The 2024 Australian Open was a classic, as we saw plenty of shocks, and dominant performances throughout the tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open taking down China’s Qinwen Zheng in the final, as she became just the fourth woman to defend her title at the event this century.

Former world number one Iga Swiatek lost in the third round to Linda Noskova, as her string of underwhelming performances in Australia continued.

Elena Rybakina had made the final the year prior but lost in the second round to Anna Blinkova in an astonishing third-set tiebreaker.

There are plenty of contenders going into next year’s tournament, but one former WTA star thinks there is an ‘overwhelming favorite’ for the title.

Andrea Petkovic says Aryna Sabalenka is an ‘overwhelming favorite’ for the 2025 Australian Open

Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs tennis podcast, former world number nine Andrea Petkovic picked her favorite for the Australian Open.

“I think [Aryna] Sabalenka is the overwhelming favourite just because I know how seriously she takes the off-season,” she said.

“I know she will put in all the work and I think she is the best hard court player we have.

“I think she has proven that not only this year but over the last few years.

“I think she has really come into herself on hard courts this year and I think she will be the favourite.”

Sabalenka took down Zheng in this year’s final but Petkovic doesn’t believe the Chinese star will be able to replicate her success this time around.

“I don’t think she will be able to repeat the Australian Open because it’s the first time she has to defend a huge result and I think she will struggle with that,” she said.

“I think she is much better than most of the main draw, so she will definitely make the second week, but I don’t think she will get as far as last year.”

Can Aryna Sabalenka win a fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open?

Sabalenka may well be the favorite to lift the trophy next month but she’ll certainly face some tough opposition from the likes of Swiatek and Coco Gauff.

A win would, however, put the 26-year-old just one title away from her Polish rival, as the pair battle for Grand Slam dominance on the WTA Tour.

The Belarussian currently sits on three Major titles thanks to her successes at Melbourne Park in 2023, and 2024, and her win at this year’s US Open.

She trails Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who won four Grand Slams between 2018 and 2021 but seems unlikely to add to her tally, as she currently sits outside the world’s top 50.

Swiatek, however, is going to be tough to catch, thanks to her impressive performances at the French Open, where she has won four of the last five tournaments.

It remains to be seen whether Sabalenka can win a fourth Grand Slam title, but she’ll certainly hope to do so at the Australian Open which begins on January 12.

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