MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen and French tennis journalist Carole Bouchard preview the 2018 Australian Open, which is set to begin on Monday, January 15th. Nguyen and Bouchard discuss their tournament favorites and under-the-radar names to watch, as well as the state of French and Belgian tennis at the start of the season.
How has Caroline Garcia's 2017 success been received in France? How close is Kristina Mladenovic from finding the stunning form she displayed last season? How real of a Top 20 threat is Elise Mertens? Bouchard enthusiastically weighs in on her regular beat.
Listen to the full episode below:
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![[8] Emma Navarro d. Peyton Stearns 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5, Australian Open R1 (3:20). Navarro trailed 2-0 in set 2 and 5-3 in set 3, but recovered to improve her head-to-head against Stearns to 5-1.](https://photoresources.wtatennis.com/photo-resources/2025/01/14/b0698515-d078-43ab-b355-a1dbc673364b/Navarro-R1-Daniel-Pockett-Getty.jpg?width=451&height=268)
![In front of her home crowd, Destanee Aiava came from 5-2 down in set 2 and 5-3 down in set 3, saving two match points down 5-4 in the decider, to edge Greet Minnen 5-7, 7-5, 7-6[5] in the Australian Open first round.](https://photoresources.wtatennis.com/photo-resources/2025/01/13/00f01721-63f7-4905-a948-cf260f2e499d/Aiava-R1-Hannah-Peters.jpg?width=451&height=268)
