The build up to the Australian Open has built the narrative ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of 2025, with new and more familiar faces rising to the occasion.
Aryna Sabalenka continued her sensational form down under, winning the title in Brisbane ahead of her bid to lift a third consecutive Australian Open title.
While in Sydney, Coco Gauff led USA to the United Cup title after winning all seven of her matches in the mixed team competition.
Despite recent form, the Australian Open draw has put even those most favored for the title at risk.
Coco Gauff
Due to her recent form, Gauff has been backed as one of the Australian Open favourites.
However, the American’s draw has cast some doubt over her title credentials after lining up against compatriot Sofia Kenin.
Kenin is a former champion in Melbourne, having won the title five years ago and has also reached the final of Roland Garros.
Despite being lower down the rankings at world number 81, the 26-year-old tends to produce her best performances at the biggest tournaments and Kenin showed this by beating Emma Raducanu at the US Open last year.
Kenin also has the bragging rights of a winning head-to-head against Gauff, having won their last meeting in the first round of Wimbledon in 2023.
The American’s also faced off when Kenin went on to win the title back in 2020.
Jelena Ostapenko
Jelena Ostapenko is currently ranked as the world number 17, but has only won two of her last 10 matches that date back to Wimbledon.
This form is alarming for any player heading into a Grand Slam tournament, let alone when they have to play someone like Belinda Bencic in the first round.
Bencic recently made her return to the WTA Tour, after giving birth to her first child in 2024.
The Tokyo Olympic champion has a career-high ranking of world number four and has reached a Grand Slam semi-final at the 2021 US Open.
Ostapenko and Bencic’s head-to-head is currently level with one win apiece, and their most recent meeting actually came at the Australian Open.
Bencic beat Ostapenko on that occasion at the Melbourne tournament five years ago, and will be looking to draw from that win when they face off once again.
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Ekaterina Alexandrova is a four-time WTA title winner and has been ranked as high as world number 15, but has never surpassed the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
The Russian will not face an easy opener at the Australian Open, having to play against former US Open champion Raducanu.
Raducanu and Alexandrova were supposed to play at Wimbledon last year, before the latter withdrew from the match due to illness.
This will actually be the first match of the 2025 season for the Brit, with Raducanu withdrawing from Auckland due to a back injury.
However, there have been encouraging signs for her since, after Raducanu beat Elena Rybakina in a practice set in Melbourne.
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