigh cramps set in.

The teenager made his qualifying debut at tour level in Belgrade, where he met experienced Briton Liam Broady in April.

Seeded No. 3 in Paris, Mensik comes in strong, having only reached his first ITF semi-final on home soil last week.

Petra Marcinko (CRO)

Croatia’s Marcinko picked up where she left off at the start of this season with her first Grand Slam women’s singles trophy at the Australian Open.

The 16-year-old had already swept the singles and doubles in the season-ending Orange Bowl to grab the No. 1 junior ranking last December before becoming the first Croatian since Ana Konjuh in 2013 to complete her Melbourne. Park campaign with victory over Sofia Costoulas.

Marcinko has shown no signs of dropping in form since. She picked up her first two ITF titles in Antalya, Turkey, in consecutive weeks in March and could follow in Konjuh’s footsteps in 2013 if she adds Roland Garros to her Australian Open crown.