When a Grand Slam draw comes out, the tendency is for one's attention to gravitate toward the big stars, or the matchups that look to be highly competitive. But this year's Australian Open women's bracket has some first-round matches, particularly involving Americans, for which it's hard to know what to even expect.
There have been only two weeks of tournaments so far in 2020, and for high-potential players who either are slumping or on the comeback trail, there simply aren't enough data points to predict how they might perform in one of the tournaments that will define the year.
Here are some question-mark players to watch out for in the early rounds, ones who could make a disappointing early exit, or just as likely go on a wonderful run:
1
Svetlana Kuznetsova
The two-time Grand Slam champion is sitting outside of the Top 50 going into the first Slam of the year, and opens against a returning No. 15-seeded Marketa Vondrousova. Struggles with form and injuries has seen Kuznetsova dip outside of the Top 100. Still, the 34-year-old has put together some fine performances including the final of Cincinnati last summer, and winning Washington in 2018 with a ranking of No. 128.
Her first task is against another question mark player, Vondrousova. The 2019 French Open semifinalist underwent left (dominant) wrist surgery last fall. In her first event back since the Us Open, she reached the quarterfinals of Adelaide.