There is no doubt that Aryna Sabalenkova will enter the Australian Open as the woman to beat. Belarus, who finished 2025 as world number one and started the new season by successfully defending their international crown in Brisbane, arrive at Melbourne Park brimming with confidence and momentum. Sabalenka, who has two Australian Open titles under her belt, looks poised for a third and her power play is perfectly suited to the hard courts that have become her forte.
Still, Grand Slam tennis has a way of wearing down even the most dominant players Sabalenka’s path will not be straight. The women’s draw is full of challengers ready to test her supremacy. Coco Gauff’s athleticism, Iga Swiatek’s relentless baseline control, Elena Rybakina’s firepower and Amanda Anisima’s shooting all pose real threats on their day.
Then there’s Madison Keys, a Sabalenka name you won’t miss. It was Keys who ended Sabalenka’s remarkable run on the hard court at Melbourne Park this time last year, a reminder that dynamics can change quickly in women’s tennis. For all her dominance, Sabalenka knows the edges are fine – and the crown is far from guaranteed.
HOW GOOD WAS SWIATEK?
Swiatek announced her dominance on grass in 2025 as she captured the Wimbledon title in emphatic fashion, seeing off Amanda Anisima 6-0, 6-0. That victory was more than just a title; it was a statement that demonstrated her versatility and ability to dictate play across surfaces.
However, the 2026 season beckons, all eyes will be on her performances on the hard court where Swiatek showed flashes of brilliance but he also faced moments of vulnerability.
The Polish star closed out 2025 with a stellar 64–17 record, winning 79 percent of her matches on the WTA Tour. Her hard court performances included triumphs at the Cincinnati Masters and the Korea Open, where she overcame Yekaterina Alexandrova 1–6, 7–6, 7–5 in a thrilling three-set duel.
Swiatek also reached the quarter-finals of the US Open and showed her ability to handle Grand Slam pressure, although a 6–3, 0–6, 3–6 loss to Belinda Bencic in the United Cup final highlighted the occasional struggles she faces on hard courts.
Swiatek holds a slight career lead over Aryna Sabalenka, but their most memorable meeting in 2025 came at Roland Garros, where Sabalenka ended Swiatek’s long winning streak 7–6, 4–6, 6–0. Armed with power, precision and an unrelenting hunger, Swiatek is ready to test Sabalenka once again, promising a season of high stakes and edge-of-the-seat battles.
GAUFF, THE BIG THREAT
Gauff becomes a formidable threat to Sabalenka, mixing raw power, courtship and fearless aggression to keep opponents guessing. The 21-year-old’s rise in 2025 has been nothing short of spectacular, especially on the hard courts, where her game has matured into a fluid combination of precision, power and relentless resilience.
She capped the season with a string of outstanding performances, most notably winning the Wuhan Open, her third WTA 1000 title of the year, defeating Jessica Pegula 64, 75. In the process, Gauff became the first woman in a decade to win her first nine consecutive finals on hard court, a testament to the surface that shapes her consistency and mental toughness on the WTA calendar.
Yet it was on the clay at Roland Garros where Gauff truly asserted her authority. In a breathtaking final, she battled back from a set down to see off world number one Sabalenka 67, 62, 64 to claim her first French Open singles crown and second Grand Slam overall.
Her stance, resilience and ability to absorb Sabalenka’s firepower revealed the evolution of a complete player – one capable of challenging the best, on any surface and on any stage.
OTHER CHALLENGERS
While Gauff and Swiatek are widely seen as the biggest threat to Sabalenka, like Anisimova, Keys and Rybakina also have the weapons to take on the world number one.
Anisimova has had a strong 2025 on hard courts, with her strong hitting and aggressive style regularly troubling top players. Although she didn’t win the hard court title, she made deep runs in several tournaments, pushing Sabalenkova to the brink in a thrilling three-set battle in the semifinals of the WTA Finals, falling 63, 36, 63.
Her performance underscored her ability to compete at the sport’s highest level. Anisimova also reached the Grand Slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, although she ended up on the losing side both times.
Keys had a breakout season on the hard courts, most notably at the Australian Open, where she beat Sabalenko 63, 26, 75 in a set to win her first Grand Slam and prevent the Belarusian from claiming a third straight Melbourne crown.
Elena Rybakin has also thrived on the hard courts in 2025, with her excellent serve and flat, penetrating groundstrokes allowing her to advance deep into major events and claim key wins, making her a consistent threat outside the top two.
Together, these stars have ensured that hard court tennis remains fiercely competitive in 2025. With Sabalenkova, the reigning champion on the surface since her first Australian Open win in 2023, the upcoming season promises to be a thrilling battle as challengers line up, determined to dethrone the hard court queen.
– The end
Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 18, 2026