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World No.1 Iga Swiatek headlines the Australian Open contenders who must navigate an early minefield to succeed in the sharp finish of the Melbourne Park girls’s draw.
A mixture of massive names getting back from being pregnant or harm has meant the same old advantages of holding a excessive seeding have been both diluted or thrown out the window altogether.
Arguably no participant has felt the 2024 draw’s wrath greater than 22-year-old Swiatek.
The four-time grand slam winner begins her bid for a primary Open crown towards former champion Sofia Kenin.
Within the second spherical, the Polish star should beat both 2016 winner Angelique Kerber, getting back from being pregnant, or big-hitting 2022 finalist Danielle Collins.
American Collins beat Swiatek within the 2022 semi-finals.
If Swiatek can navigate by means of a tough first two rounds, Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina might await within the fourth spherical.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, two-time Melbourne Park champion Victoria Azarenka and native hope Ajla Tomljanovic are amongst Swiatek’s potential quarter-final opponents.
Swiatek’s possible semi-final opponent, 2023 finalist Elena Rybakina, will tackle former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova within the first spherical.
Rybakina seems destined for a date with world No.5 Jessica Pegula within the quarter-finals.
Pegula will face a qualifier first-up and her draw seems poised to open up properly from there.
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu begins her marketing campaign towards Shelby Rogers and is amongst those that might face Pegula within the fourth spherical.
Within the different half of the draw, two-time former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka faces No.16 seed Caroline Garcia, in a less-than-ideal begin to her return to Melbourne Park.
Caroline Wozniacki, who earned a wildcard after popping out of retirement, is one other who might throw a spanner within the works.
The Dane, the 2018 Melbourne Park champion, meets 2023 semi-finalist and Twentieth-seeded Magda Linette within the first spherical.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has averted the chaos, drawing a qualifier for her opening-round match.
Sabalenka will not face a seed till not less than the third spherical, with Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko a poential match-up.
Sixth seed Ons Jabeur and ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova are her potential quarter-final opponents.
US Open champion Coco Gauff and world No.8 Maria Sakkari form as Sabalenka’s potential semi-final opponents.
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