Thanks to Andras Ruszanov at db4tennis.com for compiling and sharing these facts.

1) A title in Melbourne for Rafael Nadal would make him the first man since Rod Laver to win at least two titles at each major, and the first man outside Australia to do so ever.

2) Nadal also is seeking to become the first man in the Open era to win his second Australian Open title six or more years after his first.

3) A fifth Australian Open title for Novak Djokovic would give him the most at this major in the Open era, while leaving him one behind Roy Emerson for the most of all time.

4) Djokovic has won the title in Melbourne whenever he has reached the semifinals.

5) Roger Federer will be seeking his 12th consecutive Australian Open semifinal appearance. A sixth finals appearance, moreover, would break a tie with coach Stefan Edberg in that category.

6) Three-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray is seeking to become the first man from Great Britain to win Down Under in the Open era.

7) Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, and Grigor Dimitrov all have a chance to become the first men's singles champion at a major from their respective nations (Canada, Japan, and Bulgaria).

8) You might expect the American men to fare well on the hard courts in Melbourne, but this major has been a struggle for them. No American man has won it since Andre Agassi in 2003, and none has reached the quarterfinals since Andy Roddick in 2010.

9) If that sounds bad, the prospects of a home hope winning the title are even more remote. No Australian has won in Melbourne since Mark Edmondson in 1976, and none has reached the final since Lleyton Hewitt exactly a decade ago.