Aryna Sabalenka is tipped for a third Australian Open title but faces threats from Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys.
TOP-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite to win a third Australian Open title in four years.
She faces strong competition from a United States contingent led by Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys.
World number two Iga Swiatek is another major threat to the Belarusian’s campaign.
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Two-time Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka will also hope to be in the mix when the first Grand Slam of the year begins on Sunday.
Keys stunned title-holder Sabalenka 12 months ago in a classic three-set final to win her first major.
The world number nine failed to win another tournament all year and will have a target on her back as the defending champion.
Three other Americans are ranked inside the world’s top 10: Gauff (third), Amanda Anisimova (fourth) and Jessica Pegula (sixth).
The 21-year-old Gauff beat Sabalenka at the French Open last year for her second major crown.
Her best performance in Melbourne was making the semi-finals in 2024.
Gauff said she spent the off-season “just overall becoming better and more comfortable with my game”.
She suffered a surprise defeat at the United Cup but recovered to beat Swiatek 6-4, 6-2 in a statement victory.
The 24-year-old Anisimova has emerged as a serious threat after enjoying the best year of her career in 2025.
She reached the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, and won 1000 titles in Beijing and Qatar.
Anisimova also made the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time, losing to Sabalenka in three sets.
“She always pushes me to play my best tennis,” said Sabalenka.
A first major title remains elusive for Anisimova despite going close.
Swiatek is overdue something special in Melbourne as the Australian Open is the only major she has yet to win.
The Pole matched her best performance by reaching last year’s semi-finals in rampant style, only to lose to an inspired Keys.
“At a Grand Slam you have to really play great for two weeks, not have any bad days, be consistent,” the 24-year-old said.
Japan’s former world number one Osaka would be a popular winner if she were to add to her 2019 and 2021 Melbourne triumphs.
Now ranked 16th, the 28-year-old is an outsider capable of conjuring her best tennis in flashes.
World number five Elena Rybakina is another player to watch.
It is hard to look beyond Sabalenka for the title.
Having been stunned by Keys, the Belarusian suffered more Grand Slam heartbreak in the French Open final against Gauff.
She then went down to Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals before roaring back to retain her US Open title.
The Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024 will be in an unfamiliar role as the runner-up from last year.
“Honestly, there is no difference,” the hard-hitting Sabalenka said in Brisbane this month.
“Every time, if I’m defending champion, if I lost first round last year, the goal is always the same — to bring my best tennis and to improve my game.”
Outside the title contenders, there will be fascination in how Venus Williams performs.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion was handed a wildcard aged 45.
The American will compete at the Australian Open for the first time since 2021. – AFP
