Five players to observe within the Australian Open 2024 women’s singles tournament. –FILE PHOTOS
Iga Swiatek will likely be a hot favorite to win a primary Australian Open when it begins on Sunday, but could face a stiff challenge from former champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.
AFP Sport highlights five women to observe at first Grand Slam of the 12 months on the Australian Open 2024:
Iga Swiatek
FILE–Elena Rybakina. –REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev/File Photo
The world primary is a four-time Grand Slam champion but has never been beyond the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
The Polish player rocketed back to the highest of the rankings after winning her first WTA Finals trophy in November.
She enjoyed a stellar season in 2022, recording 37 straight wins, but faltered last 12 months, along with her 75-week run as primary ending in September.
Swiatek, 22, then lost just one 13 matches to complete the 12 months on a high and followed up by winning all five of her singles on the United Cup last week.
Aryna Sabalenka
FILE–Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. – Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
The 2023 Australian Open champion looked on target to complete the 12 months on top of the world rankings until Swiatek pipped her by winning the WTA Tour finals.
The consistent Belarusian, who got here from a set right down to beat Elena Rybakina in the ultimate 12 months ago, boasted a tremendous record on the majors last 12 months.
She reached the semi-finals in Paris and at Wimbledon before losing to Coco Gauff in the ultimate of the US Open.
The powerful 25-year-old was the primary player since Serena Williams in 2016 to achieve not less than the semi-finals in any respect 4 Slams in a single season.
Sabalenka reached the ultimate ultimately week’s Brisbane International, losing to Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina
FILE–Elena Rybakina. –REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev/File Photo
The Russian-born Kazakh got here close a 12 months ago to adding the Australian Open crown to her 2022 Wimbledon title, losing to Sabalenka in three sets.
The world number three began the 12 months in style, dropping just three games in beating Sabalenka within the Brisbane final, where lost only 15 games in five matches.
“Of course it gives me confidence,” she said about her Australian Open prospects. “I’m playing well now, so hopefully I proceed.”
Naomi Osaka
FILE–Naomi Osaka of Japan. –AP Photo/Tertius Pickard
The Japanese fan favorite knows her way around Melbourne Park, lifting the winners’ Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 2019 and 2021, but she is something of an unknown quantity this 12 months.
The previous world primary has admitted she almost gave up on tennis but is now back in love with the game.
The 26-year-old stepped away from the sport in September 2022, citing mental health concerns. She gave birth to daughter Shai and said she didn’t watch any tennis until last 12 months’s Wimbledon.
Osaka will likely be unseeded after dropping to 833 on the planet but no top player will need to face her in the primary round when the draw takes place on Thursday.
Emma Raducanu
FILE. Emma Raducanu. –REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Britain’s Emma Raducanu stunned the tennis world when she won the US Open in 2021 as a qualifier but only on one other occasion has she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old has plummeted to 299th on the planet after an eight-month layoff with ankle and wrist injuries.
Raducanu, who has a high profile despite her relative lack of success, took Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina to a few sets in round two in Auckland last week.
But she continues to be feeling her way back from injury and can likely regard any form of run in Melbourne as a bonus.
