Aryna Sabalenka remains the player on the WTA Tour to beat, despite finishing 2025 with just one Grand Slam title to her name.
However, she was eerily close to claiming all four, which will likely be her goal heading into the new season.
Having already picked up one title with remarkable ease, the expectation is that she will be the favourite to do so again in Melbourne.
It will not be smooth sailing though, with plenty of her peers desperate to ensure she does not wrestle back her crown.
Chief among those providing opposition will be Iga Swiatek, who surely has grand plans of her own.
Aryna Sabalenka speaks about her rivalry with Iga Swiatek
A former world number one and six-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek should be the favourite for almost every event she enters.
And yet, throughout 2026, her form was considerably unpredictable, leading to a title drought that did not befit a player of her quality.
Aryna Sabalenka will NOT end the year as world number one – prove us wrong!
Thankfully, she ended that with her success at Wimbledon, where she came so close to what would have been just a second match with Aryna Sabalenka throughout 2026.
Asked about their lack of meetings throughout the year, ahead of the Australian Open, the Belarusian told reporters: “I think it’s actually not only about me and Iga. There is, yeah… It’s Coco, Elena, Jessica. I just don’t want to forget anyone right now (smiling). It’s not only about me and her, to be honest.
“But that’s crazy to think that we only played once last year. Yeah, we haven’t played this year yet. I hope we’re going to play more often this season.
“Also, yeah, as I said, it’s not only about us. There is so many great players I have a great rivalry with, yeah.”
Mats Wilander recently pointed out the big difference between Sabalenka and Swiatek, and many fans would likely enjoy seeing those differences laid out in an Australian Open final later this month.
Aryna Sabalenka’s projected run to the Australian Open final
Ironically enough, given their respective seedings and place within the draw, the earliest Sabalenka and Swiatek can meet at the upcoming Australian Open is in the final.
The reason why they didn’t meet all that often in 2025 was likely because the Polish superstar failed to hold up her end of the bargain with regard to their respective seeding.
Alas, the expectation is that Sabalenka will make it that far once again, despite there being a handful of obstacles in her path.
What do you think of Aryna Sabalenka’s draw?
She should face the sternest test of the first three rounds in the third, where Emma Raducanu will likely await.
It will then be one of Clara Tauson or Victoria Mboko, with Coco Gauff of Mirra Andreeva expected to be her semi-final opponent.
Then, any of Swiatek, Elena Rybakina or Amanda Anisimova, based on ranking, should be waiting in the final.
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