Home girl, world number one Ashleigh Barty has the opportunity to deliver a home Slam in front of her compatriots in Melbourne. After suffering five defeats in finals, Serena picked up her first title in Auckland recent and she will have her sight set on a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam at the venue of her last. 12 months after winning her first Aussie open, can Naomi Osaka repeat the heroics of last year?
Who will conquer Melbourne amongst the ladies?
Ashleigh Barty
Home girl, Barty carry the hopes of home supporters as she attempts to become the first Australian winner of the tournament since Chris O’Neil in 1978. She had a brilliant 2019, winning her first major title at the French Open last season. With the weight of expectation, Barty will do well to handle the occasion as she aims to progress beyond last year’s Aussie Open quarter finals.
Simona Halep
Halep is looking to right the wrongs of 2018 Australian Open finals this time after reuniting back with her former coach Darren Cahill. The Australian coach guided her to maiden Grand Slam in Paris in 2018 but the pair went their separate ways. That didn’t stop Simona from cruising in Wimbledon last year. She arrives Melbourne fit and ready for the demands with only one mission in mind – the trophy. With Cahill back in her camp, she’s right up there among the firm favorites to go all the way.
Naomi Osaka
Naomi produced commanding displays on her way to her first Australia Open title last year but then suffered a serious deep in performances through the year but finished strongly, winning consecutive titles in Osaka and Beijing. Unfortunately, a shoulder problem ensured she didn’t play much part of the season-ending WTA Finals. Osaka arrives in Melbourne with a new coach – her fourth in 12 months but she looks well motivated for Grand Slam number three.
Karolina Pliskova
Karolina can be described as the “Best Player Never to Have Won a Slam”. She was a semifinalist last year, beating Serena. Racked up four WTA titles last year but the disappointment at not landing the Slams still hangs over. Outside the Aussie Open, she is yet to make any other major quarter final. She made a title winning start to 2020, successfully defending her Brisbane title? Can she reproduce that success at Melbourne Park? Her best Grand Slam performance remains her runner-up finish at the 2016 US Open.
Serena Williams
After winning her warm up event in Auckland- her first title as a mother. Serena will return to Melbourne feeling reinvigorated as she takes another shot at Grand Slam number 24. If not now, when? Pessimists will point to her shortcomings of three years with a major and that she is getting older at 38. However, it is important to stress that she has reached four Grand Slam finals in the last 18 months. Serena continues to show why she is elite and perhaps the greatest female tennis player of all time. After four slam final defeat, she is due mother luck to win after knocking so hard.
The AO2020 promises huge excitement and upset like every other Grand Slam. The ladies never fail to live up to its billing.
Earlier matches to look out for:
Venus Williams vs. Coco Gauff; Keys vs. Kasatkina; Sharapova vs. Vekic; Halep vs. Brady.
Do not miss the best of tennis over the next fortnight serving off from Melbourne. Enjoy AO2020!