With the Australian Open underway, we have selected a handful of Saints and their tennis counterparts. Some are obvious, some are not so blatant.

Gael Monfils – Jack Steven

As one of the most entertaining players on the ATP circuit, French world No. 6 Monfils has attracted attention in all corners of the globe, much like Jack Steven does around stoppages. Wildly popular for his what-you-see-is-what-you-get demeanour, Monfils captivates fans with his phenomenal athleticism on court and his ability to make difficult tasks on court appear effortless. Reigning Trevor Barker Award winner, and now three-time champion, Steven has the ability to accelerate from in-trouble to out-of-trouble like almost no one else in the game. And he does so with a look on his face that appears like he isn’t even trying. Both were born to thrill and born to get the job done. With the Australian Open underway, we have selected a handful of Saints and their tennis counterparts. Some are obvious, some are not so blatant.

Roger Federer – Nick Riewoldt

While this pair is nearing the end of their illustrious careers, both still have plenty in the tank and can rise to the occasion like not many others in their chosen fields. Both have achieved extraordinary feats across the last decade and a half, and both began their rise in 2002, before quickly cementing their status in the upper echelon of their sports. As two Rolls Royce’s, Federer and Riewoldt, have played with an air of grace that makes watching them at their very best a privilege to consume. No matter what happens in the closing stages of their careers, their records will stand the test of time. 17 Grand Slam titles for the Swiss maestro, six best and fairest’s and five All-Australian’s for perhaps the greatest ever Saint.

Feliciano Lopez – David Armitage

Two absolute bulls, who both do their best work on the left side of their body. One with an enormous first-serve and a tendency to approach the net, the other with a bash and crash approach before driving the ball inside 50. The Spaniard is one of the great thereabouts players on the ATP tour, who has spent the last decade hovering around the 20’s in the world rankings, squeezing every last drop out of his god given talent. In a similar manner to the exotic Lopez, Armitage has carved out a reputation as someone who leaves nothing on the field of battle. After producing a career-best season in 2015, where he finished narrowly behind Steven in the best and fairest, Armitage overcame a non-existent pre-season last year to play every game and help play a crucial role in a deeper engine room. 

Richard Gasquet – Sean Dempster

Two men who go about their business with an absolute minimum of fuss, not interested in indulging in the limelight that they could enjoy given their status and palmarès. Both Gasquet and Dempster have maintained a baseline of excellence for a significant chunk of their careers, with the Frenchman once climbing all the way up to a world ranking of No. 7, while Dempster has played in a premiership and been named All-Australian previously. During an era where Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic reigned supreme, Gasquet has been part of the bracket below, maintaining a ranking inside the top-20 for most of the last five years. During the same timeframe, Dempster has finished third in the Trevor Barker Award on three occasions, emphasising his sublime consistency.

Tommy Haas – Sam Fisher

If Tommy Haas can overcome a litany of injuries and return from a year of retirement for this year’s Australian Open, why can’t favourite son Sam Fisher? The dual best and fairest winner is arguably St Kilda’s best value for money draft pick since the inception of the draft, given the South Australian was selected with pick No. 55 back in 2003. Former German world No. 2 Haas has endured a handful of career threatening injuries during two decades on the circuit, but even at the age of 38, he still creates a stir on the streets of Melbourne, much like Fisher in his glory days. While it appears almost certain that we have seen the end of Fisher and his hamstrings, stranger things have happened in this game.