The 2024 Australian Open women’s singles event promises to deliver plenty of excitement. Iga Swiatek is the obvious favorite, but she has never won this title and has never even reached the final. The world No. 1 is no lock to lift the trophy.
Moreover, Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Angelique Kerber, and Amanda Anisimova are among those making comebacks. The unseeded contingent in this field of 128 also includes Caroline Wozniacki, Sofia Kenin, Danielle Collins, Karolina Pliskova, Sloane Stephens, Paula Badosa, and Mirra Andreeva. Yes, all of those women are unseeded.
It would be quite a surprise if any of those players went all the way, but others have a very realistic chance to challenge Swiatek. Aryna Sabalenka (2023 Australian Open) and Coco Gauff (2023 U.S. Open) are now proven Grand Slam champions, while 2022 Wimbledon winner and 2023 Aussie Open runner-up Elena Rybakina is similarly dangerous.
Here are three players who could contend for the title.
Aryna Sabalenka
There was a lot to like about Sabalenka heading into this tournament even before the draw was revealed. The world No. 2 is the defending champion, so that will give her plenty of confidence and belief that she can do it again. Sabalenka also reached the U.S. Open final, losing to Gauff. The 25-year-old Belarusian opened in 2024 with a runner-up performance in Brisbane (lost to Rybakina), so it’s clear that she is still playing well. As for the draw, Sabalenka is in by far the weakest quarter and she is on the other side from Gauff, Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula. Everything sets up very well for her in Melbourne.
Coco Gauff
The draw was also kind to Gauff, who is on a collision course with Sabalenka for the semifinals. The 19-year-old American’s quarter includes some relatively big names such as Maria Sakkari, Caroline Garcia, and Leylah Fernandez, but Sakkari and Fernandez are struggling and Garcia could go out to Osaka in the first round. After getting over the hump by winning the U.S. Open, Gauff may be off to the races. The world No. 4 got her season started with a title in Auckland, where she lost only one set the entire week.
Jessica Pegula
Pegula is more of a longshot, and–for those with betting inclinations–you can get her all the way at 20/1 odds. That’s a lot higher than where you could normally find Pegula, especially throughout the year. However, she really hasn’t fallen off much; she just hasn’t risen to the same extent as Gauff–her compatriot and doubles partner. The 29-year-old still registers at an impressive #5 in the world and her 2024 campaign is off to a solid start, currently finding herself in the Adelaide semifinals. Pegula’s draw isn’t great, but it’s decent enough to make 20/1 enticing.
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