As the Australian Open 2021 is around the corner, there are two WTA 500 tournaments to be played prior to the Grand Slam event. The two events are Gippsland Trophy and Yarra Valley Classic. Players such as Serena Williams and Simona Halep will be seen here, and both competitions are going to be played simultaneously in Melbourne, from January 31 till February 6.

At the Gippsland Trophy event, players Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka are the top seeds. If the Japanese player wins her opening round match, there will be a possibility of her playing the American teenager Coco Gauff. Other players such as Elina Svitolina and recently crowned Abu Dhabi Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will be seen too. 

Serena Williams to be seen at Yarra Valley Classic event

At the Yarra Valley Classic tournament, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin are the top two seeds. 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams is also part of the event. There is a possibility of the American meeting Ashleigh in the semifinal if they sail smoothly in the initial rounds. 

Czech professional tennis player Karolina Pliskova and two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza will also be seen at the Yarra Valley Classic event. Both the tournaments will be played on the courts of Melbourne Park, where the Australian Open is usually held. 

At the moment, Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, and Serena Williams are in Adelaide for the exhibition event ‘A Day at the Drive’. It is a one-day event and players will travel to Melbourne after that. After the WTA 500 tournaments are over, the first Grand Slam of the season begins in two days’ time. Sofia Kenin won the Australian Open in the previous season. 

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