Is Novak Djokovic unstoppable on his way to a 10th Australian Open title? Can Iga Swiatek cement her status as the best in the world? And what about Rafael Nadal? Can he re-create the magic from a year ago?
Our experts attempt to answer these questions and make their own predictions as the first Grand Slam of the year starts on Monday.
Who will win the women’s singles title and why?
James Blake: Jessica Pegula will win this year. She has the best attitude and consistent results. She proved already this year that her top level can be as good as anyone’s. She has always had the mindset of improvement, and it seems to be paying off with impressive results. I think it’s just a matter of time until she wins a Grand Slam title. Why not now?
Cliff Drysdale: Swiatek is the top choice. Her pluses are obvious, but her negative is that she does not have an overpowering serve, so she has to win the old-fashioned way and earn it. Big hitters on a good day could spell trouble.
Mary Joe Fernandez: Swiatek is the favorite and the one to beat. She has won so much in the past 12 months, including winning two of the past three Slams. She moves exceptionally well and hits a very heavy and powerful ball. It will take a big hitter to upset her.
Jason Goodall: Swiatek is the big favorite in the women’s singles, for obvious reasons. She’s the only player who has stepped up at the highest level consistently since Ashleigh Barty‘s retirement 11 months ago.
But Swiatek can be overpowered, as Pegula showed at the United Cup. The game plan has to be aggressive and the execution almost perfect, but it can be done — especially on a hard court — as Pegula proved.
Patrick McEnroe: I’m going all-in on Pegula. She has looked great Down Under and will do it for Damar Hamlin and the Bills Mafia (but mostly for herself). [Editor’s note: Pegula is the daughter of Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula]
Chris McKendry: Coco Gauff. After she won the Auckland title a week ago, I told Mary Joe Fernandez that Gauff would win Australia. (Mary Joe was wise enough to not agree or disagree.) Now seeing the draw, I was a bit ahead of myself! Gauff will be tested from the jump against Katerina Siniakova, who beat her at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the end of last year.
But I’m sticking with Gauff. If she can consistently serve well and finish more points at the net, as she did in Auckland, I love her chances. She’ll also need to manage the nerves and expectations that come with the…
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