Australian Open 2013: 5 Guys to Watch During the Tournament

With the Australian Open a few days away from beginning, the draws have been released for the men's and women's events.

This year's men's tournament has a lot of intrigue, with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer battling for the No. 1 ranking and Andy Murray looking to capture his second straight Grand Slam. Here are 5 players to keep an eye on during the tournament, a mix of stars and young guns.

Grigor Dimitrov

The Bulgarian is making news in tennis for his nice start to the season, reaching the finals in Brisbane, and in his personal life, as rumors are swirling around him being involved with Maria Sharapova.

On the court though, this is a pivotal Slam for Dimitrov, who has the talent to at least make it to the third round or even further. It's time for him to start having consistent results.

Richard Gasquet

Gasquet has played some excellent tennis to start the season, winning the Exxon Mobil Open in Doha. Gasquet is starting to play closer to the baseline and be a little more offensive, which will end up paying huge dividends.

Gasquet is a popular dark horse pick to spoil the fun of the Big Three.

Jerzy Janowicz

Janowicz was the story of the ATP at the end of last season. He is under pressure to prove that his run last fall in Paris was not a fluke.

The 6'8'' Pole has no real weaknesses and could make a deep run into the second week.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Del Potro has to win a Slam this year or everyone will have to realize that he is not the same player who won the US Open in 2009. Del Potro's forehand is the biggest weapon on the court against basically anybody that he plays against, but Del Potro seems to lack the confidence now in big matches at the slams.

Andy Murray should await him in the quarterfinals, and that is a match that DelPo can win if he plays his best tennis.

Bernard Tomic

The cocky Aussie believes that he will be in the top 10 by the end of the year. And he has the physical gifts, but when will he mature?

Tomic has a rough section, probably facing rising lefty Martin Klizan in the second round, before a likely date with Mr. Federer. If that match happens, we will all find out if Tomic is ready to let his racquet do the majority of the talking.