The Australian Open is just around the corner, and fans are buzzing with excitement about the tournament draw. But Iga Swiatek might not be as thrilled as the rest of us. Known for her dominance on clay, the World No.2 hasn’t made Melbourne her happy hunting ground yet. Per the tournament’s official website, she stands at the fifth position-at 73.9%-in the Australian Open total win percentage. Now, the 2025 AO draw has thrown her into the deep end, with tough matchups waiting at every turn.

Świątek kicks off her campaign against Kateřina Siniaková, a Czech player with an impressive doubles record. The Pole has a perfect 2-0 record against her, including a double bagel win at the French Open in 2021, which makes it an easier opening match. In the second round, she could face either Rebecca Sramkova or Katie Volynets. Both players are outside the top 70 in the rankings and lack big-stage experience, making them underdogs in this matchup. Things start to get tricky in the third round.

The five-time- Grand Slam champion might meet Amanda Anisimova, Emma Raducanu, or Ekaterina Alexandrova. Anisimova, a 2019 French Open semifinalist, has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open three times, in 2019, 2022, and 2024. Raducanu, though struggling with injuries, remains dangerous—she’s a former US Open champion, after all. Alexandrova, ranked No. 27, adds another layer of difficulty, boasting a 3-2 head-to-head record against Swiatek. This round could be the first major test for the Pole.

From there, the fourth round looks equally daunting.

Anna Kalinskaya, who reached the Australian Open quarterfinals last year, could be waiting. Another possibility is Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion(consecutively in 2012 and 2013). The former World No. 1. Swiatek will need to bring her A-game to get through. Then comes the most interesting part in QFs, SFs and Finals.

If she manages to advance to the quarterfinal, the World No.2 might encounter Emma Navarro, Daria Kasatkina, or Maria Sakkari. She is most likely to meet Navarro or Kasatkina. Navarro, ranked No. 8, has faced Swiatek only once before, making their potential match unpredictable. Kasatkina, on the other hand, has a more familiar story with Świątek. They’ve played seven times, with Świątek winning six of those encounters.

The semifinal could see Swiatek facing one of Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, or Elina Svitolina. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has the game to trouble Świątek. She already defeated her at the 2023 Australian Open in the fourth round, winning 6-4, 6-4. On the other hand, Świątek has a perfect record against Paolini, winning all four of their matches. Svitolina is another seasoned contender, having reached the Australian Open quarterfinals twice(consecutively in 2018, 2019), though she has never progressed further. It’s worth noting that Świątek, who started her 2022 season by reaching the semifinals at the Adelaide International, reached semifinal at the Australian Open in the same year. And then comes the final.

Świątek has never made it this far in Melbourne, but if she does, she’ll likely face Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff. Sabalenka, the reigning World No. 1 and a two-time Australian Open champion, is a powerhouse. Fresh off her Brisbane title, she has won 27 of her last 28 matches in Australia, a staggering statistic. Gauff, on the other hand, has been in red-hot form. She recently defeated Świątek in straight sets at the United Cup and led Team USA to victory. Either opponent would make for a thrilling finale.

Iga Swiatek will be looking to prove a lot on court as she comes off a controversial doping allegation.

Iga Swiatek ready for the Australia Open amid doping scandal

Iga Swiatek has had to battle off-court challenges as well. Speaking on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, she reflected on her doping scandal from last year, where she served a one-month ban on testing positive for trimetazidine, a banned heart medication.

The 23-year-old has worked hard to move past the controversy and get back to her best. “You can be at peace with yourself that you didn’t do anything wrong, but no one actually treats you like that… Especially the people that are kind of prosecuting you. Even when you’re telling the truth, you feel like they treat you like a liar,” she shared.

The Australian Open, however, remains a puzzle for the Pole. Her best result here was a semifinal finish in 2022, but last year she suffered a shocking third-round defeat to Czech teenager Linda Noskova. After a shaky start to 2025, including a loss to Gauff at the United Cup, Świątek has skipped other tournaments to focus on fine-tuning her preparations for the Australian Open.

With her doping scandal behind her and her eyes on a first Australian Open title, will she finally conquer Melbourne Park and reach her first Australian Open final?