How top five shape up
1 Iga Swiatek
Poland’s sensation has dominated for two years and shows no signs of waning in Melbourne. Swiatek is in exceptional form, quietly building a 16-match winning streak, having not lost in singles since September. What sets her apart is not only the wins but the manner she achieves them. In that time, she lost two out of 34 sets and posted 13 set scores of 6-1 or 6-0.
2 Aryna Sabalenka
The current title holder is a strong contender in major tournaments, having made it to the semi-finals in the last five events. Her powerful shots make her a formidable opponent for many. Despite being the runner-up at the US Open, the player from Belarus achieved the top ranking in the world the following week. However, Swiatek regained the top spot by the end of the season and Sabalenka is determined to climb back up to the number one position.
3 Elena Rybakina
The powerful serve of the Wimbledon champion in 2022 establishes her as a formidable opponent, as seen in her journey to the final in the previous year, fueled by a record-breaking 54 aces. The player from Kazakhstan demonstrated her skill in Brisbane, defeating Sabalenka in the final with a score of 6-0, 6-3.
4 Coco Gauff
The young prodigy has joined the competition with a strong streak of success. Following her victory at the US Open, she continued her winning streak by defending her title in Auckland. A noteworthy improvement in the American’s performance is her newfound skill to win matches even when not playing at her peak, a quality that has greatly progressed in the last six months. Additionally, her forehand has become a powerful asset.
5 Jessica Pegula
It will be crucial for the American to surpass the quarter-final hurdle. For some, losing in the last eight of six grand slams would be disheartening, but she has handled it well with wins against all current top 10 players except Marketa Vondrousova. Her advancement into the later rounds appears to be highly promising.
Best home hope
Kimberly Birrell
After Ash Barty retired in 2022, Australian female players have struggled to establish themselves. However, Birrell is one of the contenders hoping to change this trend by utilizing the support of the home audience. Despite her determination, the 25-year-old faces a challenging first-round match against Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner and current world No. 12.
Best British hope
Jodie Burrage
In 2023, the 24-year-old reached a major accomplishment by entering the top 100 rankings for the first time. She is preparing to compete in Melbourne Park, which marks a significant advancement from her previous experience of falling in the final round of qualifiers last year. As the second-ranked player in Britain, she is optimistic about performing well and potentially earning a spot in the seedings in upcoming tournaments.
Best American hope
Emma Navarro
Other than Gauff and Pegula, Navarro is also seen as a potential contender for the US. Her success at the Hobart International, where she won her first WTA Tour final, greatly aided her preparations for the Melbourne tournament. She had strong performances towards the end of 2020, earning herself a ranking of 31 in the world, surprising many. Now, she hopes to continue moving forward after back-to-back WTA Tour semi-final appearances.
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The top contender most prone to early elimination.
Angelique Kerber
This is an exciting Open, as several top players are making their return. Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki are back, along with Kerber, all coming back after having a baby. The winner from 2016 may need some time to get back into the groove for a strong performance in a major tournament.
The underdog with the greatest potential for success.
Alina Korneeva
The top-ranked junior player in the world holds the titles of junior Australian Open and French Open champion. Although she is only 16 years old and lacks experience at the professional level, her consistent performances showcase her immense potential as she gears up to compete against Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round.
One to watch
Zheng Qinwen
In 2022, Zheng was named the WTA newcomer of the year and continued to climb up the rankings. She was also recognized as the most improved player. At the US Open, she surprised everyone by defeating Ons Jabeur and advancing to her first major quarter-final. This was one of her three wins against top-10 players in 2023. With a powerful serve and impressive footwork and court coverage, Zheng, currently ranked No. 13 in the world, is a promising player to watch.
Source: theguardian.com
