Australian Open 2025: 5 dark horses to win the men’s singles title ft. Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper

Nick Kyrgios, Jack Draper, and Taylor Fritz are the underdogs who are capable of winning their first Grand Slam at the 2025 Australian Open.


Australian Open 2025: 5 dark horses to win the men’s singles title ft. Taylor Fritz, Jack Draper

Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz (via X)

The first Grand Slam tournament of 2025 will get underway at the Australian Open on January 12. The men’s singles draw was made public on Thursday (January 9), with Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner taking the spotlight. Also, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev have been touted as favorites to win the title if the first aforementioned three fail to do so.

These top players are rightfully leading title contenders in Melbourne because of their quality and experience at such events. However, there are plenty of players who aren’t among them but are genuine threats to the top stars.

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In this article, we will take a look at five of them, who are described as dark horses that could potentially make a run to win the men’s singles Australian Open title.

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5) Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios winning a Major title after eighteen months on the sideline would be something out of the world. The Australian star came close to achieving that at the Wimbledon Championship in 2022, but he lost to Novak Djokovic in the final. However, he is an Australian Open doubles champion.

Also, he’s known for using mind-blowing techniques against his opponent, who later fall into his trap and he ends up defeating them. Although, fans will point out that the 29-year-old is still dealing with another injury following his comeback, it is hard to write the script when it comes to Kyrgios.

Nick Kyrgios (via X)

He wouldn’t be aiming to play at the Australian Open, if he doesn’t believe he has the smallest chance of winning it. But, it all comes down to how physically fit and healthy he will be at the tournament.

4) Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe has established himself as one of the dark horses in big tournaments. The American did so last year by reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open and the semifinals of the US Open. However, Melbourne has been quite a home for the first 26-year-old. It was where he made his first Major breakthrough when he advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Australian Open.

Frances Tiafoe (via Brisbane International)

Since then, he has made it to the semifinals of a Grand Slam twice. He is known for playing a unique style that has attracted fans to him, and he’s also known for beating top players on the Big stage. This year, the seventeenth seed will be hoping to achieve the impossible and perhaps beat his 2019 record.

3) Ben Shelton

One of the brightest sensational stars in the ATP Tour, Ben Shelton, is known for playing his best at Grand Slam events. The American first Major breakthrough was at the Australian Open in 2023 when he reached the quarterfinals. He then followed it up with another impressive semifinal run at the US Open later that year.

Ben Shelton (via ATP)

In 2024, he failed to match the height he set in 2023 and is yet to win a single match in 2025 after losing to Jakub Mensik in the first round of the ASB Auckland Classics. However, Shelton has proven in the past that he’s capable of bringing out his best when underrated at big events. He has the quality to defeat the top players in the tournament, as his left-handed forehand often deceives his opponents.

The American youngster will just need to hold his nerve in crucial moments of matches and make sure he hits the right sport. Surely, he doesn’t have an easy task in Melbourne due to his form but he understands what it takes to get the job done on the court.

2) Jack Draper

The British World No.1 was a scintillating player to watch last year. He gained momentum as the year went on and won his first two career titles. However, his major issue has been a recurring injury and health troubles that caused him to pause sometimes in his career. But he managed to succeed in 2024 despite being bogged down by it.

Jack Draper (via X)

Jack Draper is yet to play a single competitive match this season after sustaining a hip injury during the off-season. He was forced to withdraw from the United Cup as a precautionary measure to get fit ahead of the Australian Open.

But, looking back at his performance in the 2024 US Open, it’s hard to write off the 23-year-old. He had an impressive run in New York, reaching the semifinals before suffering a tough defeat against Jannik Sinner. Draper has been lauded to be the successor of Andy Murray, who ended as runners-up in Melbourne on five occasions.

1) Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz was one of the most improved players of the 2024 season. The American star will be looking to continue with the momentum but ultimately turn his good form into results by winning a Major title. Last season, he disappointedly lost out of the US Open after his loss to Jannik Sinner.

He tried winning the biggest title of his career at the ATP Finals in Turin but fell agonizingly short again to Sinner. He now has a deep motivation to win after the two losses. Also, the 27-year-old has what it takes to win in big stages because of his excellent serve and good groundstrokes.

Taylor Fritz (via X)

He began the 2025 season with a solid start at the United Cup. The World No.4 played a pivotal role in Team USA winning the title after two years. In fact, his victory against Hubert Hurkacz in the final sealed their victory.