The Australian Open 2020 women’s draw has been released on Thursday and the top-ranked women’s player faces an uphill task in their run to the finals. The 128-women draw looks incredibly deep and filled with high-quality matchups all the way through.

If Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams are to meet for the first time at the Australian Open, it will have to be in the quarterfinals. Osaka, the No. 3 seed, was placed in No. 8 Serena Williams half of the draw.

Australian Open 2020 women’s draw: Barty’s route to maiden home Slam title

In her best performance at the Australian Open, Ashleigh Barty reached the quarterfinals last year. The No.1 seed will aim to better her results and hope to win her second Grand Slam title, this year. Leading the upper half of the draw, she has been drawn to open against Lesia Tsurenko.

Barty’s section includes, possibly, Alison Riske or Petra Martic, in the fourth round. No. 7 Petra Kvitova is a potential quarterfinal opponent, and Osaka in the semis. She could meet one of her arch-rivals Halep or Pliskova in the finals.

Australian Open 2020 women’s draw: Pliskova’s quest to her maiden Grand Slam title

Karolina Pliskova is the defending semifinalist at the Australian Open 2020. She will hope to improve her results and achieve her best performance in Melbourne. Pliskova will open up against a tricky opponent, Kristina Mladenovic.

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Pliskova’s road also includes Angelique Kerber in the fourth round. She set up a potential quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina. She could meet Halep in the semis and Osaka in the finals.

Australian Open 2020 women’s draw: Osaka’s road to defending her title

The defending champion is aiming for her second title at the Rod Laver Arena and her third major title overall.

Naomi Osaka could play Barbora Strycova in the third round followed by Sofia Kenin in the next round. The Japanese set up a tough quarterfinal against Serena Williams. She could face Ashleigh Barty in the semifinals and Halep or Pliskova in finals.

Australian Open 2020 women’s draw: Halep’s path to maiden Australian Open title

Simona Halep was the runner-up at the 2018 Australian Open. It was her best performance in Melbourne and will aim to better her record this year. She will face an uphill opening round against Jennifer Brady.

She will face Elise Mertens in the fourth round followed by Belinda Bencic in the quarters. She could face Pliskova in the semifinals and Osaka or Barty in finals.

In some notable Women’s Matches, Keys draws a tough round-up against Kasatkina. Venus Williams could face Coco Gauff and Stephens could face Zhang. On the other hand, Vekic and Sharapova also draw an interesting match up. Other notable matches are – Suarez Navarro vs Sabalenka, Putintseva vs Hsieh, Vondrousova vs Kuznetsova and Mladenovic vs Pliskova.