A BLOCKBUSTER top half of the draw for the Adelaide International will see a massive five WTA Grand Slam winners contest for semi-finals spots. Alongside the return of world number one Ash Barty, the likes of Iga Swiatek (fifth seed), Sofia Kenin (sixth seed), Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka have all been placed in the same half of the 30-player WTA 500 draw. Meanwhile the bottom half of the draw featues world number two Aryna Sabalenka, and other top stars Elina Svitolina, Maria Sakkari and Elena Rybakina. The event kicks off on Monday.

ROUND OF 32 MATCHES TO WATCH:

• [4] Paula Badosa vs. Victoria Azarenka
• Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Leylah Fernandez

POTENTIAL ROUND OF 16 MATCHES TO WATCH:

• [1] Ash Barty (AUS) vs. Coco Gauff (USA)
• Alexandrova/Fernandez vs. [5] Iga Swiatek (POL)
• Badosa/Azarenka vs. Petra Kvitova (CZE)
• [3] Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs. Shelby Rogers (USA)

KEY TALKING POINTS

How will Ash Barty fare in her first match back since the US Open?

It has been a long time coming for the world number one who finished on top of the world for the third consecutive season. Remarkably, Barty has hardly played over the past two years but has retained the spot, claiming five titles in nine tournaments last year, including Wimbledon. She will likely face Coco Gauff up first which is no easy feat, and then Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin before whichever of the stars makes it through to the semi-finals.

Can Paula Badosa defy the tough draw and win?

It is a nightmare draw for Badosa coming off the back of a breakout season. Her performance at the WTA Finals was outstanding, and she will be looking to continue that form here. Coming up against Victoria Azarenka in the first round whom the Spaniard beat at Indian Wells, Badosa will also likely face Petra Kvitova, Iga Swiatek, Ash Barty and Aryna Sabalenka if she is to win the title. Ouch.

Is it time for Maria Sakkari to take that next step?

Sakkari has long been a strong performer throughout the year, it is now just converting those consistent quarter finals and semi-finals into titles. The draw at Adelaide has been fairly kind to her without being too easy. She takes on Tamara Zidansek in the first round who is far from an easy beat, then the Greek talent has Shelby Rogers up next. Sakkari should beat both, and Rybakina if she is serious, setting up a semi-final with either Sabalenka or Svitolina. But again it is a semi-final, and can she breakthrough and take a huge scalp – or two – on her way to the title?