The main contenders to challenge Serena Williams in the women's draw

ByEurosport

Updated 15/01/2016 at 15:17 GMT

We look at the form, hopes and realistic chances of the top eight seeds in the women's draw at Melbourne Park. Who will lift the famous trophy this year?

Serena Williams of the U.S. poses with her trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in their women's singles final match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 31, 2015

Image credit: Reuters

The 2016 Australian Open gets underway on Monday, as 127 players vie to succeed Serena Williams as the Melbourne champion (and good luck with that).

The first grand slam of the season, events in Australia have often set the tone for the year ahead. So who will be involved in the business end of the tournament?

We take a look at the top eight seeds and evaluate their chances.

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Serena Williams signs autographs at the Australian Open

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Serena Williams (1)

Best tournament result: Winner (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015)

Last year’s result: Winner (beat Maria Sharapova)

It speaks of her dominance in 2015 that most people were surprised when Serena Williams fell short of clinching the calendar grand slam, but any thoughts that she might go that extra step further this time around should be tempered by the fact she has not played a competitive match yet in 2016.

The draw has not helped her - she opens against world No. 35 Camila Giorgi, the highest-ranked non-seed in the field - but, at or even near her best, she remains an imperiously powerful opponent who can perhaps only be beaten when a rival produces better tennis than they even thought possible. Serena is the favourite, every bit as much as Novak Djokovic is in the men's draw, but there are perhaps a few concerns about her preparation coming into this week.

2016 chances: Defending champion and dominant force in her sport, Serena certainly enters the new grand slam season as the overwhelming favourite. But, after the exhausting nature of last year, whether she has the energy or the hunger to ascend the mountain once again remains to be seen.

Simona Halep of Romania

Image credit: Reuters

Simona Halep (2)

Best tournament result: Quarter-finalist (2014, 2015)

Last year’s result: Lost in quarter-finals (to Ekaterina Makarova)

It would be interesting to know what Halep truly thinks about her draw - on seedings alone she has a reasonable run to the semi-finals, but her path to that point could feasibly involve Alize Cornet, Lesia Tsurenko, Madison Keys and Ekaterina Makarova, which could well mean she enters the second week battered and bruised after coming through a number of big battles.

She has also been struggling with a few niggling injuries prior to the tournament, which does not necessarily bode too well - and might ultimately define how far she is able to progress.

2016 chances: Halep has a better winning percentage in Australia than any of the other slams and, despite her only final appearance to date coming at Roland Garros, she might find the hard courts offer her greatest chance of success. She will be eager to at least reach the semi-finals, although much will depend on her health and fitness.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza hits a return against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska during their women's singles semi-finals tennis match at the WTA Finals in Singapore on October 31, 2015

Image credit: AFP

Garbine Muguruza (3)

Best tournament result: Fourth round (2014, 2015)

Last year’s result: Lost in fourth round (to Serena Williams)

Having announced herself to a wider tennis audience with her run to the final of Wimbledon last year, Muguruza seemed to struggle to live up to the hype as she went out in the second round of the subsequent US Open.

But she has reached the fourth round in each of her last two appearances at Melbourne Park (losing to Agnieszka Radwanska and Serena Williams on those occasions) and, given a seeding leg-up this time around that should mean she avoids such heavyweights for a bit longer, would appear to now have both the playing ability and the draw to make a serious run into the second week.

2016 chances: Having beaten Daniela Hantuchova and Timea Bacsinszky en-route to a three-set loss to Serena Williams 12 months ago, Muguruza showed she has the game for this event. With a year’s worth of development under her belt and a much better seeding, she could go far.

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland kisses her trophy after winning the women's singles final tennis match against Alison Riske of the U.S. at the Shenzhen Open in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, January 9, 2016.

Image credit: Eurosport

Agnieszka Radwanska (4)

Best tournament result: Semi-final (2014)

Last year’s result: Fourth round (lost to Venus Williams)

Last year’s fourth-round exit snapped Radwanska’s streak of reaching at least the quarter-finals for four straight years, a solid run of consistency for any player in the women’s game. It remains to be seen if she can get back on track this time around – her build-up has been hampered by injury, a frustrating turn of events after carrying some strong form into the new year.

When fit and on form she is an opponent to be respected, but given she is in the same side of the draw as Serena you wonder if the final will be a bridge too far.

2016 chances: Adding to her solitary grand slam final (Wimbledon 2012) must be the focus for the 26-year-old, but she will do well just to reach the semi-finals, and a likely meeting with Serena Williams.

Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a shot during a practice session at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 13, 2016. The Australian Open tennis tournament starts January 18.

Image credit: Reuters

Maria Sharapova (5)

Best tournament result: Winner (2008)

Last year’s result: Runner-up (lost to Serena Williams)

You wonder if the Russian slumped a little when she saw the draw for the tournament, which pitches her against Serena Williams in the quarter-finals if both players reach that stage. Williams undoubtedly has the upper-hand over her long-time rival and it may require the American to have already been knocked out before their paths cross if Sharapova is to make the final four.

Putting that showdown to one side, however, Sharapova has often gone consistently far in this tournament - having enjoyed a more conventional build-up than many of her nearest rivals it would be a bit of a surprise if she did not fulfil her end of the bargain and make the quarters.

2016 chances: Sharapova knows what it takes to be successful Down Under – she has reached the semi-finals more times (seven) than any other slam. She figures show she should be a factor deep into the second week – but if she comes up against Serena does she have the mental fortitude to match her?

2012 TENNIS Australian Open Petra Kvitova

Image credit: Reuters

Petra Kvitova (6)

Best tournament result: Semi-final (2012)

Last year’s result: Third round (lost to Madison Keys)

A relatively amenable draw (her quarter-final opponent, should they both get there, would be Radwanska) may embolden the former Wimbledon champion but, after losing to Madison Keys in the third round last year, she will be aware that there are no easy rides in this tournament.

Kvitova insists she enjoys the Australian Open but her record in Melbourne is not the best, with a solitary semi-final appearance four years ago perhaps less than she might expect of herself. Another player who has seen her early-season preparations stunted by fitness issues, she should make a run to the quarter-finals but will surely be viewed as a beatable scalp by her early opponents.

2016 chances: Kvitova’s winning percentage in hard-court grand slams (66%) is markedly lower than at either the French Open or Wimbledon. If she hits a rich vein of form she will be a threat – but realistically making the quarter-finals would be deemed something of a success.

Angelique kerber australian open

Image credit: Eurosport

Angelique Kerber (7)

Best tournament result: Fourth round (2013, 2014)

Last year’s result: Lost in the first round (to Irina-Camelia Begu)

The German’s first-round exit 12 months ago was her first such one-and-done grand slam appearance since Wimbledon in 2011. It was not the start of a disappointing year – she went on to win four WTA titles – but the 27-year-old will doubtless want to give a far stronger account of herself this time around.

2016 chances: She will surely be confident of doing better than last year – but a career 11-8 record in Melbourne does not suggest she is about to go on a run to the business end of the second week.

Venus Williams stretches during her Australian Open match against Agnieszka Radwanska

Image credit: Eurosport

Venus Williams (8)

Best tournament result: Runner-up (2003)

Last year’s result: Quarter-finalist (lost to Madison Keys)

A first quarter-final appearance in a grand slam for nearly five years was Venus Williams’ reward for her determination last year, and she returns 12 months later with a seeding that suggests she should get as far once again. If she did, she could well end up facing Simona Halep at that stage (she can only face her sister in the final), but such a run is no sure thing.

She opens against Johanna Konta, the Brit who beat her late in 2015 and is ready to make her own assault on the game's upper echelons, while she will also have to negotiate the likes of Sabine Lisicki and Ekaterina Makarova (last year's semi-finalist) before she gets to the last 16. Despite her seeding, she will surely not be taking any match for granted.

2016 chances: A final meeting with Serena Williams is perhaps the family dream but, if we are completely honest, getting to the quarter-finals again would be a solid achievement.

Viktoria Azarenka - Australian Open 2012

Image credit: AFP

Other challengers to consider:

Victoria Azarenka (14): Her seeding means she might become a distastefully early opponent for a contender (Muguruza, potentially, then Kerber). The two-time champion has been erratic in recent seasons but, even more so than 16th seed Caroline Wozniacki, has the firepower to beat anyone on her day.

Belinda Bencic (12): The emerging star of women’s tennis, Bencic comes into her third Australian open looking to make her first real run, after making great strides during the second half of 2015.

Sam Stosur (25): The home favourite has never really sparked in Melbourne, reaching the fourth round twice in 13 appearances. A surprise loss to Monica Puig earlier this month has dampened expectations but the former US Open champion is adamant she can contend.

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