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.
who ya got?
Hard to believe there are so many top players who are unseeded…that makes “the luck of the draw”….just that!!!!
Rybakina looks the best player to me ,losing this week was probably a convenience.
Playing this week seems like a big mistake when she just won a tournament hammering Saba in final. May very well cost her.
Ryba, Iga and Coco seem like the 3 faves because Saba is probably going to feel the pressure of defending her title. Plus the bagel in the loss to Ryba.
Agree it’s between those three given that hammering for Saba. But Swiatek has to play Ostapenko who she never beaten
Jelena may not get there though. She is apparently playing really well in Adelaide right now but she played really well just before wimby and went out early.
I agree that if she plays Iga she may very well beat her. Jelena can beat anyone when she’s on but she doesn’t bring her best in slams. Very unpredictable.
In a strange coincidence, jelena playing dasha in the Adelaide final is the same final as Eastbourne. Neither of them did anything at wimby.
she literally won a slam
Yes I know!!! But she mostly hasn’t played anything like her best in slams since then. Even at the USO when she played well to beat Iga she was diabolical in her next match against Coco.
yep, probably lost on purpose
Samsanova, Alexandrova and Kudermetova all out.
Osaka beaten by Garcia. Never bought into the hype around her return. Some of the bookies had her as the #5 fave to win which is insane.
tough draw for Osaka
Didn’t see the match. Garcia played very poorly for most of last year but started playing much better in the autumn.
Bloodbath for the seeds with Ryba and Pegula both out. Pegula going out very tamely. Ryba played too much before the tournament started. You feel it in long matches.
Watching Jelena atm. She has been going berserk. Ok finally breaks in third set.
Huge opportunity if she can stay in draw. Otherwise Iga has a clear run to the final.
Come on Jelena! I like her but her shouting at her box has not been pleasant.
Svitolina ?
I love Elina. But doubt she can beat Iga. Would be super happy if she does.
I know she did at wimby but Iga is vulnerable on grass.
Iga not looking great
wide open
Yep
Rybakina out. Ouch!
Sabs looking very strong.
Great to see Barbora go through. She’s been through a rough stretch. Unfortunately she plays Andreeva next who has walloped her twice.
Hope she can step up. She needs to serve really well. At her best she can beat anyone. Still looks quite mentally vulnerable to me.
Very happy Barbora won. Saba is the fave but if she plays like she did in the last 2 sets she could win.
she wasn’t that great against Mirra
Welshwitch(Margot) doing really well with her backing of Andreeva who is out now.
Coco doing the heavy lifting in my bracket!
Not any more 😉 But you still won
I see you and other bracketeers went for Jabeur. I love the way she plays, but not convinced about her staying power. Like Iga she needs to be right at the top of her game to beat the power players.
Andreeva is young and has no fear. Unfortunately I think Ons has too much.
Ons has been generally poor since wimby. Don’t think she’s got over it.
I wouldn’t have picked her.
yep
Yeah , but hard to judge form this time of year .
Saba through easily . Coco had a real battle with Marta. Match between the 2 of them most likely decides the title.
Amazing run by Yastremska. Never seen her play!
on fire. going for it on every ball.
Is she actually going to get to the final? It’s possible surely….
I have beating Qinwen
Zheng through. Not surprising really as steadier player…
See that Saba beat Gauff..
Yastremska injured?
Am still really gutted Elina was injured in first game against Noskova.
Was great chance for her to reach her first final.
yep
I was happy Qinwen made the SF. I’m with Amy here.
My favorites went out too early, so it was all Sabalenka’s to win.