Australian Open 2026 Women's Draw: Quick Preview

The 2026 Australian Open draws are out, and we’re taking a look at the women’s draw. Without going into a deep analysis, we’ll run our eye over it, and see what jumps out at us. Here is your quick preview of the women’s draw. Check out our men’s preview here.

Quarter 1:

The top seed, Aryna Sabalenka sits atop the draw, and while it’s hard to see her not making it to the quarter finals, there are potentially a couple of tricky matches. If Emma Raducanu can work her way into the tournament, a Rd.3 match-up is tantalising. But perhaps Victoria Mboko might give Sabalenka a real challenge in Rd.4. Mboko is in the final of Adelaide, and playing great tennis.

Jasmine Paolini is the favourite at the bottom half of the quarter, but she may face young American, Iva Jovic in Rd.3, and an upset wouldn’t surprise. Marta Kostyuk played suberbly in Brisbane, and she would also have claims to a quarter-final berth.

Predicted quarter-final: Aryna Sabalenka v Marta Kostyuk

Quarter 2:

This could be the most interesting quarter of the four. Coco Gauff could run into Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in Rd.3. Bouzas Maneiro dominated her at the United Cup, so that would be worth watching. Karolina Muchova tends to play well on the US hardcourts, but so much in Australia, and Emma Navarro made the quarters here last year.

Then we have a host of chances in the lower section. Mirra Andreeva, Elina Svitolina, Diana Shnaider, and Dayana Yastremska are all capable of going deep. Add unseeded players, Barbora Krejcikova, Maria Sakkari, and Donna Vekic, and it becomes a lottery. This has upsets written all over the quarter.

Predicted quarter-final: Jessica Bouzas Maneiro v Elina Svitolina

Storylines From Week 1 of the 2026 Tennis Season

Quarter 3:

Quite a bit of depth in this quarter too, with Jess Pegula, reigning champion, Madison Keys, and Paula Badosa, all vying for the same quarter-final spot. Plenty don’t expect Keys to back up as a winner again, but I certainly don’t see her going home in week 1.

Amanda Anisimova has shot up to number 4 in the world, and she’s not there by luck. Sofia Kenin and Jelena Ostapenko could test her, but I think Anisimova gets through.

Predicted quarter-final: Madison Keys v Amanda Anisimova

Quarter 4:

The bottom quarter also holds plenty of interest. Iga Swiatek will be desperately trying to win her first Australian Open, and her draw isn’t too bad. The possibility of a Rd.3 clash with Anna Kalinskaya, and a Rd.4 meeting with Naomi Osaka, could cause some restless nights for her, but I think she’ll find her way through.

Elena Rybakina and Belinda Bencic look the likely candidates to fight out the other quarter-final spot. It will be interesting to see if Daria Kasatkina can get some momentum, and ride the home crowd into her best form. If she can, maybe she’ll give Bencic some trouble.

Australian Open 2026 Women’s Draw: Quick Preview

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