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The Australian Open 2025 is set to kick off on Sunday, January 12 onwards with some interesting matchups taking place in the first round. Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are the top seeds and will look to defend their titles, with the Belarusian aiming for her third consecutive Slam Down Under.
Sabalenka, who also won the US Open 2024, has already landed in Melbourne and was seen practicing alongside coach Anton Dubrov while her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis cheered from the box.
Players such as Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, Danielle Collins, and Anna Kalinskaya are looking to make their mark from outside the first-round bye.
On that note, here's a quick peek into the top six opening round matches after the draw.
#1 - Naomi Osaka vs Caroline Garcia
Their Australian Open 2025 encounter will mark Naomi Osaka and Caroline Garcia's fifth meeting overall and third at the Australian Open. The French managed to level the head-to-head by securing a straight-set win in their last meeting at the Miami Open 2024. While the Japanese has shown promise at the ASB Classic, fans could expect the tables to turn this time.
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Winning 18 out of her 35 matches in 2024, Caroline Garcia emerged dominant on hard courts with 10 out of these wins coming on the same surface. Osaka, on the other hand, remains slightly on the heavier side, having won 14 out of her 24 matches on hard courts.
Although the four-time Grand Slam winner's abrupt exit from the ASB Classic due to injury raised concerns, her ability to recover and make a comeback could help her excel in the upcoming showdown.
#2 - Coco Gauff vs Sofia Kenin
Coco Gauff's upcoming showdown against Sofia Kenin is another exciting match to look out for at the Australian Open 2025. The 2023 US Open champion ended her 2024 season by securing the WTA Finals title. She took her dominant run into the new season, taking down Iga Swiatek and helping Team USA lift the United Cup for the second consecutive time.
In their last three meetings, Sofia Kenin leads the head-to-head 2-1. Their last showdown was in the 2023 Wimbledon Championships when Kenin defeated her compatriot in the opening stages of the tournament. With momentum on Coco Gauff's side, it is highly likely that she levels the head-to-head this time.
#3 - Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens
The defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has kicked off her training sessions in Melbourne already. Having already won the Brisbane International with a massive victory over Polina Kudermetova, the Belarusian now has eyes on a third consecutive Australian Grand Slam.
In a total of four matches the two have played, Sloane Stephens is yet to record a win against the World No.1. Their last match was at the 2023 French Open, where Sabalenka defeat the American in the fourth round.
Considering her past performance on hard court, Aryna Sabalenka is expected to extend her lead against the American with another win.
#4 - Iga Swiatek vs Katerina Siniakova
Another exciting showdown in the list of blockbuster 1R matches at the Australian Open is Iga Swiatek facing off against Katerina Siniakova. Both players have had a good record on clay courts, with Iga dominating in singles and Siniakova in the doubles side of the game.
This will be the first time they face each other on tour, but their win-loss numbers advocate the dominance. In a total of 74 matches played last year, Swiatek managed to triumph in 65 and ended the year as World No. 2.
Siniakova on the other hand, won 35 out of 61 matches last year, indicating areas of her game that can be improved. While one can never discount an upset from the Czech, it is highly likely that Swiatek will advance to the second round comfortably.
#5 - Emma Raducanu vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Emma Raducanu is looking to make her highly anticipated comeback at the Australian Open 2025 after closing her 2024 season with a commendable performance at the Billie Jean King Cup. Raducanu withdrew from the ASB Classic with a mention of issues in her back.
Raducanu and Alexandrova will face off for the first time. Despite her limited presence in 2024, the Brit won 24 out of her 37 singles matches, with 9 coming on hard courts. Alexandrova, seeded 26th in the tournament, won 17 out of 30 matches on the same surface, establishing herself as a strong rival.
Considering Emma Raducanu's past performances on hard courts and scheduling strategy, she is likely to advance to the next round.
#6 - Jelena Ostapenko vs Belinda Bencic
The 2024 Australian Open Doubles finalist Jelena Ostapenko is set to begin her campaign with a gripping showdown against Belinda Bencic. In the two matches they have played so far, the head-to-head table remains lever after the Swiss star's straight-set win back in the 2020 Australian Open.
In her limited participation back in 2024, Bencic won 8 out of the 11 matches. Meanwhile, Ostapenko possesses better momentum, with 31 wins in a total of 50 matches played last year. Despite the latter's disappointing defeat against Madison Keys in Adelaide, Ostapenko is tipped to defeat her Swiss opponent with ease.
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