How is it that not even two weeks into the new tennis year, my opinion has changed about Australian Open favourites? First Quarter Aryna Sabalenka (seed 1) is in a deserved place at the top of the draw. She looked great last week in defending her Brisbane 500 title. And her draw looks manageable. But then again, for a #1 isn’t any draw manageable? She’s been in the last three finals here, winning twice, and has to be the default favourite for the tournament. Emma Raducanu (28) could meet Sabalenka in the third round. She looked slightly more resilient in 2025, but still far from 2021-US-Open-winning form. Just this week she’s put an end to a five-match losing streak dating to September, but after the win lost her next match unconvincingly. The third round could also bring up an interesting clash between Clara Tauson (14) and Victoria Mboko (17). Both young players hit career highs in 2025, and Mboko is on another run, to the final ...
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