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2019 WTA Early Favorites and Players to Watch

By Harry Floyd

ROME, ITALY - MAY 19: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates victory after winning her semi final match against Maria Sharapova of Russia during day 7 of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2018 tennis at Foro Italico on May 19, 2018 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - MAY 19: Simona Halep of Romania celebrates victory after winning her semi final match against Maria Sharapova of Russia during day 7 of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2018 tennis at Foro Italico on May 19, 2018 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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The 2019 WTA Tour is kicking off and we need to look at who the early favorites and players to watch are. Here’s a quick breakdown.

Starting off our 2019 WTA favorites and players to watch in the early months is of course Romanian tennis star Simona Halep. The world number one enters the year as the player to to beat… if she remains healthy. Toward the later months of the 2018 WTA Tour, Halep began to breakdown and ultimately withdraw from several tournaments. She will be to watch especially as we near action at the Australian Open.

Last year at Melbourne Park, Halep finished runner-up to women’s singles champion Caroline Wozniacki. The defending Australian Open champ is also a player to keep an eye on.

As of right now, Wozniacki must be considered the favorite to take the women’s singles at the first Grand Slam of the calendar year. She sits in the world number three position heading into the new year. Just ahead of the Danish tennis star is German great Angelique Kerber. The veteran saw a resurgence on the 2018 WTA Tour and is easily one of the top players at the start of 2019.

Kerber tasted glory last year at the Wimbledon Championships. HERE, the world number two looks back on her 2018 Wimbledon title. Look for Angie to be a favorite at the upcoming Australian Open as well. She is a former champion in women’s singles at the major tournament, taking the title back on the 2016 WTA Tour. That same year, she also notched a win at the US Open. We breakdown Kerber’s chances at Melbourne Park HERE.

Next. BEST EVER: Federer or Serena?. dark

A look ahead at the 2019 WTA Tour would not be complete without considering WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian star has burst onto the scene and could touch career heights again this coming year. The 2018 WTA Finals title was the biggest of her career and she could be a top contender at any of the Grand Slams in 2019.

Other 2019 WTA favorites and players to watch include American Sloane Stephens, Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova, and Naomi Osaka. The field in women’s singles is only getting more and more competitive. Check back to see how these players and others fare on the upcoming tour.

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