JAN 17-30 
Melbourne Park
  
Australian Open 2022:   Women’s preview
Home favourites, resurgent talent and rising stars head to Melbourne, all targeting the first major trophy of the season
                    

PLAYERS TO WATCH
          
Ashleigh Barty
Could become first Australian woman to win home Slam since 1978, but suffered shock early exit in 2021

Aryna Sabalenka
Doubles champion here last year but has endured crippling serving issues at recent warm-up events

Garbine Muguruza
2020 finalist is back in top five after excellent season, crowned with maiden WTA Finals title

Naomi Osaka (above)
Faces tough challenge to defend title after lengthy hiatus – rank down to 13th

PLAYER RECORD		Barty	Sabalenka	Muguruza	Osaka
2021 win-loss		42-8	45-18		42-17		19-6
2021 titles		5	2		3		1
Career titles (total)	14	10		10		7
Grand Slams		2	0		2		4


GRAND SLAM GLORY
Four maiden major champions have been crowned since 2020, including surprise successes for Barbora Krejcikova at Roland Garros and Emma Raducanu (right) at U.S. Open

	Australian Open	Roland Garros	Wimbledon	U.S. Open
2017	Williams	Ostapenko	Muguruza	Stephens
2018	Wozniacki 	Halep 		Kerber 		Osaka
2019	Osaka		Barty		Halep		Andreescu
2020	Kenin 		Swiatek 	Cancelled 	Osaka
2021	Osaka		Krejcikova	Barty		Raducanu
  
 
Source: WTA 
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS