FIVE WOMEN TO WATCH

SIMONA HALEP

RANKED: 1 COUNTRY: Romania 2018 SINGLES TITLES:3 CAREER TITLES: 18 GRANDSLAM TITLES (1): French Open(’18) ACES: Will remain at No.1 at the end of the Australian Open, regardless of results there, giving her 48 weeks in a row at the top spot. TOPSPIN: Lost last four matches of 2018 before shutting down in October with a bad back . ... Still without a coach after offseason split with Darren Cahill.

ANGELIQUE KERBER

RANKED: 2 COUNTRY: Germany 2018 SINGLES TITLES: 2 CAREER TITLES: 12 GRAND SLAM TITLES (3): Australian Open (’16), Wimbledon (’18), U.S. Open (’16) ACES: Ranked among the top seven players in percentage of break-points converted, return points won and return games won in 2018. TOPSPIN: After a rough 2017, returned to prominence last year with semifinal run in Melbourne, followed by Wimbledon title.

NAOMI OSAKA

RANKED: 4 COUNTRY: Japan 2018 SINGLES TITLES: 2 CAREER TITLES: 2 GRAND SLAM TITLES (1): U.S. Open (’18) ACES: Breakout season included first two WTA titles and U.S. Open win showed the world what those in tennis have seen for quite some time: She has booming shots and confidence to match. TOPSPIN: Some players have trouble adjusting to the added pressure and expectations of being a major champion forthe first time; Osaka — aided by coach Sascha Bajin, who used to work with Serena Williams — doesn’t seem to be that sort of athlete.

SLOANE STEPHENS

RANKED:5 COUNTRY: United States 2018 SINGLES TITLES: 1 CAREER TITLES: 6 GRAND SLAM TITLES (1): U.S. Open (’17) ACES: Tied for WTA lead in 2018 with five victories over opponents ranked in top 5. TOPSPIN: Hasn’t won a match in Melbourne since 2014 but was a semifinalist in 2013 and is a far more complete player nowadays. Consistency, though, has been an issue: At past six majors, has one title and one runner-up showing — but also three first-round exits.

SERENA WILLIAMS

RANKED: 16 COUNTRY: United States 2018 SINGLES TITLES: 0 CAREER TITLES: 72 GRAND SLAM TITLES (23): Australian Open (’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’15, ’17), French Open (’02, ’13, ’15), Wimbledon (’02, ’03, ’09, ’10, ’12, ’15, ’16), U.S. Open (’99, ’02, ’08, ’12, ’13, ’14) ACES: Hasn’t won a title of any sort in two years, when she picked up No. 7 in Melbourne while pregnant. That also gave her 23 majors in all, a record for the professional era and one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time record. TOPSPIN: After taking time off to have a baby, and dealing with a health scare during childbirth, Williams reached two Slam finals in 2018. No one should be surprised if she adds another trophy to her collection soon.