Coco Gauff could have blockbuster US Open rematch and potential icy showdown in Australian Open final
All eyes are on the projected semi-final clash that includes Coco Gauff.
The 2025 Australian Open singles draw is out and two title favorites will face off before the final in the women's draw while the men's side sees a Wimbledon final rematch in the quarter-finals.
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Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and 2023 US Open champion Gauff are set to meet in the semi-finals at the Australian Open for the second straight year should they get that far.
It was the Sabalenka who ended Gauff's Australian Open dreams in 2024 and the American will have to face the World No.1 again to set up a heated final clash with Iga Swiatek.
Sabalenka is the top seed for a draw for the first time in her career and is looking to be the first woman to win three straight Australian Open titles since Martina Hingins in 1997-99.
"To be back here, and to walk here with this beautiful trophy as the two-time defending champion is definitely something special," Sabalenka said at the official draw ceremony.
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"I really hope that I can keep doing what I'm doing here in Australia."
Although Sabalenka will have another American in her way before she plays Gauff with 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens drawn to play the top seed in the opening round.
Meanwhile for Gauff an all-American clash awaits her first with the last American woman to win an Australian Open, Sophia Kenin, drawn to play the 20-year-old in the opening round.
Based on projected ranking, Gauff will then play Jodie Burrage, Leylah Fernandez, Jelena Ostapenko, fellow American Jessica Pegula before that blockbuster semi-final clash with Sabalenka.
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Should Gauff reverse the 2024 Australian Open semi-final loss to the World No.1, the American will then set up a hugely anticipated final clash with five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek.
What was once a one-sided hugely anticipated, with Swiatek winning her first 11 out of 12 matches against the American, Gauff has won their previous two clashes.
Coco Gauff's Road to the Final
The path to the American's first Australian Open title
R1: Sofia Kenin
R2: (PR) Jodie Burrage
R3: (30) Leylah Fernandez
R4: (16) Jelena Ostapenko
QF: (7) Jessica Pegula
SF: (1) Aryna Sabalenka
F: (2) Iga Swiatek
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The 20-year-old victorious in Riyadh for the WTA Finals before beating her at the United Cup where she led Team USA to the title.
The pair went viral for their icy handshake where Swiatek barely acknowledged the American with Gauff then pulling out a shovelling celebration across the court.
A final between Swiatek and Guaff, means the Pole will have to beat World No.4 Jasmine Paolini in the semi-final, the Italian reached two Grand Slams final last year at Wimbledon and the French Open.
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka is in the same quarter as Gauff with the Japanese playing her fifth tournament since returning from maternity leave and will face Caroline Garcia in the first round.
Emerging US star Emma Navarro begins her campaign against fellow American Peyton Stearns. While American Danielle Collins will play a lucky loser or qualifier in round one.
Meanwhile the men's draw features a stacked card with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz projected to play each other in the quarter-finals.
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Ten-time Australian Open champion Djokovic will face US rising star Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round while Alcaraz will play Alexander Shevchenko in the opening round.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner will face a challenging opening round test against big-hitting Chilean Nicolas Jarry.
“Melbourne, it’s a very nice tournament, beautiful people,” Sinner said at the draw ceremony. “It’s called the Happy Slam so we are all very happy to be back here
Sinner is also projected to take on Australian hope Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.
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23-year-old Jack Draper will play World No.46 Mariano Navone in the opening round while 2021 US Open Champion Emma Raducanu is set to face Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The Australian Open kicks off this Sunday, January 12th and will end with the women's singles final on the 25th and the men's singles final on the 26th.
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