We have our three best bets for the opening Grand Slam of the season, with the Australian Open set to get underway on Sunday, with Aryna Sabalenka looking for her third title in four years.
Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant recent record at the Australian Open makes her a worthy favourite for title success, but there will be plenty of challengers that should be confident of eclipsing the women’s world number one.
Sabalenka has made the last six Grand Slam finals on a hard court, winning the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, but she was halted in her hat-trick bid last year as Madison Keys denied her in the final to land the biggest win of her career.
Sofia Kenin and Naomi Osaka are the only other two previous winners in the Australian Open field, meaning that it could be a breakthrough success for whoever is able to stop Sabalenka.
Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina are three former Grand Slam champions that must enter the reckoning, but it is a trio of non-Major winners that make the most punting appeal.
Women’s Australian Open Best Bets
- Amanda Anisimova to win and each-way @ 9/1
- Mirra Andreeva to win and each-way @ 14/1
- Karolina Muchova to win and each-way @ 25/1
Anisimova can claim landmark victory
Amanda Anisimova enjoyed a stellar 2025, winning WTA 1000 events at the Qatar Open and China Open as well as finishing runner-up at Wimbledon and the US Open.
That shows how progressive the 24-year-old American is and, with her power, mental toughness and composure proven, she looks a leading title contender in Australia.
The world number three is clearly knocking on the door of Grand Slam glory and she has the luxury of avoiding Sabalenka until the final, something that should fuel her motivation.
Anisimova is housed in a quarter of the draw featuring Linda Noskova, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys but her form at the backend of last season was miles apart from their achievements and she is fancied to soar into the semis and, potentially, beyond.
Rising star Andreeva ready to make her breakthrough
Mirra Andreeva has long been touted as a future Grand Slam champion, despite still being only 18 years of age, and her fearless approach to the game makes her a daunting prospect.
Andreeva has already made a French Open semi-final, as well as making two more Grand Slam quarter-final appearances, and last season’s WTA 1000 wins in Dubai and at Indian Wells show that she can raise her level for these elite events.
The eighth seed could meet Sabalenka in the last four but the third quarter looks the place to be with world number four Coco Gauff far from certain to find her peak form.
Experienced Muchova still has plenty to offer
Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam title at last year’s Australian Open aged 29 and Karolina Muchova will be hoping to emulate the American’s feat.
Muchova may be yet to claim Major silverware but the Czech talent did make the 2023 French Open final, while she has also made three Grand Slam semi-final appearances, including at the 2021 Australian Open.
Muchova finished last season strongly, making the last eight of the US Open to show these quicker conditions hold no fear, and she made an impressive return to action at the Brisbane International.
The 29-year-old was no match for Sabalenka in the semi-finals but wins over Ekaterina Alexandrova and Elena Rybakina suggest that she is operating at the top of her game.
