"Death draw for Coco Gauff, tricky for Aryna Sabalenka";"Iga Swiatek has a cakewalk to SF" - Fans react to Australian Open 2025 women's draw

With Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff headlining the 2025 Australian Open, the women's draw for the star-studded Major has sparked strong reactions from tennis fans. The main draw action of the Melbourne Slam is scheduled to begin on January 12.

Top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka leads the first quarter of the draw, set for a blockbuster first-round clash with 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. The Belarusian will face Sonay Kartal or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round, followed by a potential third-round meeting with Linda Noskova.

The World No. 1 could encounter Mirra Andreeva in the fourth round, with last year's runner-up Zheng Qinwen looming as her potential quarterfinal opponent.

In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Iga Swiatek will commence her campaign against Katerina Siniakova. She will lock horns with Katie Volynets or Rebecca Sramkova in the second round, with a third-round matchup with Emma Raducanu or Amanda Anisimova on the horizon.

Swiatek will likely face Victoria Azarenka or Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round, while her potential quarterfinal opponents include Ons Jabeur, Daria Kasatkina, and Emma Navarro.

No. 3 seed Coco Gauff faces a challenging opener against former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, who previously upset the 20-year-old in the first round of Wimbledon 2023. The World No. 3 is set to meet Jodie Burrage or a qualifier in the second round, followed by a possible third-round clash with Leylah Fernandez.

Formidable opponents like Naomi Osaka, Jelena Ostapenko, and Karolina Muchova loom in Gauff's quarter as her potential fourth-round opponents. Subsequently, Jessica Pegula or Paula Badosa will likely set up a blockbuster quarterfinal clash with the 20-year-old.

Tennis fans wasted no time in scrutinizing the women's draw, with the majority coming to the conclusion that Coco Gauff had the toughest draw, while Iga Swiatek had a "cakewalk" to the semifinals. Fans also highlighted the "tricky" nature of Aryna Sabalenka's path to the final.

"Incredible draw for Swiatek. Death draw for Coco. Tricky draw for Sabs. Agree?" one fan commented.

"Iga definitely got the best draw and Coco a bad draw IMO. Saba's draw isn't the easiest but matchup wise I'm not super worried about her draw other than Coco in the SF," another fan chimed in.

"[Swiatek has] a cakewalk to the semis smh," a fan remarked.

"Coco has the toughest draw out of the top 4 seeds for sure," said another.

With Naomi Osaka set to face Caroline Garcia in her tournament opener after losing to the Frenchwoman in the first round of the Australian Open last year, many fans lamented the brutal draw for the former World No. 1.

One fan also highlighted the lopsided nature of the opening-round matchups, with Sabalenka, Gauff, Osaka, and Ostapenko perceived as facing far tougher opponents.

"Osaka has a draw from hell. Victory would taste all the sweeter after all of that but man it's rough," one fan commented.

"Osaka’s draw is not for the faint of heart," another fan wrote.

"Osaka always getting the worst draws like I know my sis is tired when she sees each draw come out😭," said another.

"Aryna Sabalenka & coco both drawing slam champions r1, naomi playing caro AGAIN and penko facing a resurgent bencic meanwhile some players drawing qualifiers lmaooo THIS IS SICK!" a fan posted.

Aryna Sabalenka seeks third consecutive Australian Open title; Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek on the hunt for maiden crown at Melbourne Slam

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka - Source: Getty

After winning her maiden Grand Slam crown at the 2023 Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her title at the Melbourne Slam last year, beating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

Having added to her Major tally with her 2024 US Open triumph and started the new season with a victory at the Brisbane International, the World No. 1 will fancy her chances of clinching her third consecutive Australian Open title.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff will be on the hunt for their maiden title at the Melbourne Slam, with both players having recorded semifinal finishes as their best result at the Major.

Gauff will aim to go a step further after falling short against Aryna Sabalenka in the last four, while Swiatek will look to redeem herself after suffering a shock third-round loss to Linda Noskova last year.