The 2024 Australian Open ladies’s singles occasion guarantees to ship loads of pleasure. Iga Swiatek is the plain favourite, however she has by no means received this title and has by no means even reached the ultimate. The world No. 1 is not any lock to elevate the trophy.
Furthermore, Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Angelique Kerber, and Amanda Anisimova are amongst these making comebacks. The unseeded contingent on this discipline of 128 additionally contains Caroline Wozniacki, Sofia Kenin, Danielle Collins, Karolina Pliskova, Sloane Stephens, Paula Badosa, and Mirra Andreeva. Sure, all of these ladies are unseeded.
It could be fairly a shock if any of these gamers went all the best way, however others have a really real looking likelihood to problem Swiatek. Aryna Sabalenka (2023 Australian Open) and Coco Gauff (2023 U.S. Open) at the moment are confirmed Grand Slam champions, whereas 2022 Wimbledon winner and 2023 Aussie Open runner-up Elena Rybakina is equally harmful.
Listed here are three gamers who might contend for the title.Â
Aryna Sabalenka
There was lots to love about Sabalenka heading into this event even earlier than the draw was revealed. The world No. 2 is the defending champion, so that can give her loads of confidence and perception that she will do it once more. Sabalenka additionally reached the U.S. Open remaining, dropping to Gauff. The 25-year-old Belarusian opened in 2024 with a runner-up efficiency in Brisbane (misplaced to Rybakina), so it’s clear that she remains to be enjoying properly. As for the draw, Sabalenka is in by far the weakest quarter and she or he is on the opposite aspect from Gauff, Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula. Every thing units up very properly for her in Melbourne.
Coco Gauff
The draw was additionally form to Gauff, who’s on a collision course with Sabalenka for the semifinals. The 19-year-old American’s quarter contains some comparatively huge names resembling Maria Sakkari, Caroline Garcia, and Leylah Fernandez, however Sakkari and Fernandez are struggling and Garcia might exit to Osaka within the first spherical. After getting over the hump by profitable the U.S. Open, Gauff could also be off to the races. The world No. 4 obtained her season began with a title in Auckland, the place she misplaced just one set your complete week.
Jessica PegulaÂ
Pegula is extra of a longshot, and–for these with betting inclinations–you will get her all the best way at 20/1 odds. That’s lots larger than the place you may usually discover Pegula, particularly all year long. Nevertheless, she actually hasn’t fallen off a lot; she simply hasn’t risen to the identical extent as Gauff–her compatriot and doubles accomplice. The 29-year-old nonetheless registers at a powerful #5 on this planet and her 2024 marketing campaign is off to a stable begin, at present discovering herself within the Adelaide semifinals. Pegula’s draw isn’t nice, nevertheless it’s respectable sufficient to make 20/1 engaging.