Camille Naredo

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates match point after defeating Jasmine Paolini of Italy during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP/File

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 27: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates match point after defeating Jasmine Paolini of Italy during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.   Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 - Day 10

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768278601609AFP__20250327__2207234729__v2__HighRes__MiamiOpenPresentedByItau2025Day10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates match point after defeating Jasmine Paolini of Italy during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP/File" width="960"/>Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates match point after defeating Jasmine Paolini of Italy during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP/File</div>MELBOURNE, Australia -- Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is favorite to win a third Australian Open in four years but faces strong competition from a United States contingent led by Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys.World number two Iga Swiatek is another big threat while two-time Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka will hope to be in the mix when the first Grand Slam of the year begins on Sunday.Keys stunned title-holder Sabalenka 12 months ago in a classic three-set final to win her first major title aged 29.But she failed to kick on from there, not winning another tournament all year, and the world number nine will have a target on her back as the title holder.Three other Americans are ranked inside the world&#x27;s top 10: Gauff (third), Amanda Anisimova (fourth) and Jessica Pegula (sixth).The 21-year-old Gauff last year beat Sabalenka at the French Open for her second major crown, but her best performance on the Melbourne Park hardcourts was making the semi-finals in 2024.Speaking at the mixed-teams United Cup, where she launched her 2026 campaign, Gauff said she spent the off-season &quot;just overall becoming better and more comfortable with my game&quot;.Her serve has been her biggest failing and she suffered a surprise defeat to Spain&#x27;s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at the United Cup, but recovered to defeat Swiatek 6-4, 6-2 in a statement victory.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/3/swiatek-says-women-s-tennis-does-not-need-battle-of-the-sexes-1239">READ: Swiatek says women&#x27;s tennis does not need &#x27;Battle of the Sexes&#x27;</a></div>It was Gauff&#x27;s fourth win in a row over Swiatek.The 24-year-old Anisimova has emerged as a serious threat after enjoying the best year of her career in 2025, reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, and winning 1000 titles in Beijing and Qatar.She also made the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time, going down to Sabalenka in three sets in a high-octane semi-final.&quot;She always pushes me to play my best tennis,&quot; said Sabalenka.Like Pegula, a first major title remains elusive for Anisimova despite going close.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768278560243AFP__20250831__72XF7DG__v1__MidRes__TennisUsaOpen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Poland&#x27;s Iga Swiatek reacts after a point against Russia&#x27;s Anna Kalinskaya during their women&#x27;s singles third round match on day seven of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 30, 2025. Charly Triballeau, AFP/File" width="960"/>Poland&#x27;s Iga Swiatek reacts after a point against Russia&#x27;s Anna Kalinskaya during their women&#x27;s singles third round match on day seven of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 30, 2025. Charly Triballeau, AFP/File</div>Swiatek, Sabalenka&#x27;s long-term rival for the top ranking, is overdue something special in Melbourne.The Pole is a six-time Grand Slam champion and the Australian Open is the only major she has yet to win.She matched her best Melbourne performance by reaching last year&#x27;s semi-finals, and did so in rampant style, only to lose to an inspired Keys.&quot;At a Grand Slam you have to really play great for two weeks, not have any bad days, be consistent,&quot; the 24-year-old said at the United Cup.Japan&#x27;s former world number one Osaka would be a popular winner if she were to add to her 2019 and 2021 Melbourne triumphs.Now ranked 16th, the 28-year-old must rank as an outsider, capable of conjuring up her best tennis in flashes but unable to do it consistently and stay fit for long stretches.World number five Elena Rybakina, the Moscow-born Kazakh, is another to watch.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/6/tennis-australian-open-prize-fund-reaches-record-75-million-1555">READ: Australian Open prize fund reaches record $75 million</a></div><div> </div><div>- Imperious Sabalenka -</div>It is hard to look beyond Sabalenka.Having been stunned by the unfancied Keys, the Belarusian suffered more Grand Slam heartbreak in the French Open final against Gauff.She then went down to Anisimova in the Wimbledon last four, before roaring back to get revenge over the American and retain her US Open title.The Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024, Sabalenka will be in an unfamiliar role when she goes into the tournament as runner-up from 12 months ago.&quot;Honestly, there is no difference,&quot; the hard-hitting Sabalenka said in Brisbane this month, where she won the title for a second successive year in an ominous statement of intent.&quot;Every time, if I&#x27;m defending champion, if I lost first round last year, the goal is always the same -- to bring my best tennis and to improve my game.&quot;Outside the title contenders there will be fascination in how Venus Williams performs when she becomes the oldest woman to play in the main draw at Melbourne.The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion was handed a wildcard aged 45.The American, who has played only a limited number of singles matches in recent years, will compete at the Australian Open for the first time since 2021.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is favourite to win a third Australian Open in four years but faces strong competition from a United States contingent led by Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is favourite to win a third Australian Open in four years but faces strong competition from a United States contingent led by Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys.

Sabalenka favorite at Australian Open but faces Swiatek, US threats

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Sabalenka favorite at Australian Open but faces Swiatek, US threats

Peter Stebbings,

Agence France-Presse

Published Jan 13, 2026 12:32 PM PHT

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Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka

Iga Swiatek

Coco Gauff

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