SERENA WILLIAMS (USA x1)

World ranking: 1
Birthdate: September 26, 1981
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Height: 5ft 9in (1.75m)
Weight: 155lbs (70kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 1995
Coach: Richard Williams/Patrick Mouratoglou 
Career titles: 69
Grand Slam singles titles: 21
Career prize money: $74,083,421
Best Australian Open result: Champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015)
The evergreen American has won six of her 21 Grand Slam titles in Australia and has never lost a final in Melbourne, making her hot favourite to claim a seventh this year against Angelique Kerber. She won five titles in 2015, including the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, but after failing to capture a calender Grand Slam at the US Open she ended her season early. At 34 the oldest world number one in WTA history, she has returned this season with a bang, not dropping a set so far this tournament. Her combination of power and intensity coupled with her vast experience has served her well so far in the Melbourne Park cauldron.
                  
ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER x7)

World ranking: 6
Birthdate: January 18, 1988
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany
Residence: Puszczykowo, Poland
Height: 5ft 8ins (1.73m)
Weight: 150lbs (68kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned pro: 2003
Coach: Torben Beltz
Career singles titles: 7
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $9,311,818
Best Australian Open result: Last 16 (2013, 2014)
The popular left-hander has been on the circuit for over a decade but is only now into her first Grand Slam final, with an appearance in the 2012 US Open semi-final her best effort before this year. The winner of seven WTA titles, she had one of her best years in 2015, winning four tournaments, second only to Williams' five. The 28-year-old is brimming with confidence and self-belief after some advice last year from fellow German Steffi Graf. Saved a match point in the first round but has not been troubled since, ousting two-time champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals.