The WTA singles draw for the 2022 Australian Open is all set and we’ll be treated to a couple of fun matchups.
A possible Round of 16 tie between Ashleigh Barty and defending Australian Open titlist Naomi Osaka looms large after the draw, assuming they’ll be able to take care of business in the earlier rounds.
Meanwhile, reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu will make her debut in Melbourne, but she’ll face stiff competition in as early as the first round.
Furthermore, Serena and Venus Williams are both confirmed out for Melbourne, although the tournament remains wide open for anyone regardless if the famous siblings are around or not.
Read on below as SBOTOP keeps tabs on the latest Australian Open 2022 updates.
Ashleigh Barty face tough road in Melbourne
Ashleigh Barty aims to add a Grand Slam title on home soil to her growing CV. WTA’s No. 1 won her first in the 2019 Roland Garros and then she won her second at Wimbledon last season.
Her first opponent is against a qualifier, so it’s safe to assume that she’ll advance to the next round. But things will get dicey if she reaches the Round of 16 since she might have to go through Naomi Osaka, who is a two-time Australian Open champion.
The head-to-head matchup between Barty and Osaka is level at two wins each so this looming matchup will break a level between them. It can be noted that their previous meeting in the Australian Open ended in a third round victory for the Japanese back in 2018.
Momentum is on Barty’s side, though, as she is one of the favoured competitors in the Australian Open 2022 odds.
She started the new calendar year on a strong note by winning the Adelaide International title few days ago. It was a perfect way for her to warm up, especially since this is her first tournament since last September’s US Open.
Naomi Osaka appears more motivated than ever
Speaking of Naomi Osaka, the 2022 Australian Open represents her comeback trail to professional tennis after taking a sabbatical midway last season.
After failing to defend her crown in the US Open via a shock third-round exit at the hands of Leylah Fernandez, the Japanese star decided to temporarily walk away from the sport to work on her mental health.
Her hiatus certainly has done wonders for her disposition as she was all smiles heading into Melbourne.
“I kind of consider the Australian Open to be the ‘sunshine slam’. It feels really amazing to be here,” said Osaka in a recent interview.
“I didn’t know if I learned about myself or if I just learned what I want to do more, to be more patient with myself. Just being more patient and forgiving, not being so quick to judge myself on the things that I do wrong and instead trying to celebrate the things I do right,” she added.
Her WTA ranking may have slipped to as low as No. 14 and she may have landed in the toughest section of the competition bracket. However, opponents would have to be wary of what she’s fully capable of.
At Melbourne, she has won 16 of her last 17 singles matches and she has won two out of the last three Grand Slam titles, making her a dangerous opponent for this tournament. Osaka will be up against Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the first round.
Adversity awaits Emma Raducanu in her Australian Open debut
Emma Raducanu is another name to look out for in this tournament as she’ll have her first rodeo in Melbourne, but she’s in for a tough test right from the get-go.
The World No. 17 and defending US Open titlist is going to face Sloane Stephens in the opening round, who is also a US Open champion back in 2017.
Since winning in New York last year, Raducanu has changed coaches but she has yet to hit her stride since she has only won two WTA matches ever since.
The British youngster recently competed in the Sydney Tennis Classic for her first match this term, but she was outclassed in the opener by Elena Rybakina – who is ranked 13th in the WTA.
Raducanu blamed COVID-19 for her defeat and she eventually withdrew from the warm-up event which is a blow to her preparations for the Australian Grand Open. She tested positive in mid-December last year.
Assuming she defeats Sloane Stephens in the opening round, another big test awaits Raducanu since she could face Simona Halep in the third round.
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