Jannik Sinner 5/4
Carlos Alcaraz @ 17/5
Novak Djokovic @ 9/2
Alexander Zverev @ 8/1
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AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S SINGLES
Aryna Sabalenka @ 21/10
Coco Gauff @ 15/4
Iga Swiatek @ 4/1
Elena Rybakina @ 15/2
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In Britain the struggle to stay warm has been real this week. Gritting a path to the oven, night-time trips to break the ice forming in our toilet-bowls, clinging desperately to radiators whilst slathering our bodies with Deep Heat – we’ve all had to do it.
Down Under in Melbourne Australia, however – where the best tennis players in the world are gathering on the eve of the first Grand Slam of 2025 – it is a very different story. Ice-towels, massive hydration, and sunscreen are very much the order of the day. Absolutely no warm-up required.
But of the assembling tennis aces, who will be arriving in Victoria in the hottest form?
On the WTA side of the tennis court it is very clearly Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian won the hard-court US Open in September last year, became the #1 ranked player in the world in October, and is looking to win what would be a remarkable hat-trick of Australian Open titles.
Including smaller, lead-up events; since the beginning of the 2023 season, Sabalenka boasts an awesome 27-1 winning record on Australian soil. Can she complete her trilogy in 2025? Is anyone able to stop Aryna from a-waltzing through the draw?
A compelling aspect of her game, however, is that she is vulnerable to mental collapses; the person who beats Sabalenka on the court most frequently, is herself. Which is perhaps why she fares so well in Australia – it is very difficult to have a brain freeze in 35°C heat.
Best placed to take advantage of any major malfunction is #3 seed, Coco Gauff, whose pre-tournament form suggests she can improve on an underwhelming 2024. But the American is scheduled to meet the defending champion in the semi-finals, and only one player can advance to the real final on January 25th.
A tantalising, first ever Grand Slam Final meeting between the pair is on the cards…
Iga Świątek may have been the dominant force in women’s tennis for the past few years, but her last two Australian Opens have ended in disappointing early exits. Nevertheless, as a resident of the bottom half of the draw, the Pole is still a contender to fill the remaining final berth.
Other candidates include Jasmine Paolini, whose late career transformation began in earnest at Melbourne last year; and, if she can stay healthy, and resolve her tumultuous coaching situation, former Wimbledon Champion, Elena Rybakina.
The defending Men’s Champion, Jannik Sinner, lands in Melbourne as a firm favourite to retain last year’s trophy, having also underlined his hard-court prowess with a US Open triumph in the autumn.
The friendly rivalry between Sinner and Wimbledon Champion, Carlos Alcaraz, remains the sport’s most valuable asset. The consensus seems to be that while both young players have a very high level, with Alcaraz possessing the greater variety of shots, Sinner is currently better at maintaining his top form; which explains his slightly higher billing.
Can Alcaraz make the necessary tweaks to reduce his unforced-error counts? The tennis world will be hoping so, because this Australian Open sees both players in opposite halves of the draw – a tantalising, first ever Grand Slam Final meeting between the pair is on the cards.
In what appears to be a balanced tournament, there will be players from both sections who will be hoping to scotch this dream match. Including Novak Djokovic, whose slam-less 2024 led to him making the unexpected coaching appointment of Andy Murray.
Like Coriolanus joining forces with Tullus Aufidius for one last assault on Rome, the Djokovic/Murray alliance will face some tough battles before they even get to the quarter-finals, where Carlos Alcaraz could await in an early repeat of last year’s Wimbledon Final.
Can Alexander Zverev finally win a Grand Slam? Can Jack Draper continue build upon his excellent recent progress? Can a returning Nick Kyrgios make headlines by actually winning tennis matches?!
Whatever happens, UK residents, and the best of the tennis world, for very different reasons, will both be turning up the heat over the next two weeks…
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