Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, a crown for three

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff occupy the first three places in the WTA rankings (ahead of the Italian Jasmine Paolini, finalist at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in 2024 and the Chinese Zheng Qinwen, finalist of the last edition of the Open Australia). The Belarusian, the Polish and the American come forward as the headliners of the Australian Open which begins this Sunday. A tournament that often likes to play with the hierarchy.

Aryna Sabalenka to join Martina Hingis

The Belarusian, titled in 2023 and 2024, will aim for a hat-trick in Melbourne. She would be the first player to achieve this since the Swiss Martina Hingis (1997, 1998 and 1999). In the meantime, the one which, in Australia and New Zealand, makes the front page of the magazine Bazaar confides: “I would like to inspire people to be strong and never give up. » In 2024, Sabalenka became the first since Iga Swiatek (in 2022) to win two Grand Slam titles in one season (Australian Open, US Open). In Melbourne, she started the little dance ceremony again with her staff, an illustration of her joy of living, her joy of playing. Titled in Brisbane (by dominating the Russian Polina Kudermetova in the final), Aryna Sabalenka (26 years old), firmly established at the top of the ranking, advances with serenity, determination and… prudence. “You have to show why you are world number one or why you are in the top 10. You have to show your level and fight for it”sums up the one who is giving her full measure since she completely rebuilt her service and forgot the double faults which poisoned her for a long time. Aryna Sabalanka will launch her tournament against the American Sloane Stephens (31 years old; 84th; winner of the 2017 US Open).

Iga Swiatek the rematch

Eliminated in 3^e tour (by the Czech Linda Noskova), the Pole had, in 2024, experienced one of her most intense disappointments in Melbourne in a tournament that never smiled on her (best semi-finalist performance in 2022). The Pole (23 years old; winner of 5 Grand Slam titles, 4 at Roland-Garros and the 2022 US Open) is going through a tormented period. Tested positive for trimetazidine in a sample taken out of competition in August, the Pole (provisionally suspended from September 12 to October 4) was cleared by the ITIA, which manages the Tennis anti-doping program and recognized that this test was due to contamination of his medication for sleep disorders. Iga Swiatek (5 titles in 2024 against 6 in 2023, 8 in 2022) wants to resume her march forward. Inhabited by a new state of mind: “I’m trying to enjoy life a little more. You have to know how to sort things out. » Swiatek will start against the Czech Katerina Siniakova (46th in the world).

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Coco Gauff ready to see higher

“I think Coco will finish number 1” Chris Evert announced on the WTA website, very enthusiastically. The American (20 years old) won 13 of her last 15 matches to close out the year 2024, winning in Beijing and winning the Masters in Riyadh (at the expense of the Chinese Zheng Qinwen, surprise finalist of the Open of Australia in 2024), where she, in quick succession, beat Aryna Sabalenka (n°1) and Iga Swiatek (n°2). Coco Gauff then won the 2025 United Cup (including a victory against Iga Swiatek), leading her team to their second victory in three years. “I think Coco will win a Major this year. The Australian Open is probably his best chance. But she can win on any surface: clay, hard grass, it doesn’t matter.summarizes Martina Navratilova. Coco Gauff, who experienced a contrasting year in 2024, marked by the end of the collaboration with Brad Gilbert which led her to the US Open title in 2023, assures: “It’s obvious that this start to the season gives me a lot of confidence. I feel like when I play confident tennis, I play great tennis. I really feel confident”. Before adding, aware of the weight of the wait: “I will always feel pressure…” Coco Gauff will start against her compatriot Sofia Kenin (26 years old; 81st; winner of the Australian Open in 2020).