There’s a paradigm shift happening in women’s tennis after the retirement-but-maybe-not-really-retirement of Serena Williams. Some other popular players like Simona Halep and Madison Keys are also kind of moving into the slow lane as the Australian Open 2023 womens event gets underway on Monday, January 16th.
Iga Swiatek almost seems like the host at Melbourne Park because most people consider this tournament the 21-year-old’s event to win. The #1 ranked player in the world absolutely dominated last year, taking home the French Open and the U.S. Open. Make no mistake, Swiatek has been great for a couple of years now, but she’s ready to add her first Australian Open victory to the ever-growing mantle.
So the big question heading into Australian Open predictions is who can challenge Swiatek? We know the Australian native Ashleigh Barty is not going to defend her crown, retiring back in March at the age of 25 and while ranked #1.
Here are some top contenders if Swiatek does indeed have a disappointing tournament:
Australian Open 2023 Womens Odds
Caroline Garcia +1200
Caroline Garcia has ranked #4 in the world in the tennis standings, just ahead of the Australian Open. Like many in this deep women’s field, she is still looking for her first major victory, the closest being the semifinals of last year’s U.S. Open.
That U.S. Open finish was a nice building block for Garcia, especially since she had dropped all the way down to #74 the year before prior to having to fire her father as coach. Garcia looks back on track now, which is good for the sport.
Aryna Sabalenka +1200
#5 ranked Aryna Sabalenka is getting some love from the oddsmakers at +1200 in the Australian Open 2023 women’s tournament. The intimidating presence has a very aggressive style of play that is fun to watch and helped her win the 2018 newcomer of the year.
The 24-year-old Sabalenka looks to be on the right career trajectory, as she has made the semi-finals of the U.S. Open in each of the last two years and tied or set career bests at the Australian Open (fourth round) and French Open (third round) in 2022. Obviously, she would like each of those career bests to be higher, but in many ways, her game is still evolving.
Ons Jabeur +1200
Ons Jabeur looks destined for a grand slam at some point in her career, if not in the Australian Open 2023 women’s tournament. Jabeur is currently ranked #2 in the WTA standings, and she’s been on the cusp of that first major breakthrough, coming in second at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last season.
Jabeur is trying to become the first Arab player to capture a grand slam singles title, and she was extremely close before falling to Swiatek at the U.S. Open and Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon. Jabeur made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open back in 2020, and she’s looking to improve on that in 2023.
Coco Gauff +1600
Coco Gauff turns just 19 in March and has already made it to the Finals of the French Open last year as well as the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open is an impressive feat. Gauff lost her bid for a major at the French Open to Swiatek and couldn’t bring things home for the U.S. crowd after falling to Garcia in the U.S. Open in New York.
The Australian Open has been Gauff’s worst major, as she has just a 57% winning rate in Melbourne. That mark includes a first-round loss to Wang Qlang last year in straight sets, so she should come back a little extra motivated this season.
Naomi Osaka +1600
Naomi Osaka has made a lot of headlines in recent years, and not just for on-the-court things, but you can’t discount that she was the Australian Open winner in 2019 and 2021, giving her value at +1600. Osaka was ousted in the third round in Melbourne last season but took the loss with grace which is something she hasn’t always done.
Osaka battled some physical injuries last season, but if she can come back healthy for the first major of 2023, it would be no shocker to see a quarter or semi-final run – or a championship, for that matter.
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