The 2019 Australian Open Women’s Singles final was won by Naomi Osaka when she defeated Petra Kvitova.
This year, Kvitova won’t be competing as she is pregnant, but Osaka will be returning to Grand Slam tennis after an hiatus due to giving birth.
Osaka is one of eight mothers entered in the Australian Open this year, and four are former AO champions - Osaka in 2019 and 2021, Caroline Wozniacki in 2018, Angelique Kerber in 2016, and Victoria Azarenka in 2012 and 2013.
Osaka is a dangerous floater in the draw, and Caroline. Garcia (16) is a first round opponent. If the comeback goes to plan, Osaka could well meet CoCo Gauff in the round of sixteen.
However, this year has started the way 2023 ended - Iga Swiatek (1) dominating as a world number one should.
Her crushing singles performances in the United Cup were scary for her potential rivals in Melbourne, and while Elena Rybakina (3) may won the Brisbane International, she was less than impressive in losing in Adelaide at the quarter final stage.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka (2) failed at the final hurdle in Brisbane, but still presents the biggest threat to Swiatek lifting her first Australian Open trophy, except perhaps CoCo Gauff (4).
Gauff successfully defended her Auckland title, and is the reigning US Open champion.
Sabalenka should hold too many aces for either Ons Jabeur (6) or Barbora Krejcikova (9) in the quarter finals, and Gauff likewise seems better placed to swing past Maria Sakkari (8) or Beatriz Haddad Maia (10) in her quarter.
In the top half I think a semi final between Iga Swiatek (1) and Elena Rybakina (3) is imminent, with maybe Jelena Ostapenko (11) (winner of the Adelaide International) and Jessica Pegula (5) slight irritants respectively.
My selections for semi finals:
Iga Swiatek (1) to defeat Elena Rybakina (3)
CoCo Gauff (4) to defeat Aryna Sabalenka (2)
Iga Swiatek to win the whole thing and take home her fifth Grand Slam trophy.
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