The Australian Open 2024 features several notable dark horses vying for the women's singles title. Among them is Jasmine Paolini, who has shed her underdog status following a remarkable 2023 season. At the age of 29, the Tuscan player finished as runner-up at both the French Open and Wimbledon, in addition to clinching gold in doubles at the Paris Olympics. After securing the Billie Jean King Cup title for Italy, she returns to Melbourne Park as the world number four, hoping to surpass her fourth-round exit last year. Paolini is known for her assertive play style characterized by powerful groundstrokes, although she will need to improve her performance after a disappointing loss to Czech player Karolina Muchova in the United Cup.

Elena Rybakina is another contender looking to claim her second Grand Slam title after her success at Wimbledon in 2022. The Kazakh player, originally from Russia, came close to victory at the 2023 Australian Open, falling to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final. For the upcoming season, she has brought on Goran Ivanisevic, former coach of Novak Djokovic, to help refine her skills. Rybakina's quality as a player is unquestionable, yet she faced setbacks in the last year due to illness and injuries, missing significant tournaments including the U.S. Open. Nevertheless, she played a pivotal role in helping Kazakhstan reach the United Cup semi-finals before losing to Iga Swiatek.

Jessica Pegula continues to pursue her first Grand Slam title after a near miss at the U.S. Open last year, where she lost to Sabalenka. While she experienced a breakthrough by reaching her first Grand Slam final, Pegula's preparation for the Australian Open has been jeopardized by a knee injury that prevented her from competing in Brisbane. Despite these challenges, she has enjoyed past success at Melbourne Park, reaching the quarter-finals for three consecutive years. Pegula is known for her excellent timing and performance on hard courts, which could set her up for potential upsets, much like her victory over world number two Swiatek at the U.S. Open.

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is another intriguing figure in this year's tournament. After taking a 15-month hiatus for maternity leave, she has faced difficulties in regaining her previous form, which helped her win the Australian Open titles in 2019 and 2021. Last year, Osaka's campaign ended prematurely in the opening round, but she showed strong potential leading up to this tournament. Unfortunately, her hopes of securing a title in Auckland were dashed when she had to retire from the final due to an abdominal injury. Still, Osaka remains optimistic about competing in Melbourne, reflecting on her growth over the past year and the hard work she has put in during her training. With her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game, she remains a dangerous player on her best days.