Side : * * * * *
Age: 22
WTA Ranking: 1
Result in 2023: Round of 16
Best result: semi-final (2022)
Iga became Swiatek again. The one that destroys everything in its path. In Beijing at the beginning of October 2023, the 22-year-old Pole could not hold back her tears when winning her first tournament in two and a half months. She then won the Masters in November and regained her place as world number 1. No downturn in 2024: Swiatek won all of her singles matches at the United Cup, a mixed team competition. His Poland was defeated in the final, but the important thing is elsewhere. The patroness of world tennis is on a series of 16 consecutive victories, enough to approach the Australian Open, which she has never won, with serenity and ambition.
Side : * * * *
Age: 19
WTA Ranking: 4
Result in 2023: Round of 16
Best result: Round of 16 (2020, 2023)
By retaining her title in Auckland, Coco Gauff confirmed her change in dimension since her victory at the US Open at the beginning of September. At only 19 years old, the American is already experienced on a circuit that she has been traveling for more than four years. His best result in Melbourne is a round of 16 finish (2020 and 2023), an anomaly given his performances on hard courts. Seven of his eight career titles have been gleaned on this surface. Gauff arrives launched and only a confrontation with Swiatek, against whom she displays a largely unfavorable record (9 defeats in 10 meetings) is able to (really) scare her.
Side : * * * *
Age: 24
WTA Ranking: 3
Result in 2023: final
Best result: final (2023)
The unfortunate finalist of the last edition will be keen to take her revenge on Aryna Sabalenka. And the humiliation inflicted on the Belarusian last week in the final of the Brisbane tournament (6-0, 6-3) was just a simple repetition. With her powerful serve, her speed of movement and her very aggressive game, the tall Kazakhstani (24 years old, 1.84 m) has all the arguments to win her second Grand Slam title after Wimbledon 2022. In the meantime, she has just regain his best career ranking (N.3), demoting Coco Gauff in the process. Her defeat in the Adelaide quarterfinals against Ekaterina Alexandrova (6-3, 6-3) should not alter her confidence.
Side : * *
Age: 34
WTA Ranking: 22
Result in 2023: semi-final
Best result: title (2012, 2013)
The Belarusian is the only player in the women’s draw to have won the Australian Open several times. Twice, in 2012 and 2013. It was more than ten years ago, but at 34, “Vika” still shines under the Australian sun. This is evidenced by her good performance in 2023, where she stopped at the gates of the final ten years after her last half. Mentally calmed after difficult years and armed with her number 1 asset, her setback, the former world number 1 has also just reached the final in Auckland, where she was defeated by Coco Gauff.
Side : *
Age: 21
WTA Ranking: 13
Result in 2023: 2nd round
Best result: 2nd round (2022, 2023)
The women’s Grand Slam tables regularly bring their share of surprises. In Melbourne, the surprise could be called Zheng Qinwen. The 21-year-old Chinese woman, winner of the 2022 Revelation of the Year prize, continues to progress. At the last US Open, she achieved the feat of eliminating the 5th in the world and finalist of the previous edition, Ons Jabeur, before falling in the quarter-final against Aryna Sabalenka. Gold medalist at the Asian Games in Hangzhou at the end of September then crowned in Zhengzhou in October, Zheng Qinwen had a cannonball end to 2023 under the leadership of her Belgian coach, Wim Fissette. This one has six Grand Slam titles to his credit with Kim Clijsters, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka. He seems to have found the key to harnessing Qinwen’s immense talent.
