Australian Open 2025 – key women’s players, from Sabalenka to Gauff

With an array of champions across the major tournaments last year, who will be the queen of tennis in 2025? The frontrunner is WTA world number one Sabalenka, targeting a third Australian Open crown in a row to kickstart the season.

She completed the hard court Grand Slam double in 2024 with victory at the US Open, as her consistency assured her place as the year-end no.1 for the first time.

However, there will be increased competition for the number one spot starting in Melbourne, where Olympic champion Iga Swiatek, back from her doping ban, will hope to regain her top spot by bettering Sabalenka’s result.

Having concluded the 2024 season with a defiant WTA Finals victory and began 2025 by leading the US to the United Cup, Coco Gauff is in fine form and could become no. 1 for the first time in her career.

The American is on an upward trajectory as she chases a second Grand Slam title, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open last time out.