A year on from Australian hero Ash Barty lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, there will be a new women’s singles champion in January.
DRAW: Australian Open 2023 women's singles
The Australian Open draw took place on Thursday and served up the promise of a series of sizzling matches. Here are five quick takeaways from the women’s draw:
Swiatek faces a stern test
2022 was all about Iga Swiatek.
The world No.1 lifted the Roland Garros and US Open trophies to cement herself at the very top. What can the Pole produce in Melbourne?
Swiatek, who reached the semifinals last summer at Melbourne Park, opens her title tilt against Wimbledon breakout quarterfinalist Jule Niemeier.
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In fact, the world No.1 had to reel in Niemeier from a set down 2-6 6-4 6-0 in the US Open last 16 in September. Watch this space.
Swiatek also has the unseeded Bianca Andreescu as a potential third round encounter as well as 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins in her tricky path to the latter stages.
First round showstoppers
Two former champions, two fierce competitors: it’s 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin – on the injury comeback trail – over the net from 2012-13 champion Victoria Azarenka.
Kenin found the answers in three sets against Azarenka on the Acapulco hard courts in 2019, however Azarenka was ruthless at Rome 2020, posting a 6-0, 6-0 victory to level their head-to-head.
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Other headturners include former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko versus world No.99 Dayana Yastremska, and No.11 seed Paula Badosa will need to be sharp from the start to quell American youngster Caty McNally.
2019 US Open winner Andreescu hopes to surpass the all-court ability of world No.26 Maria Bouzkova, while Marta Kostyuk going toe-to-toe with Amanda Anisimova is sure to be enthralling.
Variety will be the name of the game when Leylah Fernandez and Alize Cornet take to court. Cornet compiled a compelling quarterfinal quest last summer at Melbourne Park, whereas Canada’s Fernandez has experience running the major gauntlet as a former US Open finalist.
Green and gold given immediate high hurdles
Australia’s leading light Ajla Tomljanovic will be eager to build on her career-best 2022 season and opens on home soil against the world No.192 Nadia Podoroska. A second round blockbuster with either Azarenka or Kenin would await.
Wildcard Kimberley Birrell will have to bring her defence ‘A Game’ to outmanoeuvre the firepower of Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, who blazed into the last eight at Melbourne Park last January.
Birrell could be rewarded with an all-Australian second round. Fellow wildcard Jaime Fourlis will be flying the green and gold on court against teenage sensation Linda Fruhvirtova. Whoever escapes that mini section is likely to meet second seed Ons Jabeur in the third round.
In form and in the mix
Top eight seeds Jessica Pegula, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have all hit the ground running with early silverware in 2023.
No.3 seed Pegula, in the same quarter as Maria Sakkari, spearheaded Team USA to United Cup glory in Sydney and has been drawn against Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.
Auckland champion Gauff will look to transfer that form in battle with experienced Czech Katerina Siniakova. Keep an eye out for a projected quarterfinal facing top seed Swiatek.
Last week Sabalenka lifted the Adelaide title, next week the top-10 talent will look to set the tone against world No.79 Tereza Martincova representing the first challenge.
Muguruza under the radar
Without a seeded number next to her name, it could be easy to forget that Garbiñe Muguruza has won two Grand Slams. More recently, the Spaniard featured in the 2020 Australian Open final and was hailed champion at the 2021 WTA Finals.
On her day, Muguruza is simply unplayable, ‘Muguruthless’ to her fans on social media.
The 29-year-old is a true momentum player and if the Spaniard breaks down the resolve of No.26 seed Elise Mertens, Muguruza might be able to book a blazing third round with Sabalenka.
