The most open Australian Open ever
HOW THE LEADING WOMEN SHAPE UP FOR THE 2018 AUSTRALIAN OPEN STARTING ON MONDAY
SIMONA HALEP (ROM)
Age: 26
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US20,912,291 ($A26.67 million)
Career titles: 16
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 10-7
Best Australian Open results: quarter-finalist 2014, 2015
Top seed at a grand slam for the first time, the Romanian coached by Australian Darren Cahill made the perfect start to 2018 with title success in Shenzhen.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN)
Age: 27
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US26,856,094 ($A34.25 million)
Career titles: 27
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 25-10
Best Australian Open results: semi-finalist 2011
Like Halep, a two-time grand slam runner-up with seemingly her best chance yet to breakthrough for an elusive maiden major title in the absence of reigning champion Serena Williams.
GARBINE MUGURUZA (ESP)
Age: 24
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US15,529,099 ($A19.80 million)
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 2 (French Open 2015; Wimbledon 2017)
Australian Open win-loss record: 13-5
Best Australian Open result: quarter-finalist 2017
The statuesque Spaniard would command outright favouritism if not for an erratic run of form, but she's seeded to go deep and is a serious threat if she survives the first week.
ELINA SVITOLINA (UKR)
Age: 23
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US7,564,030 ($A9.65 million)
Career titles: 10
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 7-5
Best Australian Open results: third round 2014, 2015, 2017
The former world junior champion has entrenched her place among the elite with a breakout 2017 season and grand slam glory appears the next big step in her rise.
VENUS WILLIAMS (USA)
Age: 37
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US39,900,489 ($A48.33 million)
Career titles: 49
Grand slam titles: 7 (Wimbledon 2000-01, 2005, 2007-08; 2014; US Open 2000-01)
Australian Open win-loss record: 51-17
Best Australian Open results: finalist 2003, 2017
Carrying family hopes in the absence of sister Serena and in the mix to become the oldest grand slam champion in the professional era after reaching last year's final as well as the Wimbledon title decider.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE)
Age: 25
Ranking: 6
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US10,889,591 ($A13.89 million)
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 9-5
Best Australian Open result: quarter-finalist 2017
The big-serving Czech may have lost her world No.1 ranking since being top-seeded at the US Open but remains the bookmakers' favourite in the most open Open in decades.
ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER)
Age: 29
Ranking: 22
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US21,470,479 ($A27.44 million)
Career titles: 10
Grand slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2016; US Open 2016)
Australian Open win-loss record: 21-9
Best Australian Open result: champion 2016
The resurgent German has left a forgettable 2017 behind, opening with five successive wins this year to stamp herself among the favourites for a second Open crown.
BEST OUTSIDER
JULIA GOERGES (GER)
Age: 29
Ranking: 12
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US6,678,075 ($A8.52 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 15-9
Best Australian Open results: fourth round 2012, 2013, 2015
Anyone riding a three-tournament, three-month, 14-match hardcourt winning streak featuring victories over a bunch of top-10 stars must considered an Open dark horse.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
ASHLEIGH BARTY
Age: 21
Ranking: 19
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,398,462 ($A3.06 million)
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 2-4
Best Australian Open results: third round 2017
With a maiden tour title, three finals appearances and a phenomenal rise from almost 300 in the world last year, the former Wimbledon junior champion has very much arrived as a grand slam contender.
DARIA GAVRILOVA
Age: 23
Ranking: 25
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,668,473 ($A3.40 million)
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 7-4
Best Australian Open results: fourth round 2016, 2017
The one-time world No.1 junior is once again seeded at her most productive grand slam event and anything's possible if she makes the second week for a third straight year.
