IN the first of the new tournaments to begin in 2020, the Adelaide International takes over from the previous Sydney International as the premier lead-up event to the Australian Open. With four top 10 players, and a further 15 players inside the top 30, the Adelaide International is set to have some unbelievable contests.

FAVOURITE:

While it might seem logical to name Ash Barty as the favourite, Petra Kvitova is the one to look at here. The left hander is always primed for a big January, and she won in the corresponding event last year, coming from a set down to defeat Barty. With plenty on the line for players leading up to the Australian Open, Barty is still yet to win a tournament on home soil, so Kvitova might be the one to spoil the Barty party once again.

CONTENDERS:

Barty would be disappointed after winning the first set 6-1 against Kvitova in Sydney 12 months ago, before dropping the next two sets to go down in three sets. After a sensational year in 2019, when she took out Roland Garros and the ATP Finals, Barty is a worthy world number one, but now she is the hunted rather than the hunter. It would be a dream for the home crowd favourite to win on home soil, but there are no shortage of contenders trying to take down the top ranked player, starting with the tournament in Adelaide.

The world number four Romanian, Simona Halep is the third of the world’s best trio that will be considered the major players in Adelaide. She only won one title in 2019, but the fact it was Wimbledon exemplified her quality and the former world number one would be ready to return to the pinnacle. Post-Wimbledon, Halep struggled a little, but made the fourth round at the Australian Open 12 months ago. Unluckily copped Barty in the first round at Sydney and bowed out, which means she will be desperate for revenge in this tournament.

Another former Grand Slam winner, Angelique Kerber is going to head into the tournament unseeded which creates a few sleepless nights for any seed she might come in against. At her best she is easily a top 10 player, and the fact she only played limited games in 2019 means she is fresh and ready to go. Kerber might not be up to her best anymore at age 31, but she will still be the one unseeded danger that the top few will want to avoid in Adelaide.

DARK HORSE:

One of the big improvers on the WTA Tour last year was Russina-born American, Sofia Kenin. Starting the year outside the top 50, Kenin won three titles in 2019, and finished the year with a 49-23 record, rising as high as 12th in the WTA Rankings by October. Winning at Hobart last year, Kenin has opted to take the step up and challenge herself in Adelaide against the bigger names and hold her in good stead for the year ahead. A genuine dark horse and challenger heading into the tournament.

ROUGHIE:

Hard hitting American Sloane Stephens has almost slipped into the background since winning the US Open in 2017. While Stephens has six titles to her name – as well as a runners-up trophy for Roland Garros and WTA Finals in 2018, her 2019 dropped off and Stephens went from sixth down to 25th by years end. Similar to Kerber, you cannot underestimate Stephens, especially on hardcourt. Despite being one of the lower automatic entries, it shows the strength of Adelaide given the talent on offer with so many Grand Slam winners running around.