Australian Open 2018: Profiling the dark horses

3) Julia Goerges | Rank #14 (Best Aus Open finish R16 in 2012 2013 2015)

Julia Goerges in Auckland

Last year has been a testimony to how surprise winners on the WTA picked up titles at the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S.Open. Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza and Sloane Stephens proved how it isn't impossible to cash on the biggest prize if you have the hard work doing the talking.

Julia Goerges will enter next week's Australian Open in hot form after claiming a third-straight WTA title and a 14th straight match win with victory over Caroline Wozniacki in the Auckland Classic final.

Consistency has always been the one worrisome aspect of the 29-year-old Goerges’ powerful and dangerous game, but Goerges has been near to flawless in the past few days.

She was riding a nine-match winning streak heading into the 2018 season after claiming titles in Moscow and Zhuhai, while more finals in Mallorca, Bucharest and Washington D.C. paved way for the German finishing 2017 at a career-high No 14 in the world.

With her tall frame at 5’11” and the ability to generate some powerful shots, it can be very well said that Goerges can be the one to watch out for in Melbourne.