Thursday 24 May 2018 14:28, UK
There were two British champions at last year's Australian Open but you may not have heard of them.
Andy Lapthorne and Gordon Reid lifted doubles titles at the 2017 event with Reid also achieving the doubles career Grand Slam.
Both will return to Melbourne to defend their titles alongside two other Brits who also rank among the best in the world - Alfie Hewett and Lucy Shuker.
Lapthorne, who won the quads doubles title with USA's David Wagner and finished as runner-up in the singles in 2017, will be looking to impress when he returns to Melbourne.
The British No 1 told Sky Sports: "Last year was such a big year. Not only did I get my fifth Australian Open doubles title but also, when I played in the singles final, me and Dylan (Alcott) played on Rod Laver Arena, before the final with the Williams sisters in a prime-time slot.
"That was huge and I think they are talking about putting more finals on there this year which is great for the sport."
Reid goes into the Australian Open as a defending doubles champion but also having finished 2017 with a Super Series and ITF1 singles title to his name and the year-end world No 1 doubles rankings.
The 25-year-old, who featured in all four Grand Slam doubles finals - lifting trophies in Australia, Wimbledon and at the US Open - comes into the new season after some impressive performances at the end of 2017.
Two of his titles last season were alongside countryman Hewett, with whom he has formed a formidable on-court partnership.
Known amongst fans as 'Team Heid', there is a strong chance that when these two pair up they will feature in a final.
"When we are both on our A-game we are the perfect package, showcasing some world class tennis, but equally when it gets gritty we can grind it out and pull together to get the win too," Hewett said.
Also in Hewett's sights in Melbourne as well as the singles and doubles titles, is the world No 1 singles ranking.
After winning the NEC singles masters in December he has closed the gap on the current top-ranked player, Gustavo Fernandez, to just over 250 points.
Hewett added: "Being world No 1 is something I've always dreamed of achieving and I wasn't expecting to have the potential to get there so early on in my career.
"If I'm world No 1 by the end of Australia that would be an amazing start to the year.
"But the men's division is so tough right now you can't predict who will be in that final because on their day anyone can beat anyone in the top 10 - that's what makes it exciting."
Shuker seems to really dazzle in Australia - in 2017 she reached the later stages of all three of the tournaments that make up the Australian summer series.
One of her most memorable matches came in the Australian Open quarter-finals when she raced to a straight-sets win over Marjolein Buis.
The British No 1, no stranger to an Australian Open final, has reached the doubles finals in 2010 and 2013, finishing as runner-up on both occasions.
Shuker said: "I always love playing the Australian tournaments and last year I played really well out there so going into this year I'm going to take the positives from last year's performances and build on them."
