Iga Swiatek To Emma Raducanu: Five Women To Watch At The Australian Open

Iga Swiatek will be a hot favourite to win a first Australian Open when it begins on Sunday, but could face a stiff challenge from former champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka.

AFP Sport highlights five women to watch at first Grand Slam of the year:

Iga Swiatek

The world number one is a four-time Grand Slam champion but has never been beyond the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

The Polish player rocketed back to the top of the rankings after winning her first WTA Finals trophy in November.

She enjoyed a stellar season in 2022, recording 37 straight wins, but faltered last year, with her 75-week run as number one ending in September.

Swiatek, 22, then lost only one 13 matches to finish the year on a high and followed up by winning all five of her singles at the United Cup last week.

Aryna Sabalenka

The 2023 Australian Open champion looked on course to finish the year on top of the world rankings until Swiatek pipped her by winning the WTA Tour finals.

The consistent Belarusian, who came from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina in the final 12 months ago, boasted a fine record at the majors last year.

She reached the semi-finals in Paris and at Wimbledon before losing to Coco Gauff in the final of the US Open.

The powerful 25-year-old was the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach at least the semi-finals at all four Slams in a single season.

Sabalenka reached the final at last week's Brisbane International, losing to Rybakina.

Elena Rybakina

The Russian-born Kazakh came close a year ago to adding the Australian Open crown to her 2022 Wimbledon title, losing to Sabalenka in three sets.

The world number three started the year in style, dropping just three games in beating Sabalenka in the Brisbane final,