Australian Open organisers said they were hopeful of a stunning return by new mother Serena Williams in January as they raised the winners' prize money to a bumper Aus$4 million (Dh11.44m) on Tuesday.
Injured former world No 1s Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, along with Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka, are set to be back in action in time for next season's opening grand slam in January.
Williams won this year's Australian Open while pregnant, and she has spoken of her "outrageous" plans to play in Melbourne in 2018 just four-and-a-half months after giving birth to her baby girl.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said all top 100 men and women had confirmed they intended to play in Melbourne, which includes Williams, who is currently ranked 24th.
________________________________
READ MORE:
Roger Federer: Ecstatic about 2017 success but already looking forward to 2018
Comment: Simona Halep deserves No 1 ranking despite lack of grand slam titles
Rafael Nadal: Nick Kyrgios is a 'little bit unusual' can go all the way
________________________________
He added that the 36-year-old American's mind was firmly fixed on the tournament, which coincidentally has the same initials as her daughter, Alexis Olympia.
"Her baby's initials are AO and she's suggested she should also have her name on the 2017 trophy, so the AO is well and truly top of mind for her at the moment," he said at the event's official launch in Melbourne.
"If anyone can do it, she can and I'm certainly not counting her out of a return come January."
Fun fact my daughters initials are AO as in the Aussie open she won with me @AustralianOpen
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) September 28, 2017
Tiley also told the Melbourne Age: "She wants to come back in 2018 and defend her title. Obviously, at training now, there is several months to go. It will be up to her as far as where she is with her fitness."
Some former players have wondered whether the 23-time grand slam winner would be able to bounce back so soon after giving birth, and if she does, whether she will be able to regain top form.
Former No.1s @DjokerNole and @Andy_Murray have confirmed they’ll return healthy for #AusOpen 2018 https://t.co/c2qQbmriVK pic.twitter.com/3wxyjTxCRK
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) October 10, 2017
Roger Federer marked a stunning comeback from injury by beating old rival Rafael Nadal to win his 18th grand slam in an epic five-set final this year, while Serena beat her sister, Venus, in the women's decider.
Federer and Nadal ended up with two major titles each this year, while the women had four different champions - Williams, Jelena Ostapenko (French Open), Garbine Muguruza (Wimbledon), and Sloane Stephens (US Open).
Tiley said it was shaping up as a fascinating men's tournament with Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka and Nishikori all returning, but with much lower world rankings.
Our 2014 champion @stanwawrinka, and @keinishikori - both sidelined through injury in 2017 - confirm they'll be back at #AusOpen 2018. pic.twitter.com/y8FSes8Pzh
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) October 10, 2017
"I'm sure they are all inspired by what Roger and Rafa achieved here in January, and what they've gone on to achieve; splitting the grand slam titles between them this year," he said.
Whoever wins next year will walk away with $4m, up from $3.7m last year. The total tournament purse has risen 10 percent to $55m.
This year's US Open winners walked away with US$3.7m, while the French Open offered €2.1m (Dh9.08m) and Wimbledon paid out £2.2m (Dh10.64m).