Kei Nishikori

Country: Japan

Age: 22

Ranking: 26

Career highlight: Won Delray Beach International (2008).

Profile: Asia's best player since Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan. A Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy graduate who won his first, and only, ATP event in 2008. Bouncing back to top form after elbow injury.

Bernard Tomic

Country: Australia

Age: 19

Ranking: 37

Career highlight: Reached quarterfinals of Wimbledon (2011).

Profile: Australian rising star who opened the world's eyes with a stunning run at Wimbledon last year. Unorthodox style is a great advantage, but work ethic has been questioned.

Milos Raonic

Country: Canada

Age: 21

Ranking: 25

Career highlights: Won Chennai Open (2012), SAP Open (2011).

Profile: The best Canadian player since umm since umm, OK, Greg Rusedski. Is touted by many opponents and pundits of the game as the man most likely to crack the Big Four.

Julia Goerges

Country: Germany

Age: 23

Ranking: 23

Career highlights: Two victories over world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

Profile: Uber talented young Fraulein who has yet to fulfill her promise on the world stage. Reached the third round of all the Slams last year and is expected to go further in each in 2012.

Christina McHale

Country: United States

Age: 19

Ranking: 43

Career highlight: Beat Wozniacki in Cincinnati (2011).

Profile: The United States' second highest ranked player behind Serena Williams. Has the game to trouble any of the world's top players but needs to string more victories together at big events.

Ashleigh Barty

Country: Australia

Age: 15

Ranking: 679

Career highlight: Junior Wimbledon champion (2011)

Profile: The land Down Under's most promising prospect since Evonne Goolagong. Her coach says, at her age, she is better then Martina Hingis. He should know, he also coached the Swiss Miss.

(China Daily 01/15/2012 page8)