10 Biggest Prospects On The WTA Tour

Like Kulichkova, the Australian Open was the setting for Naomi Osaka's first last-32 appearance at a Grand Slam tournament but she rates higher than the Russian after only turning 18 in October.

As of April 2016, Osaka is yet to add an ITF title to her name but she may have moved herself into a position where the second tier could be a thing of the past after her stunning start to the year.

The Japanese teenager moved almost 50 places up the WTA rankings during the opening three months and has proven that beating Elina Svitolina in Melbourne was no fluke.

She ran Sloane Stephens close in Acapulco and dispatched Sara Errani in Miami and with Osaka still in the process of finding her feet to some extent, she has the potential to become the new star of Asian tennis.

There are three Japanese players ahead of her in the standings but if she continues along a similar path, Osaka can potentially challenge Misaki Doi for her nation's number one spot before turns 19.