New Delhi: The Australian Open is all set to get underway on Sunday at the Melbourne Park with the world’s top-ranked and promising youngsters will contend to clinch the women’s singles title. The main draws were confirmed following the conclusion of the qualifying stage on Thursday.
A total of 104 ranked players directly entered the main draw, there were eight wildcard entries and 16 players made the cut through the qualifiers. The tournament will start on January 12 and conclude on January 25. There will be a total of four rounds to clear before the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
Let’s look at some of the players who will be the top contenders to lift the Australian Open women’s singles 2025.
Aryna Sabalenka
The World No.1 and defending Australian Open champion will be the top contender to win the first Grand Slam of the year in women’s singles. She dethroned Iga Swiatek to claim the No.1 ranking in the WTA at the end of 2024. The Belarusian will be eyeing for a hat-trick of titles of Australian Open after bagging the last two titles in Melbourne. She also won the US Open last year in September to complete her third Grand Slam title. A fourth one awaits for the 26-year-old in the opening month of the calendar year.
Coco Gauff
The World No.3 will aim to add a second Grand Slam to her cabinet after lifting the US Open 2024. She has focused on working on her serve and forehand precisely to further push as the challenger to Sabalenka. She has pushed pressure on the events in the buildup and the keen focus is on the overall development of her game. The 20-year-old will face against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kennin in the first round.
Elena Rybakina
The 2022 Wimbledon champion has already been into a controversy over the wish to rehire the former coach Stefano Vukov for the season opener slam, though the Croatian is currently provisionally suspended by the WTA. She has chose to not get deeper into the situation and move focus on the tournament. She will play against teenager Australian Emerson Jones. Croatia’s Goran Ivanisevic will continue to coach her.
Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek will aim to win her maiden Australian Open, though she has won five Grand Slam events. Dubbed as a player who thrives on the clay court, the Polish player also has won a Grand Slam on a hard court at the US Open 2022. Adding an Australian Open will bolster her tally to the greatest among active players. She will also have the motivation to reclaim the No.1 spot after losing it to Sabalenka.
Zheng Qinwen
The Chinese was the runner-up of the Australian Open 2024 to Sabalenka last year. Qinwen won the historic Olympic gold medal in Paris last season. Apart from that a Japan Open title came under her belt. She will aim to repeat the run for another Australian Open final. She will play against Anca Todoni of Romania in the first round.
A total of 104 ranked players directly entered the main draw, there were eight wildcard entries and 16 players made the cut through the qualifiers for the Australian Open 2025. The tournament will start on January 12 and conclude on January 25. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
