The race to topple the Kansas City Chiefs is about to get underway.

Though as the AFC’s top seed, the reigning two-time Super Bowl champs get to rest during Wild-Card weekend. The 12 teams playing have more immediate priorities than the Chiefs, but the end goal remains: lift the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans.

It was the year of Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, and the Detroit Lions’ dominance over an all-time great NFC North. Other contenders, such as the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, appear ready to handle the big stage. Yet, through it all, the Chiefs remained a quiet constant, storming through the schedule with a 15-2 record despite a number of close calls. The other 13 playoff teams, including the NFC’s top-seeded Lions, have to believe the Chiefs are as vulnerable as they’ve been during their dynastic era, but that’s easy to say before lining up against the NFL’s modern-day juggernauts.

Patrick Mahomes is 15-3 in the playoffs, his three losses coming against Tom Brady (once with New England, once with the Bucs) and Joe Burrow. Brady is retired and Burrow’s Bengals missed the playoffs, so if the Chiefs’ three-peat quest is going to be derailed, an opposing QB is going to have to do something he’s never done before.

The playoffs open with six games this weekend; The Athletic polled eight coaches and personnel executives to get their thoughts and predictions on the matchups. (Note: Those who were polled were not allowed to vote on their own team’s game.)

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7)

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Expert picks: Chargers 6, Texans 2

Quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans appeared poised to join the elite ranks after a 5-1 start to the season, but they’ve lost six of their last 11 games while dealing with key injuries and an offensive line that hasn’t held up. Stroud, as a result, was worse in every major statistical category relative to his rookie season.

The Chargers are heading in a different direction. They won eight of 11, including three in a row, to jump into the coveted No. 5 seed and the right to play against the reeling AFC South champions.

“(The Chargers are) playing really good ball as of late,” an assistant coach said. “They will be balanced enough with the run and pass to throw off the Texans’ pass rush.”

If the Texans are going to have a chance, they’ll need edge rushers Danielle Hunter (12 sacks) and Will Anderson (11) to have big games. That tandem racked up nearly half of the defense’s 49 sacks. Though the Texans’ strength might be neutralized by Chargers tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. L.A. allowed 44 sacks during the regular season, 14th-most in the NFL, but quarterback Justin Herbert has only been sacked three times in the last three games, albeit against lighter competition. However, it’s a marked improvement over a brutal, 10-game midseason stretch when he was taken down 32 times, including at least three sacks in eight of those games.

“The (Chargers’) physicality, running the ball, that quarterback finds a way,” an executive said. “I can’t buy in right now to the Texans’ offensive front and the pressure C.J. is getting. The way the Chargers are protecting now with those two tackles, I think they can handle those rushers.”

There is playoff history for both organizations that shouldn’t be ignored. The Texans, who are playing in the wild-card Saturday afternoon time slot for a league-high seventh time since the 2012 postseason, have dealt with the diminished spotlight throughout their history. But in their previous seven playoff appearances, Houston has gone one-and-done just twice. Meanwhile, the Chargers have two playoff wins over the last 15 years. They blew a 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars two years ago in their last postseason appearance. It could be why one assistant coach proclaimed the Texans will “definitely” win the game.

Also of note, this matchup features teams that struggled against opponents that made the postseason — the Chargers were 2-5, both wins against the Denver Broncos, while the Texans were 1-5, the victory coming in Week 5 against the Bills. These teams have never met in the playoffs.

No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5)

Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Saturday
Expert picks: Ravens 8, Steelers 0

It might be rivalry week for two hated AFC North teams, but the rest of the league doesn’t anticipate a close game. This matchup was the only unanimous vote of the wild-card round.

The Ravens’ 34-17 home victory in Week 16 against the reeling Steelers apparently left a mark.

“Baltimore simply can score more than the Steelers,” a coach said. “Pittsburgh has leveled off at a bad time.”

The Steelers have lost four in a row, including non-competitive defeats to the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs. The Packers, with back-to-back losses, are the only other playoff team with a multi-game losing streak. Additionally, coach Mike Tomlin is 2-5 in road playoff games.

The Steelers got a jolt when they installed Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback, but they’ve fallen off lately. Pittsburgh averaged 30.3 points in Wilson’s first three starts but just 20.6 in his last eight — a number greatly inflated by a 44-38 win over the Bengals — including six games with fewer than 20 points.

However, Jackson is only 2-4 in the playoffs, completing 57.4 percent of his passes for an average of 220.7 yards per outing with six touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has averaged 86.8 rushing yards with three postseason rushing touchdowns. Historically, the Steelers have done a strong job stifling Jackson, going 6-2 against the two-time MVP. Jackson, though, threw for 207 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in their last meeting; his 115.4 passer rating was the first time he’s exceeded a rating of 81 against Pittsburgh.

Even with past MVP hardware, Jackson has taken his game to another level this season, with career bests of 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s also tacked on 915 rushing yards — a total output of 5,087 yards — and four scores.

“I think Lamar makes a run this year,” an executive said. “Derrick Henry in the playoffs is such a great complement.”

The Ravens played a league-high 10 games against opponents that made the playoffs, and their seven wins in those games matched the Chiefs for the most in the NFL. They were 1-1 against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, went 4-3 against playoff teams, though they’ve lost three in a row against opponents from this year’s postseason field, all since Week 15.

The Steelers are 3-1 against the Ravens in the playoffs, but Baltimore won the last meeting, 10 years ago. This is the teams’ first postseason matchup in Baltimore.

No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Expert picks: Bills 7, Broncos 1

It’s been all Josh Allen this season, and he might be on the verge of his first MVP award. He’ll need to maintain this level to deliver Buffalo a long-coveted Lombardi Trophy.

“So much is put on the quarterback,” an executive said. “(Allen) has to play well for them to advance. If he has a stinker, they’ll be in trouble. I think they’ll play decently on defense, and they’re at their place so I think they would win.”

The Bills were just 2-3 against opponents who made the playoffs this season, but their victories came against the Chiefs and Lions. They’re the only team in NFL history to beat two 15-win teams in a season.

While they’re capable of taking down the best, the Bills have had some recent defensive lapses, notably giving up 86 points in back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Rams and Lions. Allen has the potential to play a perfect game every time he hits the field, but the Bills don’t want to force him to keep doing it every week in the playoffs.

The Broncos have one of the worst résumés among teams in the postseason field. They were 2-5 against playoff opponents; they had an impressive Week 3 blowout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the other victory was a takedown of the Chiefs’ backups in the regular-season finale. Denver needed that win to get into the postseason after failed attempts to clinch against the Chargers and Bengals.

Nonetheless, this was an impressive turnaround for the Broncos in Sean Payton’s second season as head coach, especially considering they had $32 million of Russell Wilson’s dead money on the books. Denver allowed the third-fewest points in the league and got timely quarterback play out of Bo Nix.

The Broncos won the last meeting between these teams, 24-22, in 2023 on Monday Night Football.

The executive who picked the Broncos was decisive with his prediction: “The defense stifles Josh Allen in a shocker, and they blow it up in Buffalo.”

A coach who picked the Bills thought this would be the best game of the weekend.

The Bills won the teams’ only postseason matchup, in the 1991 playoffs.

No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday
Expert picks: Eagles 6, Packers 2

The panel worked under the assumption quarterbacks Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Jordan Love (elbow) would be cleared to play. Hurts has missed two games, while Love was injured Sunday and has sounded optimistic about his availability.

The Eagles have been as hot as any team on the planet. Since starting 2-2, Philadelphia won 12 of 13, including a stretch of 10 consecutive wins. The loss came against the Washington Commanders, 36-33, in Week 16, a game Hurts left in the first quarter after he was concussed.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s group allowed the second-fewest points in the league (17.8), and the offense has been rolling behind MVP candidate Saquon Barkley. The running back led the league with 2,005 rushing yards and 2,283 yards from scrimmage, and he scored 15 times.

Hurts was the point guard for an offense that also got big production out of receivers A.J. Brown (67 catches, 1,079 yards, seven touchdowns) and DeVonta Smith (68-833-8).

“Jalen is coming back,” an executive said. “Saquon is running the ball great. That defense has played so well, especially in the back end. That’s going to hurt Jordan Love.”

The Packers stumbled down the stretch, losing three of five, including two in a row. But while they’ve looked loaded at times and beaten up on lesser competition, the Packers were 2-5 against playoff teams. They beat the Rams in Week 5 — a game that knocked the Rams to 1-5 — and the Texans in Week 7.

By comparison, the Eagles were 6-2 against this year’s playoff teams, including 4-1 since Week 11. That included beating the Packers, 34-29, in the season opener in Brazil.

Love’s numbers were down in his second season as the starter, but he has done a better job of taking care of the ball. He threw 11 interceptions, but he hasn’t been picked in seven straight games. Still, one executive was concerned about Love losing feeling in his throwing hand after the elbow injury.

“Not sure about Love’s injury and (the Packers being) fully able to be winners yet,” the executive said.

Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had an impressive first season. Green Bay allowed the sixth-fewest points in the NFL despite losing star cornerback Jaire Alexander midway through the season and linebacker Quay Walker down the stretch.

This game, perhaps more than any this weekend, could be decided by turnovers. Both teams are ranked in the top-six in takeaways, with their combined 57 takeaways the most among wild-card opponents.

“Green Bay is undisciplined and will make a critical mistake late that they can’t overcome,” a coach said.

The Eagles are 2-1 against the Packers in the playoffs, although this is their first meeting in 14 years.

No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5) at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Sunday
Expert picks: Buccaneers 5, Commanders 2

The Bucs won the vote, but a few panelists view this as a close game that could go either way.

The Bucs have claimed four consecutive NFC South titles, but they needed to win six of seven down the stretch to hold off the Atlanta Falcons. They’re battle-tested with a 4-3 record against playoff teams, and their wins against the Lions and Eagles indicate Tampa can beat anyone.

The Commanders aren’t as proven, with a 1-4 record against teams in the postseason field. The win came against the Eagles, with Hurts forced from the game in the first quarter.

For the Bucs, it starts with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had the best season of his career for the second year in a row. Mayfield completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and he was also at his best as a runner with 378 yards, three scores and 24 carries for first downs.

“Gritty team, love the way Baker competes,” an executive said. “(Bucs head coach Todd) Bowles dials up a good game plan against rookie QBs.”

The Bucs’ greatest weakness might be on defense, as they’ve struggled at times to get off the field. Of note: Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush led scoring drives on six of his first seven possessions in a surprising Sunday night upset against the Buccaneers in Week 16.

The Bucs allowed 22.6 points per game, the third-most among playoff teams, but the Commanders allowed the most (23.0). They acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline to address an undermanned secondary, but he’s been limited to two games due to a hamstring injury. If Lattimore is available, the former Saint could be in store for another big-time matchup against wideout Mike Evans.

Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jayden Daniels had an outstanding season and could be efficient enough to cause huge problems for the Bucs. Daniels completed 69.0 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he added a team-high 891 rushing yards along with six scores. His favorite target has been Terry McLaurin (82 catches, 1,096 yards, 13 touchdowns).

If it’s a back-and-forth game, Daniels will be confident on the heels of game-winning drives against the Eagles and Falcons.

Turnovers will be a non-negotiable key to victory for the Bucs. While Mayfield has been terrific, he led the league with 16 interceptions, his most since 2019. However, the Commanders’ 17 takeaways are tied for the least in the playoff field.

“Flip a coin,” one executive said about the matchup.

However it plays out, the Commanders’ turnaround has been one of the most impressive stories of the season. Daniels, head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters are each in their first season in those roles in Washington, and they delivered the franchise its best record since 1991 and its first playoff appearance in four years. But can the Commanders win their first playoff game since the 2005 postseason?

The Bucs are 2-1 in the playoffs against the Commanders, including a 31-23 win in Tampa four years ago.

No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Monday
Expert picks: Vikings 5, Rams 3

This was the closest vote, and it’s easy to understand why. For starters, the Rams won a home game against the Vikings, 30-20, in Week 8 (it was tighter than the final score indicates). Head coaches Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell are good friends after working alongside one another with the Rams, including during L.A.’s Super Bowl run, and they both oversee similar offensive systems.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was having a vintage stretch midway through the season before a shaky finish, while Vikings counterpart Sam Darnold has enjoyed a career resurgence that could net him a life-changing contract in free agency.

Both teams have strong defenses, with the Rams settling in under first-year coordinator Chris Shula and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores putting quarterbacks in a blender all season. The Rams allowed 24 total points from Weeks 15-17 before resting starters in the regular-season finale against the Seahawks, and the Vikings allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL while being tied for the league lead with 33 takeaways.

The 14-win Vikings should be plenty motivated to win on the road after losing the NFC North to the Lions with a clunker last Sunday night. Darnold was as erratic as he’s been all season, and the defense was again dominated by the Lions’ balanced attack.

“I think Minnesota bounces back,” an executive said. “I don’t think they put back-to-back duds out there like that.”

Counterpoint: They already have. Minnesota fell to the Lions and Rams in Weeks 7 and 8, although both games were close. The Sunday night blowout in Detroit was uncharacteristic for a team that was 3-3 against playoff opponents.

The Rams were 2-3 against postseason foes, also knocking off the Bills.

“Stafford and McVay are better than Darnold and Kevin O’Connell,” an executive said. “(But) can Flores fluster their plan?”

Flores has confounded a number of quarterbacks this season, including Brock Purdy, Stroud, Love, Kyler Murray and Geno Smith. Even when the Vikings are giving up yards, they create enough confusion to cause turnovers.

One panelist believed the teams’ familiarity will favor the Rams, and it goes beyond McVay and O’Connell. Flores and Rams offensive staffers Nick Caley and Jerry Schuplinski all worked together with the New England Patriots.

“Flores will play the same game plan that he’s used in the past against McVay,” the coach said. “Jerry Schuplinski and Nick Caley both know the weaknesses in Flores’ defense and will help Sean game plan to avoid past issues. Darnold will struggle coming off last week’s game, and the Rams defense will get after them.”

These organizations have an extensive playoff history, with the Vikings taking five of seven meetings, although they haven’t met on this stage in 25 years.

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Todd Rosenberg, Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

The New England Patriots are in talks to hire Mike Vrabel as the team’s next head coach, according to The Boston Globe. 

Vrabel is the favorite to get the job after former head coach Jerod Mayo was fired Sunday after just one season. 

Vrabel is a member of the Patriots’ Hall of Fame for his eight seasons with the team. He won three Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick during his New England career from 2001-08. 

Vrabel was 54-45 in six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2023, including three trips to the playoffs and one to the AFC title game.

Vrabel was fired by the Titans after the 2023 season, then spent 2024 in a part-time role as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns. 

NFL DRAFT PROSPECT KYREN LACY WANTED FOR NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE FOR ALLEGED ROLE IN FATAL HIT-AND-RUN

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel leaves the field after a 23-21 win over the New Orleans Saints Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Vrabel was projected to be a top head coaching candidate in 2025. He has also interviewed with the Jets and the Bears. 

The Patriots have also interviewed Ben Johnson, Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton for their head coach opening. 

Vrabel was born in Ohio and was an All-American during his standout playing career with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the mid-1990s.

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans reacts during the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium Oct. 30, 2022, in Houston.  (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Vrabel ended his pro career with 769 tackles, 57 sacks and 11 interceptions. He received All-Pro honors for his standout 2007 season with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots are 8-26 the past two seasons with Bill Belichick and then Mayo as their head coach.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

If you would like to follow The Athletic’s Australian Open coverage, click here and follow our tennis page. 

Are 5g of lead and a few bends of the knees going to win Carlos Alcaraz a career Grand Slam?

Is Iga Swiatek going to make a move on Melbourne?

Will the clock tick past midnight (and 1 a.m., and 2 a.m., and 3 a.m….) in Australia once again?

The 2025 Australian Open promises to be a cracker. Here, The Athletic’s tennis writers, Matt Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare, chart some of the key storylines to follow over the next fortnight.

Will Alcaraz serve up a career Grand Slam?

Alcaraz doesn’t have many weaknesses. He does have something that he does less well than everything else.

Serve.

It’s better than average, but not elite. It’s the one place that his nearest rival, Jannik Sinner, has a big advantage over him. But it’s also the reason that smart people think Alcaraz could dominate tennis for a long time. He’s won four Grand Slams with an average serve, the thinking goes. Imagine how good he will be with a great one.

Whether he has done that with a slightly tweaked service motion will go a long way toward determining whether he can complete the career Grand Slam at just 21 by winning the Australian Open.

He said in a news conference Saturday that the serve didn’t feel natural yet. He still had to thinking about it, remind himself what to do and what not to do.

“There are some times that I think or I feel like it is a problem,” he said. “Sometimes in the match that I’ve played or during the practice, there are some games that I’m not doing the right thing.”

He has no doubt that he and his Babolat Pure Aero racket, newly weighted with 5g of lead in the neck, will get there eventually.

The change has to do with how and when he coils his body during the service motion. He used to do it later in the motion and more quickly. Now he’s easing his way into it, adding more fluidity to the most important of tennis shots.

What does he want from it? “Good rhythm,” he said, and more precision. At a little over six feet tall, he will likely never have a dominating bullet serve. But at Wimbledon he was serving at 130mph and hitting the lines on command, blowing Novak Djokovic off the court in the final and leading the seven-time SW19 champion to remark that he had never seen Alcaraz serve better.

Anytime a player makes even a slight change in a stroke, it can be dramatic: tennis takes a clear head and Alcaraz thinking about how to serve could make things cloudy if a match gets tight.

GO DEEPER

‘Joy in the suffering’: How Carlos Alcaraz won the French Open

Matt Futterman

Is this Swiatek’s Australian opportunity?

After not going beyond the quarters of a major outside of Roland Garros for the past two seasons, Swiatek has a big opportunity in Melbourne. She’s in an inviting quarter and if she can get through that would be a big favorite in the semifinal against her slated opponent there Jasmine Paolini.

With new coach Wim Fissette in tow, and potentially a feeling of liberation after playing under the cloud of a doping ban during the last couple of months of the 2024 season, she looks well-placed for a deep run. Her performance at the United Cup, where she won three matches against top-10 players and was a break up in both sets against Coco Gauff before losing 6-4, 6-4, made her look ready.

Iga Swiatek has never been past the fourth round in Melbourne. (Phil Walter / Getty Images)

After losing the No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka while serving 22 days of that one-month ban in September and October, Swiatek wants it back as soon as possible. She also wants to disabuse the persistent notion that she can only achieve success on clay courts, despite her remarkable collection of wins and titles off the surface. It is only in majors where she has had more difficulty; even then, she is a U.S. Open champion.

The way the ranking system works means that Swiatek could reclaim the world No. 1 ranking without an especially deep run if Sabalenka, the defending champion and Gauff, a semifinalist last year, go out early. But only by taking advantage of her presentable draw and reaching the latter stages will Swiatek properly reestablish herself after a difficult few months.

Charlie Eccleshare

Can Tiafoe and Shelton take their next steps?

Frances Tiafoe kind of got caught telling the truth last year when he said the only tournaments he cared about were Wimbledon, his hometown Citi Open in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Open.

Perhaps that explains his near upset of Alcaraz on Centre Court at Wimbledon, his second run to the U.S. Open semifinals, and the reasonably mediocre results everywhere else. He tried to walk back that comment Friday at Melbourne Park, but a few moments later landed back on the theme of needing to be more motivated throughout the season.

“Ideally I would like to play less and do better,” Tiafoe said. “I’m 27 next week. I’ve been around and I’m super excited, super motivated, to be present and try to get my best stuff week in, week out.”

In the summer, he said, he’s willing to die to win every match. The rest of the year, he sees opponents who are more willing than he is. He knows that has to change.

GO DEEPER

‘Better tennis is ahead of me’: Is Frances Tiafoe coming alive again?

There is no better place to start than at the Australian Open, which is a kind of carbon copy of the U.S. Open. Fast hard courts and rowdy crowds that absolutely love Tiafoe. What can he do with that?

Same goes for Ben Shelton, a quarterfinalist here two years ago, and a U.S. Open semifinalist later in his first full season but now No. 21 in the world. Sophomore year didn’t go as he thought it might, especially at the Grand Slams, where he made the second week just once and bowed out in the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Shelton is still fairly early in his tennis life compared with the competition. He didn’t start playing in earnest until he was 12. But on the hard courts here where he is very comfortable, he will harbor ambitions of challenging Taylor Fritz as the American most likely to break that two-decade-plus streak without a men’s Grand Slam.

GO DEEPER

Ben Shelton: ‘I didn’t want to be one of 50 Nike guys’

Matt Futterman

Will the late finish’s coolness wear off?

It might be the U.S. Open that introduced a late-finishing match policy in 2024, and the French Open that saw Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti playing until 3:06 a.m., but nowhere does late-night tennis like the Australian Open. Daniil Medvedev and Emil Ruusuvuori hit 3:40 a.m. in 2024. Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis went until 4:05 a.m. in 2023. And Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis went later than all of them in 2008, playing until 4:34 a.m.

Daniil Medvedev signing interviews after a 3:40 a.m. finish at last year’s tournament. He beat Emil Ruusuvuori in five sets. (Anthony Wallace / AFP via Getty Images)

In New York, the late-night-tennis transition from quirky exclusive club to all-too-regular grind formally went through, as players complained about the cascade down from long day session matches into a long day’s journey into night, which can enfeeble performances in the next round. This year’s tournament is sure to bring some furtive glances at the clock and roars of adoring fans into the small hours. Whether they remain an idiosyncratic one-off or a constant will determine how much they define the tournament.

James Hansen

How will Rybakina handle her coaching situation?

Elena Rybakina figured to be starting her Grand Slam season fresh with her new coach Goran Ivanisevic, until she wasn’t.

The Kazakh world No. 6 is locked in a stalemate with the WTA over her former coach and current member of her team — an unnamed role — Stefano Vukov. The WTA is investigating allegations that Vukov behaved abusively toward Rybakina, and has provisionally suspended him from accessing WTA coaching credentials. He is ineligible for an Australian Open credential too, so is in Melbourne without being allowed inside the tournament.

He has denied the allegations, and Rybakina Saturday doubled down on her assertion that Vukov has “never mistreated” her.

“As I said before, I have never made any complaints or any of these things,” Rybakina said in a news conference. “I always said that he never mistreated me.

“I’m not happy with the whole situation,” she said. “The people who are not so close to the tennis world, they just see the comments and then they’re picking it up.”

The WTA has confirmed the investigation and provisionally suspended Vukov pending its outcome. Sources briefed on the investigation last week told The Athletic that the WTA’s report would be complete in days. It is yet to release any findings.

In a vacuum, Rybakina should be among the favorites for the tournament. The fast hard courts are ideal for her game. Her serve slides away from opponents. The bounces are true, allowing her the rock her groundstrokes. In addition to her coaching issues, she can struggle with insomnia, which weakens her immune system.

She said she just wants to focus on her matches. Is that possible?

Matt Futterman

Can a British player follow in Murray’s footsteps?

Andy Murray’s presence on Djokovic’s team serves as a reminder of how reliant British tennis has been on him in Melbourne. Since Murray’s fifth Australian Open final nine years ago, Kyle Edmund in 2018 is the only British player to have reached a quarterfinal or better.

Could that change this year? The standout chances look like No. 15 seed Jack Draper or No. 22 seed Katie Boulter, with Emma Raducanu in her usual position of being a big threat — if she’s healthy.

“I’m feeling great about Katie Boulter, given how she played against Swiatek at the United Cup,” said Laura Robson, British former junior Wimbledon champion who reached the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open as a teenager, of a three-hour epic that Swiatek ultimately won 6-7(4) 6-1, 6-4.

“After the first set it was one of those situations where in the past you might have worried that she was going to fade away. For her to still be in it two hours later, it was really a positive sign.”

Unlike Boulter, Draper has experience of going deep at a Grand Slam after his run to the semifinals at the U.S. Open. He’s been nursing a niggle with his hip, but said in a news conference on Saturday that he’s feeling good and wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t feeling 100 percent.

Raducanu has been managing a physical issue too after suffering a back spasm in training, but if she can get a bit of momentum, no one will want to face her.

GO DEEPER

Raducanu left insect bites untreated over fear of positive doping test

Charlie Eccleshare

Will Andreeva repeat her Melbourne success with a friend and rival in tow?

Although the WTA Tour is synonymous with prodigies, there are only four players in the women’s top 50 who are 20 or younger. One of those is Gauff, who feels so much older given it’ll be six years in July since her breakout tournament at Wimbledon. Of the other three, there’s Linda Noskova (20) and a pair of very exciting young Russians: Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider.

Andreeva, 17, has thus far generated more of a buzz than her 20-year-old compatriot Shnaider, after a fairytale run to the fourth round in Melbourne last year. But Shnaider is currently ranked higher (13 vs. 15) and she won four tournaments in 2024 on three different surfaces, the only woman to do so. Her decision to go pro was partly spurred by running Maria Sakkari close at the 2023 tournament.

Mirra Andreeva (left) and Diana Shnaider have formed a familiar doubles pairing during their respective rises on the singles circuit. (Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images)

She and Andreeva are the standout youngsters on the WTA Tour right now; they are also friends and doubles partners, winning a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Brisbane title in the run-up to the first Grand Slam of the year.

Robson, who is covering this year’s Australian Open for broadcaster Eurosport, has them down as her two players to watch at this Australian Open.

“She (Shnaider) is a really tricky lefty player, with a bit nice flair to a game and a style that slightly different from everyone else,” she said.

“She’s been my one to watch for 2025 for the last few months and I’m sticking with that.”

Then there’s Andreeva. “I think she’s going to have a great season,” said Robson.

“I saw her in practice on Rod Laver Arena and she was absolutely smacking the ball. She always feels like she’s got a bit more experience than she actually does, and I think she’ll do well on any surface.”

GO DEEPER

Mirra Andreeva manages one teenage tennis miracle after another

Charlie Eccleshare

Tell us what you’re looking out for at the Australian Open this year in the comments.

(Top photo: Anthony Wallace / AFP via Getty Images)