[ad_1]
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland and American Coco Gauff, who won September's US Open at the age of 19, will be opponents at the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Swiatek, who boasts French Open and US Open titles, returned to No. 1 in the rankings after winning the WTA Finals in November.
She will play in the Australian Open in 2022 and has won 16 consecutive matches since October 1st, with her best result being in the semi-finals.
She could become the second active female player to win five major singles titles, after Venus Williams (who did not play in the Australian Open).
more: australian open men's draw
Gauff, who in September became the first American teenager to win a major since Serena Williams at the 1999 U.S. Open, won her only victory at the Australian Open tune-up event in New Zealand last week. .
Gauff, the fourth seed, could face two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka in the round of 16. Osaka, who has returned from giving birth, will face 14th seed Caroline Garcia of France in the first round.
If her seeding holds, Gauff will face defending champion and No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the semifinals. Swiatek will face third-place Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) in the other semifinal.
Gauff will become the youngest player to win multiple tournaments since Maria Sharapova in 2006, and could become the youngest American player since Tracy Austin in 1981.
Another storyline of the Australian Open is the battle for the four U.S. Olympic women's singles spots.
Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys (who missed Australia with a shoulder injury) are in strong positions to compete for the first three spots. Fourth place is currently a close battle with Emma Navarro in the lead. Teams will be drawn from the WTA rankings after the French Open in early June.
2024 Australian Open Women's Singles Draw
[ad_2]
Source link
