Four Australian Open contenders as Emma Raducanu aims for more history

Emma Raducanu may well be dreaming of replicating her US Open fairytale Down Under but there’s plenty of talented competition looking to make their marks in Melbourne.

All eyes will be on the talented 19-year-old, who became the first ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam last year, but the likes of Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty will also pique interest.

While the men’s tournament has been dominated by Novak Djokovic’s visa controversy, it’s been business as usual in the women’s game and we’re set for a thrilling fortnight of action with four-time champion Osaka making her return.

Metro.co.uk takes a look at four Australian Open contenders to keep an eye on who could be lifting the trophy come the end of the tournament.

Ashleigh Barty

The world No.1 has two majors under her belt and heads into the Australian Open as the deserving favourite.

In 2021, she was crowned the WTA’s Player of the Year, won her second major title at Wimbledon, WTA 1000 events in Miami and Madrid and bagged a tour-high five titles.

With the home crowd firmly on her side, the 25-year-old will be looking to go further than her 2020 semi-final exit and deliver her fans the Australian Open trophy.

Despite a first-week exit at the US Open last year, Barty’s work in practice sees her enter the first Grand Slam of the year feeling fresh, having won the Adelaide International last week, beating Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina in the process.

Naomi Osaka

It’s hard to predict just how Osaka will perform given she’s played only eight matches (5-3) since withdrawing from the second round at the French Open in June.

But if she plays at her best, few will have a chance of stopping her.

At 24 years of age she’s won four career major titles, including two of…