What are the top five rankings?
1 Iga Swiatek
In Melbourne, Swiatek, who has been a sensation in Poland for the past two years, continues to dominate and shows no signs of slowing down. She is currently on a 16-match winning streak and has not lost a singles match since September. What makes her stand out is not just her victories, but the way she achieves them. During this time, she has only lost two out of 34 sets and has achieved 13 set scores of 6-1 or 6-0.
2 Aryna Sabalenka
The reigning winner has been a steady contender in major tournaments, making it to at least the semifinals in her last five appearances. Her powerful shots make her a tough opponent for many. Despite coming in second at the US Open, the player from Belarus found comfort in becoming the world’s number one ranked player the following week. Swiatek reclaimed the top spot at the end of the season, but Sabalenka is determined to regain her position.
3 Elena Rybakina
The powerful serve of the 2022 Wimbledon winner establishes her as a formidable opponent, as seen in her journey to the championship match last year, powered by a record-breaking 54 aces. The player from Kazakhstan recently demonstrated her skills in Brisbane, defeating Sabalenka in the final with a score of 6-0, 6-3.
4 Coco Gauff
The young sensation is competing in the tournament with a strong winning streak. Following her victory at the US Open, she continued her success in the new year by successfully defending her title in Auckland. A noticeable improvement in her gameplay is her newfound skill to win matches even when not performing at her peak, which has greatly progressed over the last six months. Her forehand has also become a powerful asset.
5 Jessica Pegula
Conquering the quarter-final hurdle will be crucial for the American. It may be discouraging to lose in the last eight in six grand slams, but she has handled it well and even defeated all of the current top 10 except for Marketa Vondrousova. Her progress towards the later rounds looks very promising.
Best home hope
Kimberly Birrell
After Ash Barty’s retirement in 2022, Australian female athletes have struggled to make an impact. Birrell is one of the aspiring players hoping to change this by utilizing the support of the local audience. However, she faces a difficult first-round match against Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open winner and currently ranked 12th in the world.
Best British hope
Jodie Burrage
In 2023, the 24-year-old reached a major accomplishment by making it into the top 100 for the first time. She is scheduled to participate in the main event at Melbourne Park, which is a significant improvement from being eliminated in the last round of qualifying last year. The second-ranked British player has high hopes for a successful run that could potentially secure her a seed in future competitions.
Best American hope
Emma Navarro
Aside from Gauff and Pegula, Navarro is seen as a potential standout for the United States. Her success at the Hobart International, marking her first appearance in a WTA Tour final, gave her a considerable advantage in preparing for the Melbourne tournament. With strong performances in the later months of 2019, she climbed to number 31 in the world rankings, surprising many. Now, she aims to continue progressing after reaching back-to-back semi-finals in WTA Tour events.
The top contender who is most likely to be eliminated early in the competition.
Angelique Kerber
It is a wide open competition, with several notable players making their return. Naomi Osaka and Caroline Wozniacki have rejoined the tour after a break for pregnancy, while Kerber is also back in action. The previous champion from 2016 may need some time to get back into the swing of things and perform well in a major tournament.
The top contender for victory from outside the group.
Alina Korneeva
The top-ranked junior player in the world holds titles at both the junior Australian Open and French Open. Although the 16-year-old’s lack of experience in the professional circuit may be a concern, her consistently strong performances showcase her immense potential.
One to watch
Zheng Qinwen
In 2022, Zheng was named the WTA newcomer of the year and she continued to improve, earning the title of most improved player. She surprised everyone by defeating Ons Jabeur at the US Open and reaching her first major quarter-final. This was one of her three victories against top-10 players in 2023. With a powerful serve and impressive footwork and court coverage, Zheng is a promising player at world ranking 13.
