Australian Open: John Millman starts campaign with eye on Olympics

John Millman will have an eye on the future as much as the present when he begins his Australian Open on Monday.

John Millman in action against Benoit Paire in Auckland last week. Millman plays Ugo Humbert in the first round of the Australian Open. Picture: Getty Images

John Millman will have an eye on the future as much as the present when he begins his Australian Open on Monday in what shapes as a particularly difficult test.

Millman, 30, who has drawn New Zealand Open winner Ugo Humbert, is pursuing a spot on the Australian Olympic team for Tokyo later this year.

The Queenslander has enjoyed a fruitful start to the season, posting two wins from as many outings for Australia in the ATP Cup and then reaching a quarter-final in Auckland last week.

But he knows he must continue performing at a high level if he is to make the Olympics.

“I’d love to get enough points and get my ranking to a place I qualify for that,” he said.

Millman is yet to play Humbert, 21, who is a rising talent. The Frenchman claimed his first title in New Zealand, edging the final against compatriot Benoit Paire, who was the man who halted Millman in a tight-three set match earlier in the week in Auckland.

“I’m going to have my work cut out for me in my match for sure,” Millman said.

Millman is among the eight Australians in action on Monday, headlined by world No 1 Ash Barty, who faces Lesia Tsurenko on Rod Laver Arena at 7pm.

Barty said on Sunday that she was delighted by the progress of younger Australian women including Lizzie Cabrera, who was narrowly beaten in a quarter-final in Hobart by eventual champion Elina Rybakina and will play qualifier Ann Li.

Of the seven Australian women in the draw, five hail from Queensland and Barty is thrilled by the depth of talent produced in her state.

“Those girls are on their own journey, on an incredible journey,” she said. “I have a lot of time for those girls. They’re … incredible people and great athletes.”

Alexei Popyrin, 20, who won at least one match at all four grand slams last year in an encouraging first full season on tour, faces French veteran Jo-Wilfred Tsonga on Tuesday.

Popyyrin is looking forward to the clash against the 2008 Australian Open finalist.

“It’s going to be special, so special, when I go out there just before the coin toss, to stand on the other side of the net to him, it’s going to be an unbelievable experience,” Popyrin said.

“He (Wilfred-Tsonga) has experience on his side. He made the final in (2008) and I watched that final against Djokovic. He was one of my favourite players growing up. So it just gives the match a bit more excitement for me, you still want to go out there and beat him though, even though he was your idol growing up.

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“I watched him play, and you try to play like him, so it’s going to be fun.”

Sam Stosur will begin her 19th Australian Open against promising American Caty McNally, who qualified for the tournament.

The 2011 US Open champion started the season in promising fashion with a win over former world No 1 Angelique Kerber in Brisbane but was an early casualty in Hobart last week.

The 35-year-old is the reigning Australian Open doubles champion but is chasing her first singles win in Melbourne since 2015.

WHO THE AUSSIES PLAY IN THE FIRST ROUND

Andrew Harris, 25, will have the distinction of being the first Australian on court on day one at Melbourne Park.

The son of former Australian Open women’s quarter-finalist Anne Minter, Harris faces a baptism of fire against eighth-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini.

The Melbourne local earned a wildcard after soaring up the rankings from No 400 at the end of 2018 to his current standing of 162nd in the world.

Harris won the French Open and Wimbledon boys’ doubles titles with Nick Kyrgios in 2012.

A graduate of the US college system, Harris honed his game under the guidance of Andy Roddick’s brother John and came within a match of qualifying for the Wimbledon main draw last year. Win or lose, Harris is guaranteed $90,000 — the biggest cheque of his career.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP