No player has exhibited dominance on the hard courts in men's tennis comparable to Rafael Nadal's supremacy on clay. Similarly, Iga Swiatek has established a remarkable presence on the red dirt. However, Aryna Sabalenka has the potential to cultivate a similar reputation as she embarks on her campaign at Melbourne Park this Sunday. The two-time defending women's champion has not suffered a defeat at the Australian Open since her fourth-round exit in 2022 against Kaia Kanepi. She aims to achieve a historic three-peat in Melbourne, a feat not accomplished since Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999. Nevertheless, the path will be challenging for the Belarusian, as she must navigate past two of the following players: Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina.

FIRST QUARTER

Sabalenka, the top seed, faces a challenging draw in Melbourne. In the opening round, she will compete against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Should she advance, she may encounter the 29th seed Linda Noskova in the third round, who notably upset Swiatek during the tournament's first week last year. Additionally, in the pre-quarterfinals, she could face 14th seed Mirra Andreeva, who triumphed over Sabalenka at the French Open last year. Furthermore, a potential quarterfinal matchup against fifth seed Zheng Qinwen looms, which would be a rematch of the 2024 final.

Quarterfinal: Sabalenka defeats Zheng.

SECOND QUARTER

Gauff experienced a surprising defeat at the hands of fellow American and emerging talent Emma Navarro during the fourth round of the US Open, where she faced difficulties with her serve. However, she made a remarkable recovery in the following weeks, concluding the season with a victory at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing and participating in the WTA Finals. During this impressive run, she secured straight-set victories over both Sabalenka and Swiatek and recently led the United States to a triumph in the United Cup.

Currently, Gauff finds herself in the same half of the draw as Sabalenka, suggesting a potential high-stakes semifinal matchup. Nevertheless, her path to this anticipated encounter is fraught with challenges. As the No. 3 seed, she will commence her tournament against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, who previously defeated her at Wimbledon last year. Additionally, she may face one of the following players in the fourth round: 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko, 20th seed Karolina Muchova, or Naomi Osaka, before possibly meeting Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals, who recently reached the final in Adelaide.

As a three-time quarterfinalist in Melbourne, Gauff could encounter a formidable opponent in the third round against 25th seed Liudmila Samsonova, and may also face either 11th seed Paula Badosa or 17th seed Marta Kostyuk in the fourth round.

Quarterfinal: Gauff defeats Pegula.

THIRD QUARTER

Despite the presence of Rybakina, a former finalist in Melbourne, the highest-seeded player in this section of the draw is Italy's Jasmine Paolini (4). The 29-year-old reached consecutive Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year and holds a favourable 3-2 head-to-head record against the powerful-serving Kazakh, having won their last two encounters.

Nevertheless, Rybakina, who has experienced an inconsistent performance in Grand Slams since her first title at Wimbledon in 2022, will bring her impressive form from the United Cup as she aims to navigate the opening week with relative ease, given her advantageous draw. In contrast, Paolini is likely to face 28th seed Elina Svitolina in the third round and 15th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the fourth round.

Quarterfinal: Rybakina defeats Paolini.

FOURTH QUARTER

Swiatek's performance in Melbourne was less than stellar, marked by a solitary semifinal appearance and a lack of WTA titles since successfully defending her French Open title last year. However, the 2025 Australian Open offers her a chance to advance significantly into the second week of the tournament. Her primary challengers include No. 26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round, 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round, and Navarro, who had a notable run at the US Open last summer, in the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinal: Swiatek defeats Navarro

Semifinal: Gauff triumphs over Sabalenka; Rybakina overcomes Swiatek

Final: Gauff claims victory against Rybakina.

Read Also: 2025 Australian Open: Key Contenders for the Women's Singles Title Unveiled

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