Australian tennis legend Mark Woodforde has weighed in on which players he deems fit to challenge world no.1 Iga Swiatek for the women’s Australian Open Grand Slam title.
Poland’s Swiatek kicked off her 2023 Australian Open campaign on Monday during the first night session of the competition, with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win over Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier.
Swiatek is favourite for the first major of 2023 after dominating the WTA in 2022. Since her ascension to world no.1 following Ash Barty’s retirement in April, Swiatek is yet to concede the top spot spending over 40 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings table.
Further bolstering her WTA Queen status, Swiatek also became the first player to win more than one Grand Slam title in a single season since 2016.
However, Woodforde predicts the top seed could be confronted by several contenders in Melbourne this month.
Woodforde believes Belarusian ace Aryna Sabalenka has the potential to cause upset.
“She (Sabalenka) can finish points very quickly,” the dual Australian Open doubles winner told SEN Tennis.
“And if she runs hot, certainly, she’s going to give the title a real tilt.”
The world no.5 enters the competition fresh off a convincing Adelaide International triumph earlier this month.
Sabalenka interrupted Czech’s Linda Nosková's impressive competition campaign with a straight-sets victory in the final.
She opens up her 2023 Aus Open campaign against Tereza Martincová on Tuesday.
Ons Jabeur is another potential challenger Woodforde insists has the capability to obstruct Swiatek’s run to her first Grand Slam title of 2023.
Jabeur returns to the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night against Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek after missing the event last year due to injury.
After reaching the final at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022, Woodforde insists the world no.2 is seeking redemption in Melbourne.
“She (Jabeur) reminds me of Ash Barty, she’s got a delightful game, an array of shots,” Woodforde said.
“And losing two times last year in the Grand Slam finals (Wimbledon and US Open) – I think that burns inside of her that she could go one better here (at the Australian Open).”
However, Woodforde also suggests the pressure that accompanies the top spot could ultimately prove to be Swiatek’s undoing.
“One of her main opponents is how she handles herself,” he said.
He believes that if Swiatek is unable to put “all that is expected of her” in the back of her mind, she may risk forfeiting her chance to cement her status as best in the world.
In the first Australian Open without reigning champion Barty, it seems the tournament agenda is very much unforeseeable and the title within the grasp of many, even if Swiatek is the hot favourite.
Swiatek is back in action in the second round on Wednesday, matching up against Columbia’s Camila Osorio who is currently ranked 82nd in the WTA rankings.
