Whatever else may be happening in the WTA, Serena Williams remains the No. 1 player and the odds-on favorite at any major. But after her early defeats at the first three Slams last year, you can’t call her an overwhelming favorite these days. If her 2014 told us anything, it’s that she’s more vulnerable early than she is late. Who might be the one to give her a surprise run during the opening week Down Under?
First we need to mention 24th-seeded Garbine Muguruza, the young Spanish player who knocked Serena off 6-2, 6-2 in Paris last year, as well as Alizé Cornet, the Frenchwoman who did the same to her at Wimbledon. Serena could face Muguruza in the fourth round and Cornet in the quarters. Neither of their wins were flukes, exactly, but I don’t think Serena will let them happen again.
Then there’s Elina Svitolina, the 26th seed and Serena’s potential third-round opponent. The Ukrainian is 20, she’s fiery, she times the ball well on both sides, and she’s only going to get better. An upset is, if not in the making, within the realm of possibility.
How about Caroline Wozniacki? She retired with a wrist injury last week in Sydney, but she reached the final the previous week in Auckland. She comes in on the heels of a confidence-boosting second half of 2014, and she nearly made the final here in 2011. But Caro has a potentially tough opener in U.S. teen Taylor Townsend.
Speaking of tough openers, how about Victoria Azarenka vs. Sloane Stephens? Semifinal opponents here two years ago, neither is seeded this time. The winner will play the winner of Wozniacki vs. Townsend.
Also here: 2014 runner-up Dominika Cibulkova, 15th seed Jelena Jankovic, 25th seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Hobart champ Heather Watson, and comeback kid Vera Zvonareva. It’s a pretty fun section, all in all.
First-round matches to watch: Azarenka vs. Stephens; Wozniacki vs. Townsend; Cibulkova vs. Flipkens