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Serena Williams: absence makes way for new Australian Open champion

By Harry Floyd

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Serena Williams of the United States poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2017 Women's Singles Australian Open Championship at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Serena Williams of the United States poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2017 Women's Singles Australian Open Championship at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) /
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Serena Williams is the defending champion in women’s singles at the Australian Open. Her absence at the Grand Slam makes way for a new champion.

Serena Williams is delaying her comeback to the 2018 WTA Tour. After playing an exhibition match with Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi, the American tennis superstar has announced that she is not yet returning to the WTA Tour.

The absence of Williams at the 2018 Australian Open drastically impacts the field in women’s singles tennis. While she would have been considered the favorite to take yet another title at the major tournament, the possibilities are now endless.

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Several previous Grand Slam winners are in the field this year at the Australian Open. One player to watch is 2016 champion Angelique Kerber. The German has seen a strong start so far in 2018. While her 2017 tour saw her slip in the rankings from her previous world No. 1 position, Kerber seems poised for a comeback this year.

Caroline Wozniacki is among those seeking their first ever Grand Slam title.

The Danish tennis star is a former world No. 1. She is also the current WTA Finals champion. Her win in Singapore last year was the biggest of her career. Now, Wozniacki is a favorite in Melbourne Park.

Current French Open champion Ostapenko defeated Williams in her exhibition match last month. Afterwards though, the young Latvian suffered tough opening round losses in each of her WTA events. Despite the early 2018 losses, Ostapenko remains a top player in women’s singles tennis. If anything, the early defeats could prove to motivate her in play at Melbourne Park. The possibilities for a new Australian Open champion are endless with the absence of Williams.

Next: Top 10: Men's Singles Tennis

Women’s singles tennis is set to usher in a new era of superstars over the next few years. While several veterans remain amongst the best, such as Serena’s sister Venus Williams, the sport is quickly changing. If Serena Williams remains away for a significant amount of the 2018 WTA Tour, women’s singles tennis will continue to embrace its new stars.

With the exception of a few past Australian Open champions, women’s singles could easily see a new victor this year. The world No. 1, Simona Halep, is among those who are seeking their first ever Grand Slam title at any major tournament. She will be one of the top contenders next week at Melbourne Park. Stay tuned to see how the action unfolds at the 2018 Australian Open and check back for updates on Serena Williams as she returns to competitive play on the WTA Tour.

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