No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek anchors the bottom half of the draw, with No. 4 seed Jasmine Paolini serving as her projected semifinal opponent. Though the former world No. 1 lost the top spot at the end of last season, the Pole has proven plenty formidable in only her second tournament since hiring famed coach Wim Fissette. Despite the loss to Gauff, Swiatek was otherwise undefeated at United Cup, defeating the likes of Karolina Muchova, Katie Boulter, and Elena Rybakina. She will open against Katerina Siniakova.
Elsewhere in the draw, 2024 finalist and No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen landed in the same quarter as Sabalenka and will play her first match against a qualifier or lucky loser. No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina, who is in the midst of an ongoing coaching controversy, will play Aussie Emerson Jones in her first round, with Paolini her projected quarterfinal opponent.
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka will play her fifth major tournament since returning from maternity leave and will once again face Caroline Garcia in the first round. Garcia won their Down Under face-off last year. It won’t get much easier for Osaka should she win as Muchova and Ostapenko all loom in a stacked section.
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