Swiatek to Raducanu: 5 women to watch at the Australian Open

MELBOURNE – Iga Swiatek will be a hot favorite 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:

The World No. 1 is a four-time Grand Slam champion but has never been beyond the semifinals 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 No. 1 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.

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 semifinals 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 semifinals at all four Slams in a single season.

Sabalenka reached the final at last week's Brisbane International, losing to 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 No. 3 started the year in style, dropping just three games in beating Sabalenka in the Brisbane final, where lost only 15 games in five matches.

"For sure it gives me confidence," she said about her Australian Open prospects. "I'm playing well now, so hopefully I continue."

The Japanese fan favorite knows her way around Melbourne Park, lifting the winners' Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 2019 and 2021, but she is something of an unknown quantity this year.

The former World No. 1 has admitted she almost gave up on tennis but is now back in love with the sport.

The 26-year-old stepped away from the game in