The 23-year-old, who this week became the first Australian woman to reach the top of the rankings since 1976, must survive a rough-looking path if she is to claim back-to-back Grand Slams having won her first at this month's French Open.
Images from Day 9 of the 2020 Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Ash Barty beat eighth seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7) in Beijing to seal her spot in the final of the China Open on Saturday.
Images from Day 2 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, on Tuesday.
Barty had some trouble in the first set against the two-time Australian Open champion and saved three break points at 5-5 to go on to win 7-6(2), 6-3 and level the tie at 1-1.
Barty survived a first-round scare at the US Open on Monday
Images from Day 4 of the Wimbledon tennis championships played in London, on Wednesday.
Czech duo Siniakova and Machac win mixed doubles gold
Ash Barty's bid to end the host nation's long wait for a homegrown Australian Open champion will begin against Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko
Defending champion Donna Vekic, of Croatia, earned a hard-fought win over British wild card Gabriella Taylor 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(3).
New world number one Ashleigh Barty has suffered a pre-Wimbledon injury scare, withdrawn from this week's Eastbourne grasscourt tournament with a recurrence of a right arm injury.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
Images from Sunday's action at the Australian Open, in Melbourne.
Images from the action on Day 2 at the Australian Open.
Images from the matches played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, in Wimbledon, London, on Monday.
The 20-year-old, free of a shoulder injury that forced her out of qualifying for last week's Hobart tournament, won her first match at the Australian Open at her fourth attempt with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Germany's Annika Beck.
The US Open kicks off on August 31 and will be held in its usual home in Flushing Meadows, Queens, but will be played without fans in attendance to limit the spread of the virus.
On the men's side, the fields have already been divided into two ATP 250 tournaments.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic showed signs of a return to form with an impressive 7-5, 6-4 victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the opening round of the Madrid Open on Monday.
Images from Day 9 at the French Open.
Three contenders for the women's singles title at the Australian Open.
Aryna Sabalenka beat China's Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 to retain the Australian Open women's singles title on Saturday.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday.
Wimbledon will drop the titles "Miss" and "Mrs" before the names of female winners on its honour roll to match the men's boards in an attempt to modernise the tournament.
'When I'm going to be next time in the same situation, I'm going to do some stuff differently because, it was a little bit stressful, and it shouldn't be.'
Three-times Grand Slam champion Barty received her award three months after retiring from professional tennis at the age of 25.
Iga Swiatek said capturing the women's world number one ranking was a 'surreal' achievement
Stars made their way to the Australian Open to cheer on Rafael Nadal.
'I always had this vision that we would all play until we are 35 or something'
Muchova says Grand Slam hunger behind another Sakkari upset in Paris
Novak Djokovic reclaimed the world number one ranking from Carlos Alcaraz
But the top seed targeted world number 68 Niemeier's serve to grab the decisive break and with it the opening set, before surrendering serve early in the next only to hit back from 2-0 down to level at 5-5 before going on to seal the victory.
Marketa Vondrousova plans to celebrate with beer and a new tattoo after becoming one of the most unlikely Wimbledon champions by beating Ons Jabeur in the final on Saturday.
Images from Day 5 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
Danielle Collins spoke of the challenges of plotting matches without a coach but will still head off with lessons learnt.
Ons Jabeur stands on the verge of history with a maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon within her grasp but in Czech surprise package Marketa Vondrousova she faces a final opponent who could tear up the script and prolong her wait.
Iga Swiatek celebrated her 21st birthday with a cake at the Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title against Roberto Carballes Baena.
Australian Open set a Grand Slam attendance record with more than 900,000 spectators visiting over three weeks
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