Madison Keys, this year's Brisbane runner-up is poised to have a good start in the grand slams this year. In a pretty crowded draw, she is the player poised to get to the semi-final slot on her side of the draw, thus becoming one of my four favorites to win this year's Australian Open.
Currently ranked outside the top 10 (#11), Keys started the year by reaching the Brisbane finals, and defeating Petra Kvitova in the semifinals there. It may happen again here in Melbourne, possibly in the 4th round, thus making Keys the favorite in this part of the draw.
Her other possible opponents in the early rounds are all notable players, including Polish Magda Linette, Russian Margarita Gasparyan and German Julia Goerges in the QFs.
Local darling Ashleigh Barty, the #1 seed, is also in this side of the draw, but she will meet in the first round, a nemesis who has defeated her before, Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko. Although Tsurenko is currently ranked outside the top 100, she knows how to defeat Barty and the added pressure of a home grand slam may not be of any help to the Aussie.
Although Tsurenko's win over Barty was already 2 years ago, it was in Aussie soil, in Brisbane. Melbourne is a much bigger deal and the pressure to win here might be too tough for Ash to carry - for now.
That we will see on Monday.
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