HOW THE LEADING WOMEN'S CONTENDERS AND BEST AUSSIE HOPE SHAPE UP FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
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IGA SWIATEK (POL)
Age: 22
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US25,116,988
Career titles: 18
Grand slam titles: 4 (French Open 2020, 2022, 2023; US Open 2022)
Australian Open win-loss record: 15-5
Best Australian Open result: semi-finalist 2022
The dominant Pole fired a subtle warning to her rivals after extending her winning streak to 16 matches at the summer-opening United Cup, claiming she's actually improved during the off-season. The deserved title favourite.
ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR)
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,512,563
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2023)
Australian Open win-loss record: 15-5
Best Australian Open result: champion 2023
The big-hitting Belarusian will be more dangerous than ever after finally shaking the grand slam monkey off her back last year. Started the season strongly with a run to the Brisbane International final.
ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ)
Age: 24
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US12,074,395
Career titles: 6
Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2022)
Australian Open win-loss record: 10-4
Best Australian Open result: runner-up 2023
The powerhouse baseliner went within a set of landing the trophy last year and don't be surprised if she goes one better after delivering a statement with a revenge win over Sabalenka for the loss of only three games in Brisbane.
COCO GAUFF (USA)
Age: 19
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US12,250,713
Career titles: 8
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2023)
Australian Open win-loss record: 7-4
Best Australian Open results: fourth round 2020, 2022
Almost five years after stunning seven-times grand-slam winner Venus Williams at Wimbledon, the American prodigy is incredibly still a teenager. She is also a grand-slam champ now herself after capturing the US Open.
JESSICA PEGULA (USA)
Age: 29
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US12,633,771
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 12-4
Best Australian Open results: quarter-finalist 2021, 2022, 2023
The American has shown with charges to the last eight for the past three years she loves Melbourne Park, but is also yet to break through the quarter-final barrier at any slam, twice being knocked out at the same stage elsewhere.
ONS JABEUR (TUN)
Age: 29
Ranking: 6
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US12,379,307
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 7-6
Best Australian Open result: quarter-finalist 2020
The Tunisian trailblazer has yet to show the tennis world her true talents in Australia, but back-to-back grand-slam final appearances in 2022 are proof of her potential if she can survive the first week.
BEST OUTSIDER
VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR)
Age: 34
Ranking: 22
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US36,729,719
Career titles: 21
Grand slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2012, 2013)
Australian Open win-loss record: 47-13
Best Australian Open results: champion 2012, 2013
Even a decade after claiming her second Open crown Melbourne Park, the Belarusian remains a serious force, as evident in her run to last year's semi-finals. Can still beat any opponent on her day.
BEST AUSSIE HOPE
AJLA TOMLJANOVIC
Age: 30
Ranking: 275
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US5,925,744
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 4-8
Best Australian Open results: second round 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021
Will be desperate to make up for missing her home slam last year with a knee injury just four months after becoming the first Australian since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1979 to make the quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open.