IF IT'S NOT SWIATEK, WHO ELSE?

Money on Sabalenka and Pegula after world No. 1, as event looks to crown a new champ

MELBOURNE Iga Swiatek is the strong favourite to land her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but the picture is considerably less clear if the world No. 1 fails to live up to her top seeding.

With Ashleigh Barty and Serena Williams having hung up their rackets and Naomi Osaka pregnant with her first child, Melbourne Park will almost certainly usher in a new era by crowning a first-time champion on Jan 29.

The only two former winners in the 128-woman field face each other in the opening round.

Victoria Azarenka won her two titles a decade ago, and little has gone right for Sofia Kenin since she triumphed in 2020, although she reached the semi-finals in Hobart last week.

The race to fill the void left by the absences of 2022's home-grown champion Barty - who is also pregnant - and seven-time winner Williams should be spearheaded by Swiatek, who looked unbeatable at times last season.

The 21-year-old Pole won her second French Open, proved she could also win on hard courts with a first US Open triumph, and racked up a 21st-century record 37-match winning streak.