Women’s grand slam favourites 2023
If 2022 was the year of Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek then don’t expect too much different in 2023! Not discounting Rafa Nadal’s incredible success winning the Australian and French Open, it was his fellow country man, 19 year old Carlos Alcaraz who stole the new headlines. He started the year ranked at 32 in the world, 10 months later after winning 5 titles and a grand slam he became world number one.
In the WTA it was 21-year-old Iga Swiatek who stole the show. She started the year ranked 9 had a massive 37-match win streak, the longest in the twenty-first century, racking up 7 title wins including the French and US Open to become world number 1.
Both Alcaraz and Swiatek are now the top-ranked players in the world and the sport’s best new generation tennis players.
Break through players in 2023
Coco Guaff
The American teenager burst onto the scene at 15 years old in 2019, becoming an overnight sensation at Wimbledon. It seemed inevitable that year that Gauff would one day become a major champion. She came nail bitting close in 2022, reaching the final at Roland Garros and the quarterfinals at the US Open.
While the media attention has cooled off over the last 2 years, it’s important to remember that Guaff is still only 18 years old and is now a top 10 WTA player for the first time in her career. With her game continuing to improve we believe her first grand slam win will be at the Australian Open or where it all started for her, at Wimbledon.
Grand Slam Favourites
We expect Iga Swiatek to dominate the WTA again in 2023 but Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur and Simona Halep could cause some problems for her. Let’s discuss each slam and our favourite for each.
2023 mens grand slam favourites
Australian Open
It’s going to be very hard for anyone to stop Iga Swiatek, she is in a run of ridiculous form. With last years champion Ashleigh Barty in retirement, her path could be even easier this time. Naomi Osaka will be sure to challenge as will last years Wimbledon semi finalist and former world number one, Simona Halep. After her first round exit at the US Open, Halep working with her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou, could be the one to watch in 2023 and we expect a big year from the Romanian star. World number 2 Ons Jabeur is another contender.
Our outsider pick is Coco Gauff, she’s in the top 10 for the first time in her career and getting better and more confident with time.
2023 Australian Open favourites and predictions
French Open
Iga Swiatek is the defending champion and will be the one to beat, she’s a master at clay and hardcourt. But clay remains her preferred and most dominant surface. She won three clay titles titles in 2022, including at the French Open, and amazingly only dropped just two sets throughout that run. The French Open is probably the easiest to predict and bar injury we can’t see Iga been beaten.
An in form and 2018 champion Simona Halep may throw up a challenge and our outsider for Rolland Garos is Spain’s Paula Badosa. Last years finalist Coco Gauff was dominated by Swiatek but the extra year might see a straightened Gauff put up a stronger challenge if this scenario was repeated.
Wimbledon
On the men side the predictions are a lot easier, but in the WTA we feel like Wimbledon feels wide open. Last year saw Elena Rybakina defeated Ons Jabeur to win the ladies’ singles tennis title. 2022 was the best year ever for 28 year old Jabeur, who reached the both the Wimbledon and the US Open finals, and Wimbledon 2023 could be here chance to avenge those finals losses and claim her maiden grad slam.
Defending champion Elena Rybakina will be sure to challenge the best in contention and the current bookies favourite Iga Swiatek will want to win her first Championship title. Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka also have a good chance. And again our outside pick for Wimbledon 2023 is Coco Gauff.
US Open
Last year saw Iga Świątek defeated Ons Jabeur in the final, 6–2, 7–6 and again we have to talk about the best women’s player in the world today. Her dominance should prevail over the last grand slam of the year.
The other name to watch will be Simona Halep hopefully her new coaching partnership will be paying dividends by August 2023. The two-time Grand Slam winner was both one of the favorites and the biggest upset when she was knocked out in the first round! being handed a shocking first-round exit.
Last years finalist Ons Jabeur will sure be a danger to all the top players at Flushing Meadows and once more we’re throwing Coco Gauff into the mix, and this late in the year she will be highly motivated to win in front of the home crowd.
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