Australian Open 2025: Women's singles draw analysis, preview and prediction ft. likely Aryna Sabalenka-Coco Gauff SF, Iga Swiatek-Emma Raducanu R3

The Australian Open 2025 is around the corner, and the leading ladies of the WTA Tour learned of their fates on Thursday (January 9) as the main draw was revealed. Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova is one of the notable names to skip the tournament due to an injury, along with former champion Caroline Wozniacki.

However, the tour's top three players, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff, are ready to assert their dominance again. The trio account for six of the last eight Majors, and have started 2025 with some impressive results as well.

There are plenty of exciting matches lined up right from the first round. Without any further ado, here's a look at how the women's singles draw could shape out over the next fortnight:

First Quarter: Aryna Sabalenka going for a hat-trick at the Australian Open 2025

Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Seeded players: (1) Aryna Sabalenka, (5) Zheng Qinwen, (12) Diana Shnaider, (14) Mirra Andreeva, (18) Donna Vekic, (23) Magdalena Frech, (27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, (29) Linda Noskova

Expected quarterfinal: Aryna Sabalenka vs Zheng Qinwen

Dark horse: Marketa Vondrousova

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to sweep three titles on the trot since Martina Hingis did the same from 1997-99. She kicked off the new season with a title-winning run at the Brisbane International and improved her record in Australia to 27-1 since the start of 2023.

Sabalenka has also reached the final of the last four hardcourt Majors, with a loss in the final of the US Open 2023 being her only sore spot. She will begin her title defense against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens. While a big name on paper, she's in rather poor form at the moment. She hasn't won a match since her second-round exit from Wimbledon 2024 and is on an eight-match losing streak.

Sabalenka will be favored to beat her as well as either Sonay Kartal or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round. Linda Noskova, who beat Iga Swiatek at this stage here last year, could prove to be a tricky third-round test for the defending champion.

It doesn't get easier for Sabalenka after that. Mirra Andreeva could await her in the fourth round, followed by a rematch of last year's final with Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals. She has won all of her matches against her Chinese rival, though she has gotten better with every match.

Zheng's path to the last eight is rather straightforward. She will start against a qualifier and will face either Laura Siegemund or Hailey Baptiste in the second round. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is a potential third-round foe, followed by a likely date with Diana Shnaider in the fourth round. The Chinese will be the favorite from her section to make the last eight but it will be a different story against Sabalenka.

Quarterfinal prediction: Aryna Sabalenka def. Zheng Qinwen

Second Quarter: Coco Gauff's sights set on her second Major title

Coco Gauff at the Australian Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Seeded players: (3) Coco Gauff, (7) Jessica Pegula, (11) Paula Badosa, (16) Jelena Ostapenko, (17) Marta Kostyuk, (20) Karolina Muchova, (25) Liudmila Samsonova, (30) Leylah Fernandez

Expected quarterfinal: Coco Gauff vs Jessica Pegula

Dark Horse: Naomi Osaka

Coco Gauff has been on a roll over the last few months. Following a rough patch last summer, she parted ways with her coach Brad Gilbert after the US Open 2024. She hired Matt Daly as his replacement in September, and since then she won titles at the China Open and the WTA Finals and started 2025 by leading Team USA to the United Cup title.

Gauff remained in singles and mixed doubles and won all of her matches in straight sets. She achieved her best result at the Australian Open last year by reaching the semifinals and could go all the way this time based on her form. She will face former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in her opener.

Kenin's star has fallen off dramatically since her triumph in Melbourne five years ago and has lost more matches than she has won in the last two years. Gauff will be favored to beat her, and face either a qualifier or Jodie Burrage in the second round, another winnable contest for her.

Leylah Fernandez could put Gauff in a spot of bother in the third round, with a potential date with Karolina Muchova in the fourth round on the cards as well. Jelena Ostapenko is also in this section, who will face Belinda Bencic in her opener. Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka is also in this part of the draw, though an injury could potentially limit her chances this time.

Gauff and Muchova are likely to fight for the quarterfinal spot in this section, with the American's perfect 4-0 winning record in this rivalry making her the favorite. Her quarterfinal opponent is likely to be one of Jessica Pegula, Paula Badosa, or Marta Kostyuk, who she beat last year at this stage as well. Based on Gauff's form, she should win her quarterfinal duel.

Predicted quarterfinal: Coco Gauff def. Paula Badosa

Third Quarter: Jasmine Paolini aiming to continue her good run of form at the Majors

Jasmine Paolini at the Australian Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Seeded players: (4) Jasmine Paolini, (6) Elena Rybakina, (10) Danielle Collins, (15) Beatriz Haddad Maia, (19) Madison Keys, (22) Katie Boulter, (28) Elina Svitolina, (32) Dayana Yastremska

Expected quarterfinal: Jasmine Paolini vs Elena Rybakina

Dark Horse: Taylor Townsend

A first-ever fourth-round showing at last year's Australian Open was the start of a career-best season for Jasmine Paolini. She then won her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai, was the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon, and finished the year ranked No. 4. She will aim to back up her breakthrough season starting with a good run in Melbourne this year.

Paolini will start against a qualifier, followed by a potential second-round meeting with Taylor Townsend, who could be a tricky player to deal with. Elina Svitolina could be her potential opponent in the third round, and Katie Boulter could give her a tough time in the fourth round. If she gets through these players, then Elena Ryinakina is most likely to await her in the quarterfinals.

Rybakina, who lost to Sabalenka in the Australian Open 2023 final, will begin her campaign against Emerson Jones. Her next two rounds are extremely winnable, with last year's semifinalist Dayana Yastremska, who's out of form at the moment, being her biggest threat.

Rybakina's real test will come in the fourth round, where she's likely to meet Madison Keys. Danielle Collins is another player who could come this far but she hasn't won a match since last year's Paris Olympics. If she's able to get past Keys, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open twice in the past, then a date with Paolini beckons her.

Predicted quarterfinal: Madison Keys def. Jasmine Paolini

Fourth Quarter: Iga Swiatek hoping to avoid another early exit from the Australian Open

Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Seeded players: (2) Iga Swiatek, (8) Emma Navarro, (9) Daria Kasatkina, (13) Anna Kalinskaya, (21) Victoria Azarenka, (24) Yulia Putintseva, (26) Ekaterina Alexandrova, (31) Maria Sakkari

Expected quarterfinal: Iga Swiatek vs Emma Navarro

Dark horse: Amanda Anisimova

Iga Swiatek's best result Down Under has been a semifinal showing in 2022. She was stunned by Linda Noskova in the third round last year, after rallying from the edge of defeat against Danielle Collins in the second round. She led Poland to the United Cup final to start the new year and lost her singles match against Gauff after remaining unbeaten in the tournament.

Swiatek will begin her campaign this year against doubles World No. 1 Katerina Siniakova. Katie Volynets or Rebecca Sramkova shouldn't pose that much of a threat to the Pole in the second round. However, Amanda Anisimova, who has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open thrice, including last year, could be a dangerous rival in the third round for her.

If not Anisimova, then either Emma Raducanu or Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat her in Miami last year, could await Swiatek in the third round. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka could be her potential opponent in the fourth round, or last year's quarterfinalist Anna Kalinskaya.

Awaiting Swiatek in the quarterfinals could be either Emma Navarro or Daria Kasatkina. The American has gone 1-2 in her warm-up events before the season's first Major, and the Russian hasn't performed that well in Melbourne in her career. This open section of the draw could see Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari or Yulia Putintseva coming through, though no one is likely to beat Swiatek if she makes it to the quarterfinals.

Predicted quarterfinal: Iga Swiatek def. Ons Jabeur