Title Defense: Aryna Sabalenka Faces Sloane Stephens in Australian Open 2025 Opening Round
Title Defense for Sabalenka at Australian Open Begins Against Stephens
In an informal, straightforward style, the world's No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka prepares to defend her Australian Open title. After securing victories in 2023 and 2024, Sabalenka aims to inscribe her name alongside legends as the first female three-time singles champion in Melbourne since Martina Hingis's reign in 1997-99. As the top seed at her maiden major, Sabalenka savors her Australian homecoming as a two-time defending champion, expressing, "I really hope I can keep doing what I'm doing here in Australia."
As the draw ceremony unfolded in Melbourne, Sabalenka learned her first-round opponent: former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens. The Belarusian boasts a 4-0 win record against Stephens and last faced her at the French Open in 2023. Regarding the match, Sabalenka reminds herself to focus on her performance and secure a spot alongside the tennis greats.
While the path to the final appears somewhat smooth for Sabalenka, potential obstacles emerge down the line. Paris Olympics champion and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen might stand in her way in the quarterfinals. The Australian Open runner-up of 2023, who opted to focus on recovery for the upcoming tournament, will commence her campaign in the opening round against a qualifier or lucky loser.
Sabalenka and in-form Coco Gauff are projected to face off in the top half of the draw in a potential semi-final rematch of their 2024 encounter. The American sensation, who recently triumphed at the WTA Finals and helped the U.S. win the United Cup, will start her campaign against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Former world No. 1 and two-time winner Naomi Osaka, who retired injured in the ASB Classic final four days ago, will test her recovery in the opening round against France's Caroline Garcia for the second consecutive year in Melbourne.
Seeds such as second seed Iga Swiatek and fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, as well as sixth seed Elena Rybakina and eighth seed Emma Navarro, populate the lower half of the draw. The fast-approaching main draw of the Australian Open, the initial Grand Slam of the year, is set to begin on Sunday.
[1] Tennis Australia. (2025). Women's Singles Draw 2025 Australian Open. [Online]. Available: https://tennis.com.au/draws/133529 [Accessed 15 Jan 2025].
[2] ATP World Tour. (2025). Coco Gauff to Face Sofia Kenin in First Round of 2025 Australian Open. [Online]. Available: https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/coco-gauff-to-face-sofia-kenin-in-first-round-of-2025-australian-open-2025-australian-open [Accessed 15 Jan 2025].
[3] WTA Tennis. (2025). Sabalenka v Gauff: Rematch Looms in 2025 Australian Open Semifinals. [Online]. Available: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/sabalenka-v-gauff-rematch-looms-in-2025-australian-open-semifinals-2025-australian-open [Accessed 15 Jan 2025].
[4] BBC Sport. (2025). Australian Open: Swiatek and Rybakina in women's singles draw. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/56782799 [Accessed 15 Jan 2025].
Sabalenka's potential third title defense at the Australian Open could see her meeting Coco Gauff in a semi-final rematch, according to the projected draw. Gauff will first face Sofia Kenin in the opening round.
Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina are among the seeds in the lower half of the draw for the Australian Open draw 2025, alongside Jasmine Paolini and Emma Navarro.
Naomi Osaka, who retired during the ASB Classic final, will test her recovery by playing France's Caroline Garcia in the opening round of the Australian Open draw 2025, just like last year.
With Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka set to clash in the top half, and Osaka and Garcia potentially meeting in the second round, the Australian Open draw 2025 promises exciting matches.
The women's singles draw for the Australian Open 2025, featuring top seeds like Sabalenka and Swiatek, will see its initial Grand Slam tournament begin on Sunday, according to Tennis Australia's website.
