MELBOURNE:
Iga Swiatek can be a sizzling favorite to win a primary Australian Open when it begins on Sunday, however might face a stiff problem from former champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.
AFP Sport highlights 5 ladies to observe at first Grand Slam of the yr:
The world primary is a four-time Grand Slam champion however has by no means been past the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
The Polish participant rocketed again to the highest of the rankings after successful her first WTA Finals trophy in November.
She loved a stellar season in 2022, recording 37 straight wins, however faltered final yr, along with her 75-week run as primary ending in September.
Swiatek, 22, then misplaced just one 13 matches to complete the yr on a excessive and adopted up by successful all 5 of her singles on the United Cup final week.
The 2023 Australian Open champion appeared on target to complete the yr on high of the world rankings till Swiatek pipped her by successful the WTA Tour finals.
The constant Belarusian, who got here from a set all the way down to beat Elena Rybakina within the ultimate 12 months in the past, boasted a advantageous report on the majors final yr.
She reached the semi-finals in Paris and at Wimbledon earlier than shedding to Coco Gauff within the ultimate of the US Open.
The highly effective 25-year-old was the primary participant since Serena Williams in 2016 to succeed in not less than the semi-finals in any respect 4 Slams in a single season.
Sabalenka reached the ultimate ultimately week’s Brisbane Worldwide, shedding to Rybakina.
The Russian-born Kazakh got here shut a yr in the past to including the Australian Open crown to her 2022 Wimbledon title, shedding to Sabalenka in three units.
The world quantity three began the yr in model, dropping simply three video games in beating Sabalenka within the Brisbane ultimate, the place misplaced solely 15 video games in 5 matches.
“For positive it provides me confidence,” she stated about her Australian Open prospects. “I am enjoying effectively now, so hopefully I proceed.”
The Japanese fan favorite is aware of her method round Melbourne Park, lifting the winners’ Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 2019 and 2021, however she is one thing of an unknown amount this yr.
The previous world primary has admitted she nearly gave up on tennis however is now again in love with the game.
The 26-year-old stepped away from the sport in September 2022, citing psychological well being considerations. She gave start to daughter Shai and stated she didn’t watch any tennis till final yr’s Wimbledon.
Osaka can be unseeded after dropping to 833 on the earth however no high participant will wish to face her within the first spherical when the draw takes place on Thursday.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu shocked the tennis world when she gained the US Open in 2021 as a qualifier however solely on one different event has she reached the fourth spherical of a Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old has plummeted to 299th on the earth after an eight-month layoff with ankle and wrist accidents.
Raducanu, who has a excessive profile regardless of her relative lack of success, took Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina to 3 units in spherical two in Auckland final week.
However she continues to be feeling her method again from damage and can possible regard any kind of run in Melbourne as a bonus.