Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek will look to dethrone the two-time defending champion, who appears to be at the peak of her powers.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will begin her Australian Open title defense by facing former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Aces: A rising star who made it to her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open in January 2024, then picked up her most significant title so far at the Paris Olympics in August. ... Working with Dante Bottini — who has coached Kei Nishikori and others — in Australia this year while her principal coach, Pere Riba, is out because of surgery.