Grand Slams in particular lend themselves to conversations about dark horses.  A fairytale run for a new face or the turning back of the clock for a veteran make for some of the most intriguing storylines when a major is about to commence.  This year’s edition of the Australian Open will be no exception to this pattern.  While the draw – the ease or difficulty of which can help or hinder a player – has yet to come out, there are a handful of women who arguably already merit a dark horse label:  Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Garbiné Muguruza, and Alizé Cornet.

Of the four, Cornet, who has only once advanced to the second week in Melbourne, is the longest shot to take the title, but a trip to week 2 is plausible.  She will definitely have her work cut out for her, however.  As someone who has to grind out many points, she is more at the mercy of the draw and the exceptionally hot days that have plagued this event in recent years.  That said, Cornet gets decent pop on her groundstrokes and is more aggressive than her physical stature would suggest. 

Furthermore, the Frenchwoman increasingly displayed over the course of 2014 the brand of tennis that had her knocking on the door of the top 10 back in 2009.  Among her more impressive victories last season were the two she notched over Serena Williams at Dubai and Wimbledon, which could be a sign that she is growing more comfortable in the big matches.  If she can bring that game and that attitude to Melbourne, she could be in for her best result Down Under yet.

Like Cornet, Muguruza will also be looking to build on her accomplishments in the Australian heat.  The Spaniard showed she was mentally ready for the pressure moments last year after she routinely defeated Serena at Roland Garros.  There is plenty to like about Muguruza’s game, too.  She stands six feet tall with powerful ground strokes off both wings, and she is relatively comfortable in the forecourt.  Additionally, because of her height and firepower, the slower, high-bouncing courts of the Australian Open are unlikely to hinder her game and may even aid it.  Assuming she can minimize the unforced errors that can sometimes plague her, there is no reason why she cannot match or improve upon her round of 16 finish of a year ago.

Azarenka is a player who would probably be satisfied with matching her Australian Open quarterfinal result of 2014.  That is because the Belarusian was mostly missing in action over the course of last year thanks to a plethora of foot and leg injuries.  Her 2015 has not started off particularly well either, considering she lost her opening match to Karolina Pliskova in Brisbane last week. Thanks to her current ranking of No. 41, she comes into Melbourne unseeded. 

If ever there was a tournament conducive to helping Azarenka get her game back in gear, however, it is the Australian Open.  She has not failed to make week 2 since 2008, and she won it in 2012 and 2013.  She has plenty of big match experience and knows that on her best days, she has the goods to compete with anyone else in the field. She not only comes into Melbourne a dark horse but also a dangerous floater.

Finally, there is Venus Williams.  Few nowadays consider her an outside favorite at the slams, but as a seven-time major singles champion, she cannot be completely discounted.  She merits dark horse consideration for this year’s Australian Open despite the fact that she has struggled in Melbourne of late.  She still covers the court exceptionally well, and her first serve remains a potent weapon.  Additionally, she comes in on the back of a title run in Auckland.  Granted, the field there was not particularly deep, but it was encouraging that she routinely won the matches she was supposed to win and was able to grind out a victory against Caroline Wozniacki in the final.  Her health issues may prevent her from replicating that form in Melbourne, but she should feel optimistic about posting a deep run.

Not until the Australian Open gets underway will we know the fates of these four women.  It could be smooth sailing, or they may crash and burn.  But all four have a decent look at starting their year off on a high note.