Up-and-Coming American Tennis Players to Watch at 2016 Australian Open

The 2016 Australian Open gets underway January 18, and with its arrival comes a fresh batch of hope for American tennis fans.

Serena and Venus Williams, both in the Top 10, will dominate coverage on the WTA Tour. John Isner remains the top-ranked American man. But we know what those 30-something stars have to offer.

What about the next generation of American players? Which, if any, up-and-coming players will exceed expectations in Melbourne and sprinkle a little optimism on the bleak picture that is American tennis? 

Last year, Madison Keys reached the semifinals before falling to Serena Williams. Can Keys improve upon her breakout year? 

This week, Samantha Crawford (20), pictured above, reached the semifinals at the Brisbane International. A relatively unknown out of Atlanta, Georgia, Crawford is turning heads with her powerful serve and blistering groundstrokes. 

As for the American men, Frances Tiafoe (17), Jared Donaldson (19), Taylor Fritz (18), Bjorn Fratangelo (22) and Stefan Kozlov (17) are among the youngest, yet perhaps most promising wave of future American stars. However, none of them has earned wild-card entries into the Australian Open, as of yet. 

This list includes those who will gain direct entry via ranking, are close to making the main draw or have already received a wild card. Everyone on the list is 23 or younger and considered still on the upside of his or her career. 

The following are up-and-coming Americans to watch at the 2016 Australian Open. 

Noah Rubin

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Noah Rubin hits a backhand at the 2014 U.S. Open.

Noah Rubin, 19, won the USTA's Australian Open Wild Card Challenge and will be making his Melbourne debut.

In an interview with the Tennis Channel's Steve Flink, Rubin talked about how entrance to the main draw could be a career-altering experience: “It basically changes the path of my career. Just to be down in Australia playing side by side with some of the best players in the world, and possibly playing against some of the best guys as well, really allows for anything. My whole career could skyrocket after that, or it could be just the same."

Madison Keys

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Madison Keys takes a breather between points during the 2015 WTA Elite Trophy tournament.

It's hard to think of Keys as "up-and-coming," especially since she is ranked No. 18 and has climbed as high as No. 16.

However, Keys is only 20 and has plenty of upside to her game. In December, she split with coach Lindsay Davenport. She's now working with former ATP player Jesse Levine. 

After her impressive showing at last year's Australian Open, there will be pressure on Keys to repeat her performance. How she handles those expectations could set the tone for the rest of her season. 

Samantha Crawford

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Samantha Crawford hits a forehand during a match at the 2016 Brisbane International.

Samantha Crawford will jump at least 33 spots in the WTA rankings after defeating Andrea Petkovic to reach the semifinals at Brisbane. She could be ranked as high as No. 109, just outside where she'll need to be for direct entry in the Australian Open.

But no worries, Crawford already earned a wild card by winning the USTA's Australian Open Wild Card Challenge. 

At 6'2", 170 pounds, Crawford trains under Michael Joyce, who once coached Maria Sharapova. Crawford told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen: "That's someone (Sharapova) I always grew up watching and I feel like I want to play like that and try to be aggressive. So it's really cool when he tells me stuff like, Sharapova did this or [that]. It's just cool being able to get that input."

Jack Sock

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Jack Sock tries to make a play on the ball during the 2016 Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.

Jack Sock is entering that now-or-never phase in his career. Last year, he reached a career-high No. 25 and won his first ATP title on the clay in Houston. 

Ranked No. 26, Sock has positioned himself as the player most likely to overtake Isner as the top-ranked American man.

Sloane Stephens

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Sloane Stephens hits a backhand during a match at the 2016 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Although Sloane Stephens is only 22, she's been a veteran in the "promising young American" category ever since she upset Serena Williams in the quarterfinals at the 2013 Australian Open.

Stephens reached the fourth round the following year, but in 2015, she lost in the first round.

She's been ranked as high as No. 11. However, she went through a mini slump and fell out of the Top 40.

Now she's back in the Top 30 and has gotten off to a solid start in 2016. She was up 5-2 on Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals in Auckland before play was suspended. 

Denis Kudla

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Denis Kudla prepares to serve at the 2016 Brisbane International.

Born in the Ukraine, Denis Kudla moved to Fairfax, Virginia, when he was one. Ranked No. 69, he will gain direct entry into the Australian Open.

In 2015, he reached the quarterfinals at the BB&T Atlanta Open and the fourth round at Wimbledon—further than any other American man. 

Kudla doesn't have the kind of game that will set the world on fire. However, he's become more consistent.

In an interview with Fox Sports in July 2015, the 23-year-old talked about how his work ethic and dedication are paying off: "The older you get, you still think there is a secret. But there really isn't. It's just hard work. It's that simple."