Australian Open 2012 Predictions: Top 10 Candidates for Breakout Superstar

There are some terrific young players ready to explode in 2012.

Tennis has become ever more competitive in recent times, as the world's best from the men's and women's game push the boundaries.

The 2012 Australian Open is the perfect stage for players to make an emphatic impact and lay down a marker for the rest of the year.

Each year, in Melbourne, several players use Melbourne Park as a spring board to fulfilling their incredible potential.

Here are 10 players who could make great progression in their careers on January 16th.

Sabine Lisicki, Germany

Sabine Lisicki is perhaps the superstar we all want to break out at the 2012 Australian Open.

The German charmed the tennis world at Wimbledon last year when she reached the semifinal with some superb tennis.

Superstardom requires world-class game, but also the persona and charisma to compliment her skills.

The 22-year-old has this in abundance as she instantly became a neutral's pick when she rallied to a three-set victory over Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinal of Wimbledon 2011.

The 15th seed has not started 2012 as she might have planned, as she was forced to retire at the 2012 ASB Classic Tournament against Angelique Kerber.

She then rested the back injury by skipping the 2012 Apia International Sydney which will hopefully allow sufficient time for her to kick-start her year in Melbourne.

Odds: 40/1

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is in for a huge 2012.

The Frenchman has declared he is prepared to take more risks this season in order to beat the top four players in the world.

We can expect shorter rallies with some one-two punches fired down the court at 140 MPH.

The 26-year-old's athleticism is a clear advantage over almost every player, except Rafael Nadal, and superstardom is just one Grand Slam away.

Tsonga possesses the charisma to rally a crowd behind him and needs to replicate his run in 2008 when he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets.

Two years a go, Nadal stepped his game up massively, and last year it was Novak Djokovic—could 2012 be Tsonga's turn?

Odds: 16/1

Samantha Stosur, Australia

Samantha Stosur is in the form of her career as she enters 2012.

The Australian claimed the US Open last year, and finally made the transition from a successful doubles player to a world-class singles player.

She possesses one of the best serves in the women's game with plenty of change-ups and the ability to flatten it out with super power.

Hard court is her favorite surface, and if she could follow up her first major of her career with a win in front of her adoring country's fans, she would become the superstar she can be worldwide.

Her story is incredible, as the 27-year-old successfully overcame Lyme disease five years ago and now possesses that complete game with the backhand slice able to allow her to dictate proceedings with set-ups before clinically dispatching half chances.

Odds: 11/1

Agnieszka Radwańska, Poland

Agnieszka Radwańska could be set to make a big impact at this year's Australian Open.

The Polish right-hander has consistently stayed around her current ranking of eight, and at 22 years old is now ready to aim for superstardom.

Having reached the quarterfinal stage twice at Melbourne Park in 2008 and 2011, there is no reason that she cannot surpass this stage.

She is gradually improving despite her lack of power, with equal comfort on both her forehand, particularly the inside-out, and her backhand.

Radwańska has carefully constructing her points in the last 12 months and her patience may allow her to work her way in to tournaments as others snatch at opportunities before their game is fully in to the swing of things.

Odds: 25/1

Bernard Tomic, Australia

Bernard Tomic burst on to the scene during Wimbledon 2011, succumbing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in a closely fought four-set match.

The 19-year-old is perhaps fulfilling his potential prematurely, but he has been thrust on to the international scene with Australia's dearth of talent allowing him to become an integral David Cup member already, with a 4-1 record.

The Aussie clearly has a chip on his shoulder after the incident with Lleyton Hewitt when he was 17 years old, when he turned down the former world No. 1's invitation for a practice session.

This can be used as a positive as he aims to reach the pinnacle of the game.

Odds: 66/1

Milos Raonic, Canada

Milos Raonic is destined for big things.

The Canadian is somebody to keep an eye on, as he's already begun the year on fire.

Raonic claimed the 2012 Aircel Chennai Open with a three-set win over Janko Tipsarevic.

The most impressive thing about this super-talent is a phenomenal holder of his serve, as he proved with his second ATP title by not dropping serve all tournament.

He is determined to help tennis grow in Canada, as he declared allegiance to the country for his career, despite the potential to represent Great Britain and follow the path of Greg Rusedski.

Odds: 66/1

Victoria Azarenka, Belarus

Victoria Azarenka enters the tournament as the shortest-priced woman without a singles grand slam victory already in his career.

The Belorussian was disappointed to lose at the semifinal of Wimbledon 2011, as eventual champion Petra Kvitova triumphed in three sets.

The 22-year-old is seemed to wilt in the final set and will need to develop a more ruthless game or gain a greater level of fitness in order to become the star she can be.

Odds: 15/2

Juan Martin Del Potro, Argentina

Everything about this man tells me superstar.

His languid style may not be pretty, and he's certainly not one of the better movers in tennis.

But he is beginning to become versatile on all surfaces as he demonstrated by taking Rafael Nadal to the wire in Sevilla in the David Cup tie.

Previously just an offensive base liner, the Argentine has developed somewhat and is beginning to use his huge frame to return much more consistently and develop longer rallies whereby he can bully his opponents with his monster forehand that often tops 100 MPH.

When matched up against the right players, it can be sensational to watch del Potro blast against a great ball retriever prepared to rally from the back court.

He is a champion, having claimed the 2009 US Open, showing he has the stamina to go the distance in grand-slam format, with a new found determination after overcoming a wrist injury.

A second Grand Slam will propel the big man to superstardom.

Odds: 11/1

Petra Kvitová, Czech Republic

Petra Kvitová is this year's Australian Open favorite, as the 2011 Wimbledon champion aims to begin a new era of women's tennis.

The Czech is quite capable of racking up at least two more Grand Slams this season to announce herself as the next great player in the women's game.

At just 21 years old, Kvitová is incredibly gutsy as she often goes for the big second serve.

Her timing is exceptional, and she often meets the ball early in order to mask her lack of pace.

Odds: 13/5

Andy Murray, Great Britain

Andy Murray is undoubtedly the next "superstar" in the men's game.

When you consider the top three are a class apart, what does Murray need to do in order to join this group of all-time great players?

Not a lot is the short answer, as Murray has consistently proven he can beat anybody at his best, with 22 career titles so far.

The 24-year-old needs that "clutch gene" at crucial moments in Grand Slams to take that next leap of faith.

At times he is too conservative and needs to be as ruthless as he has been in the ATP Tour Series in thoroughly beating Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on multiple occasions.

His counter-punching style is very effective, but he needs to go from a conservative-type counter-puncher to a lethal finisher who can change momentum more consistently.

Odds: 9/2

Let me know your thoughts and opinions on the players mentioned and others I didn't mention as we build up to the 2012 Australian Open.

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