Aryna Sabalenka will begin her bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title by taking on a former Grand Slam champion.
The top seed will begin her latest campaign in Melbourne against Sloane Stephens, who won the 2017 US Open. Sabalenka has already claimed a title this year after winning the Brisbane International last week where she dropped only one set in five matches played. She is projected to play Magdalena Frech in the third round and then rising star Mirra Andreeva. Fifth seed Zheng Qinwen is a possible quarter-final opponent.
Should Sabalenka claim her third consecutive title, she will become the first woman to do so since Martina Hingis.
“Putting your name into history and being next to those legends, it’s something special,” said Sabalenka. “[Winning three in a row] would be huge, but I have to focus on myself … bring my best tennis every time I’m out there, and to hopefully put my name next to those legends.”
In the other half of the draw, Poland’s Iga Swiatek begins her campaign against Katerina Siniakova, who is currently the world No.1 in doubles. Swiatek has a win-loss record of 17-6 at the Australian Open but has only reached the semi-finals once which was in 2022. She could play Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round, who has a tough opening match against former top 20 player and US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Victoria Azarenka and Anna Kalinskaya are potential fourth round rivals. In the last eight, Swiatek is projected to play Emma Navarro.
Coco Gauff has been drawn in an all-American first round clash against 2020 champion Sofia Kenin. In her section, she could face Jelena Ostapenko in the last 16 who will begin her campaign against Belinda Bencic. Also in this section is Naomi Osaka who will play Caroline Garcia in her opening match.
Jasmine Paolini will begin her bid against a qualifier followed by a clash against either Taylor Townsend or Renata Zarzua. She could play Elina Svitolina and then either Katie Boulter or Beatriz Haddad Maia before the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula start against wild cards Emerson Jones and Maya Joint.
The Australian Open will begin on Sunday and the full draw can be viewed HERE.
