By Britwatch Team

• Top Seeds: Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Gilles Muller, Diego Schwartzman, Fabio Fognini
• Defending Champion: Gilles Muller
• CLICK our featured players for stats from TennisAbstract

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Gilles Muller returns to defend a title that saw him enjoy his best season on the tour.

Draw & Results

[1] Albert Ramos-Vinolas

The Spaniard has another chance to get some matches under his belt, having been bounced unceremoniously out of his season opener in Doha and has another opportunity to make an impact as the top seed.

Better known for his prowess on a clay court he seemed to pick up a little hard court steam towards the end of the year, but Sydney has never really proved to be a good hunting ground for him, so we won’t expect much from the top seed.

[2] Gilles Muller

Muller really enjoyed a resurgence in 2017. The journeyman scooped his first ATP title here, and returns to defend his title but like Ramos-Vinolas, he stuttered at the start of his season, also exiting in his first match.

He could be on course to meet former British No. 2 Aljaz Bedene who has now reverted back to his native country of Slovenia, and with Mischa Zverev meeting him in the quarter-final – he could find his title defence a challenge.

[3] Diego Schwartzman

Making the list of unhappy first round of the season exits is the plucky little Argentine who also got off to a bad start in Brisbane. If Brisbane favourite Alex De Minaur keeps up the form he showed in Brisbane, Schwartzman may also have a short-lived run here.

[4] Fabio Fognini

Fognini gets his season underway and has a tricky opener. Alexandr Dolgopolov looked in decent form in Brisbane, and the unpredictably languid style of the Ukrainian could see the fourth seed tumble early.

The Sydney International takes place from 8-13 January.

CLICK TO BUY PLAYER GEAR FROM PRO-DIRECT TENNIS via Britwatch Sports