Gordon Reid is one of Scotland's youngest and most promising wheelchair tennis stars.
The 26-year-old is in Australia for the Sydney International Wheelchair Tennis Open - where the world's top-eight ranked players face off for silverware.
Reid says he is glad to be back on Australian soil.
"Always nice to come here this time of year, get a bit of Aussie summer. Get a bit of sunshine, skip the winter back home," he said.
"Everyone's always friendly and it's a great event. One of my favourite places so glad to be back."
The world number four has won a career Grand Slam in wheelchair tennis doubles.
But this year, Reid says he is concentrating on his singles game and is aiming for success at the Australian Open - a tournament he won two years ago.
"I didn't have the best year in singles last year. I had a good year in doubles so I'd like to turn that around in singles this year and hopefully win another grand slam. That's the target," he said.
Another player who is also busy climbing the tennis rankings is Shingo Kunieda from Japan.
An elbow injury has meant the former world number one has missed considerable match time.
But Kunieda insists now that he is back on court, he is regaining form, as highlighted by his win against the current world number one, Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez, at the Sydney International.
Kunieda says it was a milestone win.
"I'm very happy right now because after injury comeback last year, I couldn't beat him. So this was the first time to beat him," he said.
Kunieda has Fernandez's number-one ranking in his sights, but says he has a more important task to first complete.
It is one he is been working towards for more than a year.
"Australian Open is the biggest goal for me and I'm preparing for that in year-end so no Christmas, no Happy New Year for me. It was a big preparation I did," Kunieda said.
Britain's Lucy Shuker is also looking towards the Australian Open as a breakout tournament.
Despite losing to women's world number one Yui Kamiji at the Sydney International, Shuker says she is building nicely towards the first grand slam of the year.
"I've worked really hard physically, mentally. I got to the semi-finals last year, so I had a good result in the first round. All players are developing their game, we're all constantly watching each other - seeing what people have changed so hopefully I've made enough changes and will do well," she said.
Shuker says playing consistent tennis is her chief goal.
"Right now I'm currently ranked world number six so I want to consolidate that and maybe try and get a little higher up," she said.
"You know, it's tough with the tournament and the points and how that all goes but I've had some really good wins - especially last year, I beat the silver medallist from the Rio Paralympics a couple of times. But they've been sporadic results so it's also about being more consistent."
The Australian Open Wheelchair Championships take place over three days from January 24.
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