Cash has liking for Kyrgios in Open

PAT Cash has named Nick Kyrgios in a cluster of potential Australian Open winners behind clear-cut favourite Roger Federer as fitness concerns cloud the hopes of a string of Melbourne Park contenders.

Cash said the injury epidemic that had compromised the preparations of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka meant the door was ajar for new names.

“We could see different names in the semi-finals, final,” the 1987 Wimbledon winner said.

“I think to expect Rafa and Roger in the final again would be a bit too much.

“It’s a bit like going back to the days when we had 16 seeds and some unusual names used to come through.”

Cash listed US Open finalist Kevin Anderson, ATP World Tour runner-up Goffin and Brisbane champion Kyrgios as dangers to the top seeds.

“Kevin Anderson and David Goffin are outside favourites. They’ve had wins over the big names and the big names are a bit rusty,” Cash said. “Nick’s one of those outside favourites, too. Nick is going to break through eventually, there’s no doubts about that. It’s when.

“Whether his body can hold up to five sets, round after round, we’ll have to wait and see. He may not have play five sets. He’s the type of player who can blow players away.”

Cash said Nadal and Djok- ovic’s decision to contest the Priceline Classic at Kooyong in the next two days was evidence of preparation desperation.

“It’s unusual that so many players want last minute matches,” he said. “It’s unusual that we’ve had so many injuries and that players are desperate to try out their bodies only a few days before the tournament. It makes it a very exciting week.”

Nadal (knee), Djokovic (elbow) and Wawrinka (knee) traditionally figure strongly in Melbourne, boasting eight Open titles cumulatively.

Cash is confident Nadal and Djokovic will be ready to fire from Monday.

. “But it’s a worry when you have a setback just before you play an Australian Open, seven best of five set matches in extreme heat. “It’s a bit of a panic. The players will be quite anxious about it.

“Without Rafa and Novak, it would have been one of the weakest Australian Opens I’ve ever seen.

“We like to see the big names. Roger is the favourite but with these other guys in the draw, it makes it a tantalising draw rather than ‘Who’s Federer play in the final?’”