Our first major of the season is under our belts. Some have described this year's AO as 'bizarre' considering the upsets, although at the end the top seeds prevailed in the finals. The biggest surprise was the #1 WTA player - Iga Swiatek - losing the 3R to #50 Czech youngster Linda Noskova in her debut at the AO. Noskova went on to the QF after a 4R retirement by Elina Svitolina, where she lost to Dayana Yastremska. Noskova joined a number of young Russians and Czechs making their marks here. It may be safe to assume that with their level of play, there may to be more parity among the WTA field going forth. The last woman standing, World #2 Aryna Sabalenka, successfully defended her 2023 title here and proved unbeatable, not losing a set.
On the men's side, some consider Novak Djokovic's loss in the SF to Jannik Sinner an upset. Which is understandable considering prior to this SF loss, Novak had won 34 consecutive AO matches dating back to 2018. He's won 10 of the last 22 slams he's contested and reached the Final in every major he appeared since Wimbledon of 2022. With that record and 10 AO trophies, I expect that Novak is the one upset. But Sinner will go down as the one to break a mighty powerful streak. Another upset was Carlos Alcaraz losing in the QF to Alexander Zverev, although the latter was impressive up to and including the 4 1/2 hour SF where he lost to Daniil Medvedev after being up the first two sets, then losing two very close TB'ers in sets 3 and 4 before Daniil finished him off in the 5th to face Sinner in the Final.
Besides this year's upsets, there were an inordinate number of 5-setters and an impressive surge of young players outplaying their more-vetted opponents. There's many who we should keep an eye out for this year (there's a handful - Frenchman Arthur Cazaux is one, although he's certainly not the only one, but I saw little of this year's AO, but those of you who did without sleep this fortnight know who I'm talking about!)
Finally, perhaps 'bizarre' or tennis poetry, the Final between the #3 and #4 seeds almost mirrored the Zverev/Medvedev SF - Jannik, having not lost a set before the Final went down the first two sets to Medvedev before finding gears, answers and magic to take the last three sets and lift his first Major trophy! IMO Sinner's win may announce an official changing of the guard. Novak is no longer seen as indomitable and Jannik and his generation seem poised to take the mantle going forward. Not to write off some veterans since on any given day anyone can be beat, but there seems to be new sheriffs in Tennis Town.
Congratulations to this year's AO Champions:
Men's Singles: Jannik Sinner d. Daniil Medvedev
Women's Singles - Aryna Sabalenka d. Zheng Qinwen
Men's Doubles: R. Bopanna/M. Ebden d. S. Bolelli/A. Vavassori
Women's Doubles: E. Mertens/Hsieh S.W d. J. Ostapenko/L. Kichenok
Mixed Doubles: Hsieh S.W./J. Zielenski d. J. Krawczyk/N. Skupski
On to this week👇
Upper Austrian Ladies Linz WTA 500
Design Center
Linz, Austria
January 29 – February 4, 2024
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| Hallstatter See (Hallstatt Lake) - Linz, Austria |
Surface: Hard indoor
Draws: Singles 28, Doubles 16
This is the 33rd edition of the tournament.
It was upgraded to a WTA 500 for the first time since 2008, when it was a WTA Premier tournament.
Defending champion: Anastasia Potapova d. Petra Martic
Seeds (in order of seeding): Jelena Ostapenko, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Elina Svitolina, Donna Vekic, Elise Mertens, Anastasia Potapova, Anhelina Kalinina, Jasmine Paolini
Wildcards: Austrian player Sinja Kraus, plus Angelique Kerber, Jelena Ostapenko, Dayana Yastremska
Withdrawal: Marketa Vondrousova
Thailand Open WTA 250
True Arena Hua Hin
Hua Hin, Thailand
January 29 – February 4, 2024
Draws: Singles 32, Doubles 16
This is the 4th edition of the tournament.
Defending champion: Zhu Lin who defeated Lesia Tsurenko.
Seeds (in order of seeding): Magda Linette, Zhu Lin, Wang Xinyu, Tatjana Maria, Wang Xiyu, Yuan Yue, Yulia Putintseva, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Wildcards: Thasaporn Naklo and Lanlana Tararudee from Thailand
Protected ranking: Wang Quang
Withdrawals: Included Diane Parry, Arantxa Rus, Mayar Sherif, Ajla Tomljanovic
Open Sud de France ATP 250
Arena Montpellier
Montpellier, France
January 29 - February 4, 2024
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| Promenade du Peyrou ~ Montpellier - designed in 1690 by architect Francois d'Orbay as tribute to King Louis XIV of France (*d'Orbay created some of the most iconic landmarks in France including Versailles) |
Surface: Hard indoor
Draws: Singles 28, Doubles 16
This is the 37th edition of the tournament.
Most titles: Gael Monfils with 4 (2010, 2014, 2020) and Richard Gasquet with 4 (2013, 2015, 2016).
Defending champion: Jannik Sinner who defeated Maxime Cressy.
Seeds (in order of seeding): Holger Rune, Alexander Bublik, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Borna Coric, Andy Murray, Alexander Shevchenko, Alexandre Muller, Gael Monfils
The top 4 seeds receive a first-round bye.
Wildcards: French players Arthur Cazaux, Harold Mayol, Lucas Pouille, plus Holger Rune
Withdrawals: Roberto Carballes Baena, Jack Draper, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Lorenzo Musetti, Luca Van Assche
Thank you very much Shirley for the tournament content!
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