“Sometimes being the favorite doesn’t help because a lot of people expect a lot from you and you have pressure. I don’t think I’m the favorite but I have a lot of options to keep moving forward”. Garbiñe Muguruza arrives at the Australian Open liberated and wants to show the world that there is still a remaining player capable of winning titles like Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
After 2022 to forget and two first round losses at the start of the seasonthe Spaniard seeks to redeem himself in a tournament where he already knows what it’s like to reach the final (in 2020 he lost to Sofia Kenin).
Her debut will come in the early morning from Monday to Tuesday (01 Spanish time) against the Belgian Elise Mertensand in the event of a win, rivals such as Lauren Davis, recent Hobart winner, Aryna Sabalenka, Belinda Bencic (Adelaide champion) and Ons Jabeur will cross paths.
After the last minute absence of Paula Badosa due to injuryNuria Párrizas, who will debut against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad (14), and Cristina Busca, who entered the final table from earlier and will debut against German Eva Lys, are the only two Spaniards who will join Muguruza at the Open it’s Australia with a clear favourite.
Swiatek, clear favorite
In addition to the WTA ranking, Iga Swiatek leads all forecasts to win the first Grand Slam of the yearone of the few important titles missing from his brilliant record.
The reigning champion of the US Open and Roland Garros occupied the throne of world tennis after the withdrawal of Ashleigh Barty after being crowned in Melbourne last year.
His first rival, this Monday (09 Spanish time), is the German Niemeier, and until the eighth no major rival would cross his path. No more or less than the current finalist, Danielle Collins.
Coco Gauff in the quarters and Jessica Pegula in the semifinals they will be their biggest obstacle in the long awaited final.
The event is confident that promising youngsters will take a step up in level during this edition to forget the casualties of Barty and one of the best in history, the American Serena Williams, who decided to retire after the last U Open.
The Japanese Naomi Osaka will also not participate in this edition after recently announcing her pregnancy and that she will return in 2024 to play an ocean competition that she won in 2019 and 2021.
Source: La Verdad
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