WOMEN TO WATCH
SIMONA HALEP
ROMANIA. Age: 26. World ranking: 1. Aust Open record: Best result: QF (2014, 15). W-L: 10–7 (58.8%). CONTROVERSIALLY ended the year as No.1 despite winning just one title and still no grand slams, being beaten in the French final. Hasn’t made it past the first round in Melbourne the past two years. Has a statement to make.
GARBINE MUGURUZA
SPAIN. Age: 24. World ranking: 3. Aust Open record: Best result: QF (2017) W-L: 13–5 (72%).
THE Venezuelan-born star has French (2016) and Wimbledon (2017) crowns – and now wants an Australian Open title after reaching the quarters last year. Body is a concern. Battled cramps in Brisbane and a thigh injury in Sydney.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
DENMARK. Age: 27. World ranking: 2. Aust Open record: Best result: SF (2011). W/L: 25–10 (71.4%).
REACHED a tour-high 10 finals in 2017, winning two, including at the WTA Finals when she trumped Venus Williams. But she remains bereft of a major title and hasn't reached the last eight in Melbourne in six years.
KAROLINA PLISKOVA
CZECH REP. Age: 25. World ranking: 6. Aust Open record: Best result: QF (2017) W/L: 9–5 (64.2%). DESPERATE to claim a first grand slam title after reaching the quarter-finals in Australia and the US and the semis in France. Racked up more aces than any other woman in 2017 (459) and spent eight weeks at No.1.
ELINA SVITOLINA
UKRAINE. Age: 23. World ranking: 4. Aust Open record: Best result: 3rd round (2017). W/L: 7–5 (58.3%).
AN unknown this time last year, the rising star won more titles than any other woman in 2017 (5), and picked up from where she left off by beating defending champ Pliskova for the Brisbane International crown.
ASHLEIGH BARTY
AUSTRALIA. Age: 21. World ranking: 19. Aust Open record: Best result: 3rd round (2017). W/L: 2–4 (33.0%).
WAS a wildcard entry last year when ranked 271st in the world. Stormed into the top 20 after a breakout season, claiming a first WTA title in Malaysia and making finals in Birmingham and Wuhan. Yet to reach the fourth round of a major.