Another Australian Open is in the books for the world’s best female tennis players. As always, lots of storylines emerged. Here are some big-picture takeaways.
Osaka punctuates meteoric rise: We have seen it countless times in the women’s game in the last handful of years. A player comes out of nowhere to win a major, then goes in the tank for six months to a year, or more.
The 21-year-old Naomi Osaka has finally bucked the trend by winning her second straight major in Melbourne. Moreover, she has won multiple matches in every event but one that she has played in since stunning Serena Williams to win the U.S. Open in September. Osaka will also be the first player of any gender representing an Asian country to sit atop the rankings come Monday.
Osaka has had noticeable talent right from the start of playing on the pro tour. She has ups and downs in her play like every other young player, but the downs don’t last long. That mental toughness is what separates her. She pulled out four three-set matches in route to glory in Melbourne.
Still, what Osaka has done in the last year just does not happen. She was ranked World No. 72 12 months ago. To add context, Maria Sharapova was ranked 7th a year before claiming the top spot for the first time, Serena Williams was ranked 8th, and Caroline Wozniacki was ranked 6th. Osaka is clearly a once in a generation type talent whose potential is endless.
Photo: foxsportsasia.com
Runner up Petra Kvitová’s story is also worth mentioning. The lefty suffered career threating injuries to her playing hand after being stabbed in a home invasion just before the 2017 season. The two-time Wimbledon champ may have come up just short in the final down under, but for her to get back to this level is nothing short of remarkable.
Serena melts down: If you watch sports long enough, you will see something you never have before. Serena Williams defeated top seed Simona Halep in the round of 16 and looked to be headed for the semis as she led (7) Karolína Plíšková 5-1 in the final set. Williams would hold four match points, but Plíšková won the final six games and the match.
Williams did suffer a minor ankle roll on the first match point. Still, Serena never blows leads like this. It was just something that left everyone in shock. Long term, Williams is still a threat to win every tournament she enters this year. However, every major that passes with her not tying the all-time record is a missed opportunity in a career that doesn’t have many left.
Sharapova keeps confusing us: Can Maria Sharapova ever get back to the level she was at prior to her suspension? It is a question that has loomed over the sport for almost two years. Another big event has come and gone and that question remains impossible to fully answer.
The five-time major winner was breathtakingly good in overpowering defending champ Caroline Wozniacki to reach the fourth round. However, she unraveled late in the going against home crowd favorite Ashleigh Barty just two days later. Sharapova is likely still having nightmares about Barty’s slice backhand.
The Russian has certainly had enough big match wins since returning to the game to show her peers she is still dangerous, but she also has not been around at the end of many events. When you have been to the tippy top of the game like Sharapova has, anything less must be tough to swallow. It is reasonable to speculate that the 31-year old’s pride won’t let her continue much longer if she doesn’t start adding to her trophy case soon. Her next chance to do that starts Monday on what she considers to be her home soil in St. Petersburg, Russia.
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