World No.4 Alexander Zverev predicts Thanasi Kokkinakis will soar up the rankings this year - providing the Australian can avoid the dreaded injury curse.
Zverev and Kokkinakis came up through junior ranks together. But while Zverev has established himself in the top 10 after winning five ATP titles in 2017, Kokkinakis is ranked 209th after spending most of the past two years injured.
The two rising stars will face off on Friday night in Australia's Hopman Cup clash with Germany at Perth Arena.
Germany have already beaten Canada and Belgium, and will qualify for the final with a win over Australia.
Australia must beat Germany 3-0 and rely on Canada beating Belgium to reach the decider.
Zverev is expecting big things from Kokkinakis this year.
"He's a great player," Zverev said.
"He's had too many injuries, that's why I think his ranking is not where it should be.
"But he's going to get up there quite quickly this year if he stays healthy.
"I think he would have been top 50 definitely (if not for the injuries)."
But the 21-year-old Australian has his sights set a bit higher.
Kokkinakis is choosing to focus on his good form prior to his recent shoulder injury and his last match - a first-round loss to Janko Tipsarevic at the US Open in August.
Before that he beat then world No.6 Milos Raonic at Queen's and No.14 Tomas Berdych on his way to making the final in Los Cabos, Mexico.
"I just want to make guaranteed going to all the slams pretty quick and then go from here," he said.
"I feel I can match it with guys higher than that, as I have shown in the slams and at Queens and Mexico.
"The biggest thing to get up there in the ranking, unless you are (Roger) Federer and just winning all of these slams, you have to remain consistent and play and be healthy week in and week out.
"(Zverev) and (David) Goggin are two guys who have been able to do that."
Kokkinakis has made a steady return to the court in Perth, beating Canada's Vasek Pospisil and losing in a competitive match against world No.8 Goffin.
While happy with his preparations for the Australian Open, he's not putting too much pressure on getting results there.
"I'm trying to build for the Aussie Open, but I also want to be able to sustain throughout the whole year as well," he said.
"There is a lot of tennis left in the year, so I am trying to make sure my body is ready to go for that all year."
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