As the Australian Open enters its second week, we break down each quarter of the women's draw and analyse who is primed to make a deep run at Melbourne Park.
QUARTER 1
Aryna Sabalenka [1] vs Mirra Andreeva [14]
Donna Vekić [18] vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [27]
Sabalenka is the obvious pick from this top quarter of the women's draw, but will face a significant test on Sunday against 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Despite not yet dropping a set, the Belarusian has looked vulnerable across her opening three matches, particularly in her third-round clash with Clara Tauson.
And Andreeva - who beat Sabalenka in their only Grand Slam meeting at Roland Garros 2024 - is notably a big game player, and could challenge the reigning champion.
Vekić and Pavluchenkova will also battle on Sunday; an affair which should be evenly matched, but unlikely to trouble the semi-final placements.
QUARTER 2
Coco Gauff [3] vs Belinda Bencic
Paula Badosa [11] vs Olga Danilović
Coco Gauff may be the most form player in women's tennis, having won her first eight matches of the season after winning the end-of-year WTA finals in 2024.
And I don't expect that run to end in this quarter, with Gauff facing a relatively kind fourth round and quarterfinal draw.
Battling Bencic - who overcame Jelena Ostapenko and an injury-hampered Naomi Osaka - will present a new challenge from the back of the court; one which Gauff should comfortably handle.
Badosa, back in the fourth round at Melbourne Park following her severe back injury, may have one more victory in her to end the dream run of Danilović; but either would surprise the tennis world with a triumph over Gauff.
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QUARTER 3
Elena Rybakina [6] vs Maddison Keys [19]
Veronika Kudermetova vs Elina Svitolina
Elena Rybakina has flown under the radar throughout the first week, likely due to the competition she has faced.
Making light work of talented teenagers Emerson Jones and Iva Jovic, and 2024 semi-finalist Dayana Yastremska, Rybakina is primed for a deep campaign.
But the Kazakh will face her toughest test yet on Monday against Keys; a match which will reveal her status as a lead title threat.
Facing Kudermetova, should Svitolina continue her level from the dominant stretch to conclude her third-round match against 4th seed Jasmine Paolini, she should reach a twelfth major quarter-final; where I expect her run to end at the hands of Rybakina.
QUARTER 4
Emma Navarro [8] vs Daria Kasatkina [9]
Eva Lys [LL] vs Iga Świątek [2]
The final quarter holds three expected names and one whom no one could have predicted at the beginning of the main draw.
Eva Lys, who received a last-minute lucky loser entry after losing to Aussie Destanee Aiava in the final round of qualifying, has stormed through to earn three of her four career Grand Slam main draw wins.
However, I expect the German's dream run to end at the hands of a red-hot Świątek, fresh off dropping just one game against Emma Raducanu.
Navarro and Kastkina will be an enticing battle, with the victor unlikely to trouble Świątek who is eyeing off a first Australian Open final.
Author’s predictions:
Q1 Winner: Sabalenka
Q2 Winner: Gauff
Q3 Winner: Rybakina
Q4 Winner: Świątek
Although standard picks, I see the four best players in the world each working their way through and setting up a magical semi-final lineup for next Thursday.
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