As the Australian Open approaches, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff emerge as frontrunners in the competition, promising an exciting tournament for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. Aryna Sabalenka enters the tournament as the top seed after claiming the No. 1 spot in the rankings from Iga Świątek. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, at just 20 years old, stands as the second favorite to win, with her recent undefeated streak in singles and doubles at the United Cup leading Team USA to their second title in Australia.
Gauff's recent performances have captured attention, especially her consecutive victories over Iga Świątek at both the WTA Finals and United Cup. A significant factor behind her success is the hiring of a new coach, Matt Daly, a renowned grip specialist, which has notably improved her forehand and serve. According to Eurosport tennis expert Laura Robson, Gauff's new forehand grip has "transformed her game," elevating her status as a formidable contender.
“With the forehand, it’s not breaking down like it used to and it doesn’t feel like a weakness anymore and she’s so hard to pass because her movement is the best in a game. I would say that Coco’s all of a sudden, from where she was in the summer at the US Open, a completely different player and now among the favorites for a slam title again.” – Laura Robson
Despite her young age, Gauff's athletic prowess and strategic gameplay have impressed many, including tennis analyst Mats Wilander. He believes Gauff is a top-tier athlete with immense potential to dominate the sport.
“Obviously, there needs to be a combination of the two, but I think that we don’t understand the physical ability of Coco Gauff; she’s a tremendous athlete. One of the best female athletes in the world in any sport, and she’s obviously one of the best tennis players in the world, if not maybe the best at this moment.” – Mats Wilander
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka aims to secure her place in history by becoming the first woman since Martina Hingis to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. Her prowess on hard courts positions her as a slight favorite to win this year's tournament.
“Sabalenka is a slight favorite in my eyes. She really is a hard-court specialist, who has a good chance of winning, even on clay and on grass,” – Mats Wilander
Iga Świątek's journey to the Australian Open this year has been challenging due to a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ). The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed that her positive test resulted from contamination of a regulated non-prescription medication. Despite these setbacks, Świątek remains a strong competitor with potential to cause an upset at the tournament.
“It’s not the perfect conditions for Iga Świątek, but at the same time, you’ve got to be fit, you’ve got to be ready to go and she’s always ready to go. I think she will have a good tournament; she’s not one of the favorites to win it, but she certainly could cause an upset and win the Australian Open.” – Mats Wilander
The fast conditions at the Australian Open may pose a challenge for Świątek, who traditionally performs better on different surfaces. Nevertheless, her resilience and determination ensure that she will be a fierce contender against any opponent.
Coco Gauff's recent improvement in technique reflects her commitment to refining her skills under Matt Daly’s guidance. Her enhanced forehand and serve have become assets rather than liabilities, capturing admiration and raising expectations for her performance in Melbourne.
“Should she play aggressive tennis? Should she be scrappy and get the ball back and play?” – Mats Wilander
“She’s too serious. She’s too good. She’s too complete. Yes, she has a problem against some of the big hitters on the women’s tour, but so does everybody else too. Not much is going to change her mindset or her drive, or her ambition and motivation to be the absolute best version of herself every single day she steps on the court.” – Mats Wilander
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