Emma Raducanu is set to compete in the Australian Open, ranked 28th and not expected to face another seeded player until the third round. While this suggests a potentially easier path, there are several unseeded players who could pose a significant challenge.
One such potential opponent is Sloane Stephens, a former US Open champion (2017) who is currently navigating the qualifying rounds. Despite her ranking plummeting to world No.1098 due to injuries, Stephens, who was once ranked as high as third, remains a formidable player. She has already won her first qualifying match and will need to win three matches to reach the main draw.
Another player who could present a difficult early-round match is fellow Brit, Katie Boulter. Boulter has been moved into the main draw as a first alternate. Although no longer ranked in the top 100 after battling injuries and a loss of form, the 29-year-old was seeded No.22 at last year's Australian Open and reached the second round. A match between Raducanu and Boulter would also mean one less British hopeful in the tournament.
Anastasia Zakharova, a 23-year-old Russian, has also been promoted to the main draw after a withdrawal. Ranked world No.79, Zakharova has reached the third round of a Grand Slam before, at the 2024 Australian Open. She has proven her ability by defeating top-30 players and former Grand Slam champions like Victoria Azarenka in previous tournaments, indicating she is a serious threat to top names in Melbourne.