Dylan Alcott and Daria Gavrilova favourite to win the 2016 Newcombe medal
THE Newcombe Medal could have its fifth different winner in five years as Dylan Alcott and Daria Gavrilova emerge as the early favourites to claim Australian tennis’ most prestigious award.
Alcott, 25, snared singles and doubles gold medals at the Rio Paralympics, seven months after swamping American David Wagner to win the Australian Open crown.
Alcott was a finalist for the Newcombe medal last season, when Sam Groth eclipsed a field also including Thanasi Kokkinakis, Casey Dellacqua and John Peers.
Gavrilova, 22, is on the brink of overtaking Sam Stosur as Australia’s No 1 woman after a fabulous late-season form surge carried the Victorian victory over world No 1 Angelique Kerber and the Kremlin Cup final in Moscow.
Ranked 25, Gavrilova is only four spots behind grand slam champion Stosur.
Queenslander John Millman, ranked third in the national standings behind Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, is another potential contender.
The medal status of Kyrgios is unknown.
The Canberran has excelled this season with three ATP World Tour titles and a slew of top-10 scalps, but his suspension and $US25,000 for “conduct contrary to the integrity of the game” will weigh heavily against him.
Australia’s best performed players last season, Kyrgios and Tomic failed to win nominations because of behavioural issues in 2015.
Stosur’s third straight medal victory in 2012 was followed by wins by Lleyton Hewitt, Kyrgios and Groth.
John Newcombe and other senior tennis officials will decide the finalists before the medal is awarded on November 28.
The medal recognises Australia’s most outstanding elite player, based on performance and conduct.