Alex de Minaur has the game to break into world's top 10 and have a serious crack at ending the host nation's Australian Open men's title drought, Lleyton Hewitt says.
Ash Barty broke a 44-year drought when she claimed the women's crown in 2022, but no Australian man has won a home major since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
Hewitt went close in 2005 when he lost the final to Russia's Marat Safin, while Pat Cash was runner-up in consecutive years in 1987-88.
De Minaur has reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park in each of the last two years and has since risen to a career-best world ranking of No.11.
To end the Open drought, de Minaur would have to put a stop to 10-time champion Novak Djokovic's dominance.
"He's certainly got a chance," Davis Cup captain Hewitt told reporters at the Australian Open 2024 launch on Wednesday.
"He can do some pretty special things and I have full confidence every time he goes out there for me in Davis Cup that he can beat anyone.
"He's put himself in a position seeding-wise where he's going to give himself a shot.
"You can never take any of those first couple of rounds easily but he'll be ready for those.
"If he can get through and not cause too much damage to his body physically then I think he can push deep."
Australian fans responded to Hewitt's trademark grit throughout his decorated career and the two-time grand slam champion sees similar qualities in de Minaur.
"I know deep down that he would love nothing more than to make a really big run here (in Melbourne) and get the crowd behind him," Hewitt said.
"They'll feed off his determination and his never-say-die attitude every time he goes out there."
De Minaur's impressive season on the ATP Tour includes winning a seventh career title at Acapulco and three other finals appearances.
The 24-year-old is now within sight of becoming the first Australian since Hewitt to crack the world's top 10.
He is also a chance to make his first appearance at the prestigious ATP Tour finals, to be held in Turin in November.
"He's getting there. I always knew that he was going to be a top-10 player, I had full belief in that," Hewitt said.
"He's hopefully going to get his opportunity over the next few months to crack into the top 10."
