Tennis-Swiatek the favourite as Melbourne Park set for new champion

FILE PHOTO; Tennis - WTA 500 - Ostrava Open - CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic - October 9, 2022 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during the singles final against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova REUTERS/David W Cerny

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek is the strong favourite to land her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but the picture is considerably less clear if the world number one fails to live up to her top seeding.

With Ash Barty and Serena Williams having hung up their rackets and Naomi Osaka pregnant with her first child, Melbourne Park will almost certainly usher in a new era by crowning a first-time champion on Jan. 29.