The usual suspects Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are expected to compete at the Australian Open having won the last 10 Grand Slam titles between them.
Meanwhile, British hopes will rest on Jack Draper, as the world No.15 looks to build on a semi-final run at the US Open.
But apart from the established names – which we might also add, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz – there may be a real star in the group, in every sense of the word.
Mbechi Perekard hit 36 aces in his opening win over Nick Kyrgios in Brisbane
Frenchman Giovanni Mpiche Pericard is a serving machine.
The 21-year-old’s 6-foot-8 frame has helped him fire an average of 19 aces per game during the 2024 season, five more than nearest rival Hubert Hurkacz (13.4).
Mbechi Perekard started 2025 in the same vein, firing 36 aces in his opening win over Nick Kyrgios in Brisbane, 20 aces as he beat Frances Tiafoe, then 19 aces against Jakub Mencic.
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Watch highlights from Mbechi Pericard’s 6-4, 7-6 win over Frances Tiafoe to reach the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International.
That dropped to 10 after losing to Djokovic’s conqueror, Reilly Opelka, in the semi-finals, but he has certainly made his mark ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year, averaging 21.25 aces per match.
The key to Mbechi-Perekard is the slight change in speed between the average speed of his first (135 mph) and second (123 mph) serves.
How Mbechi Pericard progresses in 2024
The youngster from Lyon started 2024 ranked 205th in the world and had just two wins at ATP Tour level but finished 31st in the rankings and with two titles on the ATP Tour.
Mbechi Pericard beat Tomas Martin Echeverry on clay in his home city last May to claim his first ATP 250 title.
He then went one step further by winning the 500m in October, beating fellow great server Ben Shilton on the hard courts in Basel.
He also reached the round of 16 at Queen’s and Wimbledon during the grass court season, with victories over Shilton and Sebastian Korda.
In his epic five-set win over Korda at the All England Club, he served 51 aces and saved all 11 break points he faced.
Mbechi Perekare celebrates after winning the Basel Open, one of two titles he won last season
Will Mbechi Perekard be a top-five player in the future?
So, why is sending Mbechi Pericard such a dangerous weapon?
“I think people get a little carried away because you’re tall, you’ll get a good serve,” Brad Gilbert, a one-time world number four and former coach of Andy Murray and Coco Gauff, told the ATP Tour website. .
“He has a very easy, repeatable move. He doesn’t throw the ball high, and it comes out of his hand very quickly. It’s a very easy, repeatable move. I think it gets lost.”
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French wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard outpoints Frances Tiafoe during their opening round match at the Paris Masters.
“He doesn’t jump off the ground a lot. His serve doesn’t look cumbersome. For a guy so big, he has a very easy, smooth, comfortable movement. Repeatable. That’s what you see right away.”
“Can he catch me? [serve] The ridiculous rate he does it against all players then he does it against A [Jannik] Sinner or [Carlos] Alcaraz?
He added: “If he can go from breaking serve at 10% to 15 or 17% and hold serve, he will definitely be one of the top five players.”
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