Australian Open 2019: Which Aussie women are playing in Melbourne?

Leading the charge as Australia's highest ranked women's player, Ash Barty will be fighting to reach her first semi-final at a Grand Slam singles event.

The 22-year-old achieved her career-high ranking of world No.15 last year after taking out two singles titles in Zhuhai and Nottingham and amassing 46 wins for the season. 

The Newcombe Medal honouree is aiming to break into the women's top ten players this year, and has begun her 2019 with a strong start at the Sydney International.

“I’d love to be top ten one day and go deeper in the slams, that’s the ultimate goal," said.

"Hopefully I can do that here in Australia, make my first second week of the slam in singles.

“I want to become the complete player, the best player I can be, the best Ash Barty I can be."

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS:

Round 1: Defeated Luksika Kumkhum 6-2 6-2

Round 2: Defeated YaFan Wang 6-2 6-3

Round 3: TBA

Daria Gavrilova has had a slow start to the Australian Open summer series after she was knocked out of the Sydney International in the first round.

The world No.35 was knocked out by qualifier Yulia Putintseva 6-1 7-6(4) in her last warm-up tournament before the Australian Open begins on January 14.

The 24-year-old's best result in a Grand Slam event was when she reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in 2016 and 2017.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS:

Round One: Knocked out by Tamara Zidensek 5-7 3-6

After being granted her Australian citizenship in January 2018, Ajla Tomljanović will be looking to better her quarter-final berth on home-soil.

Achieving a career-high ranking of 43 last October, the in-form Tomljanović made the final eight at the Brisbane International last week.

The 25-year-old was then knocked out of the Sydney International during her first round clash against Italy's Camila Giorgi.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS:

Round One: Knocked out by Johanna Konta 6-7 6-2 6-7

Despite Sam Stosur's woeful record on homesoil, the Australian veteran believes that she has the confidence to deliver at this year's Australian Open.

The former US Open champion reached a career-high ranking of fourth in the world in 2011 but has failed to pull of a strong campaign Down Under.

The 34-year-old's best Australian Open result was a fourth-round appearance in 2010, and she has been eliminated from her home slam in the first round for the last three years.

"To be honest I don't necessarily feel the pressure side of things. I know it's been talked about a lot over my career - sometimes I think it's been talked about to death," Stosur told Sporting News.

"There's many players that go into the Aussie Open without winning a match, but because I'm Australian, here it's highlighted on me more than anyone else.

"I feel really good about where I'm at and ready to go."

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULT:

Round One: Knocked out by Dayana Yamstremska 5-7 2-6

On the cusp of breaking into the world's top 150, Priscilla Hon is set to make her second Australian Open appearence following a career-best season on tour.

The Queenslander was awarded a wildcard to the Grand Slam's main draw after being the nation's best performer at the Canberra and Bendigo ITF tournaments.

Over the second half of 2018, the 20-year-old won 11 out of her 14 matches across both ITF and WTA events.

“I've obviously competed with some of the best now and I feel a little more confident," Hon said in December.

“I don’t just want to compete, I want to win, and that’s my goal.”

ROUND ONE RESULT: Knocked out by Astra Sharma 5-7 6-4 1-6

Shellharbour's Ellen Perez is set to make her first appearence in the Australian Open singles main draw after a breakout year in 2018.

The world No.175 has her eyes solely set on Melbourne Park after being knocked out of the Hobart International by Pauline Parmentier on Monday.

The 23-year-old has one match victory on the WTA circuit when she upset then world No. 11 Kristina Mladenovic in the first round at the 2018 Sydney International.

Perez made her grand slam debut at the US Open in 2016 after winning the Australian wildcard play-off. The Australian lost the first-round in New York to China's Zhang Shuai.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULT:

Round one: Knocked out by Yafan Wang 4-6 0-6

Destanee Aiava became the first person born in the 21st century to compete in a Grand Slam when she earned a wildcard for the Australian Open in 2017. 

The then 16-year-old won the U18 Australian Championship to take her place amongst the world's best in Melbourne.

Although she narrowly missed out on qualifying for the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, the now 18-year-old started 2019 with a strong performance at the Brisbane International.

The world No.247 reached the second-round in Queensland to then force three break points in the opening set against US Open champion Naomi Osaka.

Although the young Aussie lost the match 6-3 6-2, the Japanese star had nothing but praise for Aiava.

“It was kind of like a younger me in a way,” Osaka said.

“I felt like when I was playing her she sort of matched my power, which was really surprising to me, because there was not that many people that can do that.”

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AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULT:

Round One: Knocked out by Madison Keys 2-6 2-6

Ballarat's Zoe Hives is set to make her Australian Open debut after earning her first wildcard earlier this month.

The 22-year-old defeated former US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer 4-6 6-3 6-2 at the Brisbane International qualifers to win her ticket to her home slam event.

Hives landed her maiden WTA Tour victory on Wednesday, beating world No.75 Johanna Larsson in straight sets at the Hobart International.

"I was injured for thirteen months so it's good to come back here and play really well," Hives said after the match.

"I've got my first grand slam next week, so this is really great preparation."

The world No.211 enjoyed a strong 2018 in the second-tier ITF league, where she won three titles and improved her ranking by 169 places.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULT:

Round One: Defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1 6-2

Round Two: Knocked out by Caroline Garcia 3-6 3-6

Landing the women's wildcard at the Australian Open play-offs in December, Kimberly Birrell is set to make her second appearance in the Grand Slam's main draw.

The 20-year-old made the second round of the Brisbane International after has pulling off a major upset over world No.10 Daria Kasatkina.

The victory marked her second WTA main draw win and her first over a top 10-opponent.

"To have my (first) top ten win where I train everyday means the world and I will never forget this moment," Birrell said after the match,

"It's so important to stay positive and believe in yourself.

"I can't believe I won."

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULT:

Round One: Defeated Paula Badosa Gibert 6-4 6-2

Round Two: v  Donna Vekic

Astra Sharma has booked her place in her first ever Grand Slam after three tough qualifying matches. 

Drawing Vera Zvonareva in the first round of qualifying, a former Wimbledon and US Open finalist, Sharma proved she has what it takes to make it to the main draw. 

Sharma is ranked 230th in the world, and had a breakout 2018 after winning three ITF titles. 

She received a doubles wildcard for the 2018 Australian Open but this will be her first singles Grand Slam appearance. 

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULT:

Round One: Defeated Priscilla Hon 7-5 4-6 6-1

Round Two: Knocked out by Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-4