Ash Barty can't be denied a fifth straight Newcombe Medal on Monday night.
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The only question is: Will the retired superstar have to share the honours for a third time?
One gloriously triumphant month in January was enough to secure Barty another "Newk" despite the three-time grand slam champion walking away from the game just six weeks later.
Breaking the Australian Open's 44-year local title drought, after reigning in Adelaide to complete an undefeated summer, will be enough for Barty to be crowned Australian tennis's player of 2022.
But the judges may be tempted to hail Nick Kyrgios as a joint winner after the mercurial talent's finest season yet.
After tumbling to No.137th in rankings in February, Kyrgios soared back in to the world's top 20 following a stellar year featuring not only a run to the Wimbledon final but also a career-best quarter-final showing at the US Open, a seventh ATP title and hugely impressive six top-10 scalps.
While there was no grand slam crown - unlike Barty's - to show for his efforts, it took the great Novak Djokovic in four splendid sets at the All England Club to deny Kyrgios tennis's most sought-after prize.
"It's great to be nominated for the Newcombe Medal," Kyrgios said after being shortlisted for the first time since 2017.
In any other year, though, he'd win the medal. Hands down.
Adding further lustre to his golden season, Kyrgios also won the Australian Open doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis, made the ATP Finals in doubles and finished as the country's top-ranked singles and doubles player.
"Wimbledon was a highlight this year. There were some really memorable matches," he said.
"I learned a lot about myself and really developed as a person. I was playing great tennis but, even more than that, I made huge strides mentally."
Most years, his former flame Ajla Tomljanovic would also be celebrated as the Newcombe Medallist after also reaching two grand slam quarter-finals in a single season - like Kyrgios, in London and New York.
Tomljanovic, though, has rightfully been recognised as a nominee but won't be rewarded with the gong.
Up against the strongest field yet, nor will equally worthy nominees Alex de Minaur, Wimbledon doubles champions Matt Ebden and Max Purcell and Australia's Billie Jean King Cup standout Storm Hunter (nee Sanders).
Barty's victory over American Danielle Collins in the Melbourne Park final to complete a rare seven-match grand slam campaign without dropping a set put paid to that.
The former world No.1 has already won the Newcombe Medal four times - in 2017, 2018, 2019 and last year after COVID-19 wiped out Australian tennis's night of nights in 2020.
But she had to share the the award with wheelchair wizard Dylan Alcott last year and with de Minaur in 2018.
Fans will learn on Monday night if Barty again has to share the spotlight when the Newcombe Medal is announced at Melbourne's Crown Palladium.
NEWCOMBE MEDALLISTS
2021: Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott
2020: No award
2019: Ash Barty
2018 Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur
2017: Ash Barty
2016: Dylan Alcott
2015: Sam Groth
2014: Nick Kyrgios
2013: Lleyton Hewitt
2012: Sam Stosur
2011: Sam Stosur
2010: Sam Stosur
Australian Associated Press
