#WTA 2022: The Australian Open backwash

It’s a Barty party Down Under! And finally stamping her legacy on home soil is World Number one Ashleigh Barty, the 2022 Australian Open champion, as she outplayed a rejuvenated Danielle Collins in 87 minutes to the tune of 6-3, 7-6(2).

For a while, we actually felt that Barty could eventually fall under a slew of Americans — Amanda Anisimova (4R), Jessica Pegula (QF), Madison Keys (SF) and eventually, Danielle Collins (F) — on her way to claiming the title. But no, the Australian did just the opposite as she grilled them in their own game while imposing her own.

Collins, meanwhile, tried to put up a good fight in the second set as she led Barty 4-1 only to lose ground and end up in a tiebreaker where the Aussie simply showed her class. It’s quite a pity though, for although the American climbed 20 spots up the rankings (now, World Number ten; farther than what we predicted some years ago that she could make the Top 20 in her prime) right after her victory over Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, it would be pretty hard for her to duplicate her Australian Open feat in any Grand Slam again.

Okay. While Collins added some variety to her game, she still needs to add a little more speed to go after those balls (that Barty smacked and others would do as well) which would be tough considering her ‘fitness’. Of course, she’s healthy and recovered from her injuries, then again, consider Maria Sharapova. After her shoulder injuries, she was never the same again. Martina Hingis. After her ankle injuries, she was never the same again. Only very few athletes are fit enough throughout their careers, suffering only minor injuries and recovering well from major ones. This is one reason why turnover in sports is fast. This is one reason why you got to make hay while the sun shines, like, win as many majors and titles as early as you could. For if you keep using time (*don’t keep skipping tournaments, but don’t overdo it either) just developing your game, age will soon catch up; and as you age, it would be easier for you to get injured. Thus, try to learn fast and develop to be an unstoppable force in a year’s time, and just fine tune your game as you go along.

The Barty Effect

Look at Ash Barty. She’s only got the ‘slice’ as her main weapon when she first came into the picture. But this slice she mastered which became a launching point for her great forehand. In time, her serves became more reliable that slower players found it harder to return. Sure, a slice would not win against power hitters, but where are they? As hard as they may hit, their focus is weak as like having mood swings.

Still, Barty’s win only proves that slices are good for any surface — grass, clay or hard court. Barty’s win now firmly establishes her ‘eliteness’ and hold on the number one spot. Barty’s win dissolves the Emma Raducanu-Leylah Fernandez ‘future of tennis’ talk.

Especially as the Spice Girls are finding it difficult to win while Barty party continues to hum all over.

#WTA 2021: Danielle Collins pockets second career title in San Jose

Everything seems to be humming right now for American Danielle Collins as she topped Russian Darya Kasatkina in the final at San Jose, 6-3, 6(10)-7, 6-1 after two hours and 18 minutes of inspired tennis.

This was the second WTA singles title for Collins after bagging her first in Palermo just two weeks ago — as we are now witnessing the best tennis of her career.

Danielle Collins just clicking on all cylinders, and perhaps on her way to the Top 20 soon.

On her way to the finals, she defeated experienced and favored players like Sloane Stephens and Elena Rybakina, while Kasatkina herself overcame the likes of Elise Mertens and Caroline Garcia. The American had her chances to end the story in the second set, but the Russian herself is no pushover and a big-time player herself as she fought back and won the tiebreaker to send it into a decider. In the third set, Kasatkina surprisingly lost her touch and Collins just took advantage to win the title. San Jose, indeed, provided some depth that not only entertained the crowd but a crown Collins should be proud of.

Hours before the Collins conquest, German Andrea Petkovic only took an hour to plaster first-time finalist, Egyptian Mayar Sherif, 6-1, 6-1 to take Cluj Napoca.

The best is yet to come for Egypt’s Mayar Sherif.

While the finals was close to wearisome, the Cinderella story of Egypt’s first player to reach the quarterfinals was a narrative worth taking into account itself — and whatever Sherif would accomplish afterwards was simply icing on the cake, so as they say, the rest is history.

Montreal Shuffle

Back are the likes of Simona Halep and Bianca Andreescu in Montreal. But what could we really expect from a recovering Halep? Or could we, at least, see the fire that Andreescu used to have?

Missing in action no more as ‘Miss Intensity’ is back.

For their fans and the talent they possess, a recovering Halep should at least make the quarterfinal, while the ‘unpredictable’ Andreescu should at least make the semifinals. After all, an injury deserves more leniency compared to some kind of ‘attitude’ problem.

It’s about time for some great tennis.

#WTA 2021: Danielle Collins rolls over Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Palermo

As the sporting world is focused on the Tokyo Olympics, Palermo and Gdynia have also been busy trying to make some noise in women’s tennis — and so, Danielle Collins and Maryna Zanevska did, as they captured their first WTA singles titles respectively.

While Elena-Gabriela Ruse took control early in a tight first set, Collins just would not give up and came back fighting to take the opening canto in Palermo; which she then continued with her patterns onto a hardfought second set to finish the match in 110 minutes.

Over at Gdynia, Maryna Zanevska, meanwhile, raised her first WTA singles title after overcoming a determined Kristina Kucova in an hour and 51 minutes, 6-4, 7-6(4).

Maryna Zanevska: One can never forget how sweet her first WTA singles title is.

The contest started out with both players trying to find their groove, and as soon as they got the feel, Zanevska just slowly built momentum to take the initial round. Still, just when everybody already decided the outcome, Kucova just stayed close and saw the match get into a tiebreaker, which then turned out to be a battle of wills over nerves and fatigue that saw Zanevska finally pulling through for her maiden career singles title.

Olympic Update

Meantime, the games has started in Tokyo, and so far, most of the favorites have been lording it over the competition. While a few have surprisingly struggled and got knocked out, those still standing possess enough star power to keep the excitement going in the ladies’ quest for gold.

Let’s see some of the surprises so far.

Day One. Bertens continued to struggle with her form and now, with her confidence as well, as Vondrousova vanquished her in three sets.

Reigning Wimbledon champion, Ashleigh Barty, now a fallen Olympic star.

Day Two. The biggest surprise yet, world number one Ashleigh Barty lost to Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Other stunners for day two included Brady losing to Giorgi in two, and Jabeur losing to comebacking Suarez Navarro, also in two.

Day Three. So far, we got two shockers here with Kvitova losing to Van Uytvanck in three and Sabalenka losing to Vekic, also in three.

In the end, unless you treat the Olympics as how you would treat a Grand Slam, you would be open for a beating.

#WTA #AusOpen 2019 Final: Petra Kvitova v Naomi Osaka

So, it’s Czech Petra Kvitova against Japanese Naomi Osaka for the 2019 Australian Open title tomorrow, after they disposed their respective opponents in Danielle Collins and Karolina Pliskova in the semifinals.

Though Kvitova swept Collins in the first semifinal match, 2-0, the American actually gave the Czech some fits in the first set as they needed a tiebreaker to decide the outcome. Still, the obvious difference between Kvitova and Collins is ‘motor’; or the ability to keep playing at a high level for longer periods which explains their disparity in talent. And Kvitova certainly displayed her skills as she shellacked Collins in the second set, 6-0. See, if only Collins could sustain her efforts, who knows, she could somehow find her way even in the Top 10 at some point in her career!

In the second semifinal match, as we expected, Osaka and Pliskova needed a third set to determine Kvitova’s opponent in the final. After the Japanese swamped the Czech in the first set, 6-2, Pliskova just came roaring back in a tight second set, 6-4, to take the match into a decider. In the third set, though Osaka got up 5-3, Pliskova still had the fight as she narrowed the gap, 4-5. In the tenth game though, well, the last two points of the match proved Osaka deserved to win as she showed her offensive might – going to the net, then next, finishing off with an ace.

Could Osaka do the same against Kvitova?

Well, they have not met yet since and the Czech is no stranger to winning a major herself; but if she can’t move well against Osaka, Kvitova could end up just holding a ‘plate’ instead of a ‘cup’. As always, key for Osaka would be her emotions. If she could keep the fire burning from here on in, we could now see the start of Osaka’s dominance in the tour – after all, she’s world number one already!

Ukraine’s phenom world number 48 Dayana Yastremska and possibly Amanda Anisimova are Osaka’s real challengers

And the only one who could inevitably challenge her is 18-year-old Dayana Yastremska – and that’s if the Ukrainian would be ‘less respectful’ to her more popular or higher ranked opponents. Hey, tennis is competition, aim high and be fierce!

Welcome to an exciting 2019!