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Keep in mind the ‘Massive 4’ which dominated males’s tennis for a decade as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray discovered themselves going head-to-head on the deep finish of a Grand Slam?
Many individuals see that as a golden period for tennis and the ladies’s tour could possibly be about to embark on an analogous chapter as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff are set to battle it out for the Australian Open title.
Because the retirement of Ash Barty in March 2022, Swiatek has been the participant to beat as she held the world No 1 spot for 75 weeks.
The 22-year-old misplaced it briefly to Sabalenka after her shock fourth-round exit on the US Open final September, however was again on the prime of the WTA rankings following her WTA Finals triumph in November.
Swiatek led Poland to runners-up spot within the United Cup, a staff competitors, and received all her singles matches as she put down a marker forward of the Australian Open.
Poland misplaced to Germany within the closing and Alexander Zverev says Swiatek can anticipate “a tremendous season forward”.
“Iga, congratulations on the MVP. I mentioned it earlier than in an interview, I believe having you on a staff is like having a cheat code on a online game, so it is superb what you’ve got been doing for the previous few years,” he added.
The Australian Open is the one Grand Slam lacking for Iga Switaek
Can Sabalenka defend her title?
So Swiatek is favorite and is in nice type. Nevertheless, she’s but to achieve the ultimate of the Australian Open, which is the one main left for her to finish a profession Grand Slam – profitable the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
Swiatek misplaced within the fourth spherical of final 12 months’s Australian Open to Rybakina, who completed runner-up to defending champion Sabalenka.
Sabalenka had a surprising 2023, making the final 4 of every Grand Slam and her highly effective groundstrokes have been typically an excessive amount of to deal with for many of the tour.
On the finish of 2021, Sabalenka suffered from the yips – a probable psychological issue which prevented her from taking part in at a excessive degree.
Aryna Sabalenka will defend her Australian Open crown
Since then, a speedy rise to world No 1 and the development of her hitting has made the 25-year-old a prime participant.
Rybakina obtained the higher of Sabalenka final Sunday although within the closing of the Brisbane Worldwide with a ruthless 6-0 6-3 victory.
Sabalenka’s 15-match profitable streak in Australia got here to an finish in opposition to the calmness of Rybakina, who’s the 2022 Wimbledon champion.
“I used to be very pleased with the entire week in Brisbane. I did not anticipate it to be like this,” mentioned 24-year-old Rybakina.
“I am simply wanting ahead to the Australian Open. It provides me confidence however I all the time have battles with Aryna and Brisbane was only the start for all of the gamers. I am taking part in effectively so hopefully I proceed.”
Elena Rybakina, 24, misplaced final 12 months’s Australian Open closing to Aryna Sabalenka
What about Gauff?
The youngest of the quartet is Gauff and he or she goes into the primary Grand Slam of the 12 months excessive on confidence too after beating Elena Svitolina within the Auckland Basic.
Gauff, who burst onto the scene at Wimbledon 5 years in the past, loved a stellar 2023 because the 19-year-old received her first main trophy on the US Open in September.
As the highest seed in Auckland, Gauff continued the place she left off final season and breezed into the ultimate earlier than displaying her battling expertise to fend off Svitolina.
The perfect of the motion from the ASB Basic Remaining from Auckland between Coco Gauff and Elina Svitolina
In mid-2023, Gauff added Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert to her teaching staff which appeared to make a distinction nearly instantly.
The flexibility to win when not taking part in effectively was actually a high quality the American was lacking however that is modified during the last six months.
Gauff may also play within the girls’s doubles on the Australian Open alongside compatriot Jessica Pegula. The pair are third within the rankings however profitable each doubles and singles titles is a particularly tough feat, so for both participant to grow to be singles champion could require an early doubles exit.
A glance again at Coco Gauff’s response to her memorable US Open win triumph in 2023
Osaka again at a Grand Slam
Naomi Osaka will make her first Grand Slam look in 17 months as she continues her return after giving delivery to her daughter Shai in July.
Osaka received her first match again on the Brisbane Worldwide earlier than shedding to Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-7(4) 4-6. She was set to play Emma Raducanu in an exhibition on Tuesday however the British gamers withdrew. Each gamers got wild playing cards for the Australian Open, so might draw anybody within the first spherical.
“I do know that if I maintain coaching and if I maintain placing within the work, then I will ultimately get to the place I need to be,” mentioned Osaka.
“Even stepping on the court docket is a private win as a result of a few weeks in the past I used to be even doubting if I might play with everybody.
“So I assume these two matches that I’ve had form of show to me that I’m doing okay, and the 12 months is simply going to get higher for me.”
Naomi Osaka received the Australian Open in 2021 and 2022
Ukrainian Svitolina additionally gave delivery to her first little one in 2022 and returned to the tour in April, persistently difficult the highest names.
She impressively made the quarter-finals at Roland Garros and the semi-finals at Wimbledon as she performed a few of the finest tennis in her profession.
Germany’s Angelique Kerber continues her comeback from being pregnant however has been unable to emulate Svitolina’s nice return after shedding 4 of her 5 singles matches on the United Cup, regardless of her nation profitable the match.
Caroline Wozniacki is the 2018 Australian Open champion
Kerber is the 2016 Australian Open champion and Caroline Wozniacki is the 2018 winner, who can be again in Melbourne 4 years after she introduced her retirement.
Wozniacki made a shock return to tennis final August and reached the second week of the US Open, shedding to Gauff within the final 16.
What can Racudanu, Boulter and Burrage do?
Three British gamers are within the girls’s draw – Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage. Raducanu misplaced to Svitolina in Auckland however may be inspired that she was near beating the in-form 29-year-old.
Raducanu hasn’t gone past the second spherical of a significant since her memorable 2021 US Open triumph and her proper thigh was closely strapped at first of this month, hinting at considerations about her health.
The perfect of the motion from Emma Raducanu’s match in opposition to Elina Svitolina on the ASB Basic in Auckland
“I do know her private objectives are to simply keep match and wholesome for the time being. Tennis is such a gruelling sport bodily,” Sky Sports activities Tennis’ Naomi Broady mentioned.
“There aren’t many different sports activities that you’d play for therefore many hours, consecutive days, week after week, for 11 months of the 12 months.
“She will be able to’t actually play half-hour within the first sport and get subbed out and construct it again up, it is simply straight in on the deep finish with two gruelling matches.
“So for her, it is simply going to be about staying match and wholesome after which perhaps after this Australian swing, seeking to begin going deeper in tournaments once more.”
There was some spectacular hitting from Emma Raducanu in an epic rally throughout her conflict with Elena-Gabriela Ruse on the Auckland Basic because the British participant returned to the tour
British No 1 Boulter had a breakthrough 2023 as she received her first WTA title on the Nottingham Open and had a spell on this planet’s prime 50.
Boulter is within the Australian Open foremost draw for the primary time since 2021 and will probably be seeking to surpass her finest run in Melbourne of the second spherical.
Burrage, 24, will make her Australian Open debut and is focusing on a primary match win on the Grand Slam.
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