Australian Open 2020 men's singles preview: The contenders, the dark horses and the dangerous floaters

# The dangerous floaters

Wawrinka (left) and Cilic

Apart from the Big 3, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic will be the other Grand Slam title winners at the 2020 Australian Open. Although both players have fallen down the pecking order in recent times, they do have Grand Slam title-winning pedigree and are capable of upsetting anyone on their day.

Wawrinka and Cilic have 4 Grand Slam titles from 7 cumulative finals and would be dangerous opponents for the legendary Big 3 too. Let us analyse their title credentials at the 2020 Australian Open.

# Stan Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Stan Wawrinka made his Grand Slam breakthrough at the 2014 Australian Open final where he beat Rafael Nadal in a four-set final. Since his maiden Major triumph, Wawrinka has made 2 semifinals at the tournament, going down to the eventual champion on each occasion in 5-set semifinals (2015: Djokovic, 2017: Federer).

The 'other Swiss' exited Melbourne Park in the second round in 2018-19. Given his recent form, Wawrinka is unlikely to make a title run at the 2020 Australian Open.

The 27th seed opens his campaign against Damir Dzumhur and is slated to meet John Isner in the third round, Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round, and Thiem or Nadal in the semifinals.

If Wawrinka manages to reach his first Grand Slam final since 2017 Roland Garros (lost to Nadal), he could meet one of Djokovic or Federer, who hold a combined 42-9 head-to-head record against Wawrinka.

# Marin Cilic

Marin Cilic

Marin Cilic is the latest player to have won a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, doing so at the 2014 US Open. Since his Major breakthrough, the tall Croatian has made two other Grand Slam finals: 2017 Wimbledon and 2018 Australian Open, going down to Federer on both occasions.

Since a first-round exit on his tournament debut in 2007 (lost to Ilija Bozoljac), Cilic hasn't fallen in the opening hurdle at Melbourne Park in 10 subsequent appearances.

The unseeded Cilic opens his campaign at the 2020 Australian Open against Frenchman Corentin Moutet, before Benoit Paire and Roberto Bautista Agut potentially await in the next two rounds.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roger Federer could be the ones to face Cilic in the fourth round and the quarterfinals respectively, before a semifinal meeting with Djokovic.

Cilic has winning head-to-head records against both Paire (1-4) and Bautista Agut (2-4), and a win from his lone meeting with Tsitsipas (2017 Tokyo). But against Djokovic and Federer, Cilic is a combined 3-26.

All things considered, a title run at the 2020 Australian Open looks unlikely for Cilic.