Sydney born Aleksander Vukic is one of a number of Aussies eyeing off an elusive wildcard berth for the coming Australian Open – jostling with the likes of Alex Bolt, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Chris O’Connell, Max Purcell, and Marc Polmans for one of four slots likely to go to Australians.The 25-year-old has taken an unusual path to get to where he is on the pro tour, having spent 2014 to 2018 not on the road but, instead, in the American collegiate system with the University of Illinois.But now in 2021, having started his year by sending a scare through current world No. 29 ranked Karen Khachanov in the first round of his home Grand Slam, Vukic is set to end this year at a career-high ranking of 156 -- the second-highest of the Australians vying for a wildcard slot next month -- and eager to once again get to experience playing in the showpiece event in front of friends and family. This is despite a COVID diagnosis ahead of the US Open that he admits took longer to completely clear than he would have hoped. Joining ESPN’s Joey Lynch, the right-hander talked about his previous Grand Slam experiences, his mindset as a wildcard taking it to the big boys, the difference a Grand Slam appearance can make to a lower-ranked player battling away, his COVID experiences, and what keeps him occupied away from the court.