World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will begin her Australian Open title defense by facing former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens.

The draw has been made for the 2025 Australian Open, and the biggest names in the field have tough tests on the road to Melbourne Park glory.

Aryna Sabalenka bids to become the first woman to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles since Martina Hingis from 1997-99. Sabalenka, seeded first at a Slam for the first time, opens the first Grand Slam of 2025 with a first-round match against 2017 U.

- Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Zheng Qinwen of China during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday,