Ashleigh Barty won the Adelaide singles and doubles titles
MELBOURNE – Ashleigh Barty will be hot favourite to win her home Australian Open for the first time, but even with Serena Williams absent the world number one faces threats from all angles.
For the first time in a quarter of a century the first Grand Slam of the year will not feature either of the Williams sisters — Serena would have been pursuing a record-equalling 24th major crown but she is not fit.
With defending champion Naomi Osaka still working her way back to top form and fitness after a long break, the 25-year-old Barty has emerged as the clear favourite at Melbourne Park.
Like her rival Osaka, Barty was dumped out of the third round of the US Open in September and did not play the rest of the year, returning home to Australia because of…
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