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January 16, 2022,
Novak Djokovic’s decision not to get vaccinated and pursue his chance at making history is very puzzling.
Serena William’s decision to pull out of the 2022 Australian Open due to injury concerns is understandable but especially sad.
Two of the game’s largest legendary stars will not compete in this year’s first Grand Slam which leaves the field wide open.
So in life, we’ve learned to focus on who is playing as opposed to those who are not.
On the women’s side, there is not a clear cut favorite. At least not in our eyes.
In recent times Naomi Osaka was the slight favorite and was able to pull it off but given her recent bouts with mental and, in all fairness, emotional issues, we’re not sure which Naomi Osaka is going to show up.
And even when she does, if things don’t go well, like at the 2021 US Open, is she going to breakdown and fold up her tent or will she tough it out, like we’ve seen her do over and over before?
We’re hoping it is the latter.
She has pulled out of tournaments, at times does not want to speak to the press and yet on her Social Media, Naomi posts about her vacations with her boyfriend.
Good for her, but we’re not interested.
That behavior resembles something that Canada’s long lost tennis champion Eugenie Bouchard use to, and continues to do, when we would love to see her battle in out on the hard courts instead.
In October 2014, the stunning beauty and talented star was ranked number 5 in the world.
Currently she is ranked at 309.
Eugenie is (was) so talented that if she desired, she could get a wild card into virtually any tournament she desired.
Where does that type of ranking get you?
On the Tennis Channel.
Hold your applause. Not as a player.
As an Analyst.
On August 3, 2021, the team at tennis.com announced, “Eugenie Bouchard has officially joined the Tennis Channel family as a studio analyst, making her first appearance on Monday to cover the Citi Open and Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic.”
In all fairness to Eugenie, she recently underwent shoulder surgery and is rehabbing to improve her condition.
We truly wish her well and hope she returns to the courts.
This time, completely focused.
This year’s Aussie Open has myriads of female tennis stars who are very determined and focused. Given the depth and array of the field, they absolutely need to be.
Where shall we begin?
We will start where we as fans have question marks.
The global news leader ESPN posted, “American Coco Gauff said her loss to world No. 1 Ash Barty in last week’s Adelaide International 1 WTA tournament was an important lesson on what she needs to do to raise her level ahead of the Australian Open.
Gauff, ranked No. 19 in the world, took the opening set before Australian Barty rallied to seal a 4-6 7-5 6-1 victory.”
Really Coco?
Like Eugenie, can we sit in the Analyst chair for a minute?
Coco shot to fame as a 15-year-old when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2019, and being an emerging American star, the expectations were extremely high. Like when can we expect her to win a Grand Slam high?
Now, over 2 years later, that has yet to materialize.
The eerie aspect to her recent loss to Ash is how she lost.
In the third set, when she is supposed to grind it out and maybe clinch a close victory, after winning the first set, Coco lost the third set 1-6.
In the second round, at the 2021 US Open, she lost to Sloane Stephens in 2 sets, in the second sliding out at 2-6.
In the fourth round, at the 2020 Australian Open, she lost to fellow American Sofia Kenin 2 sets to one, with emphasis on the third set, falling apart at 0-6.
Is it just us, or are you seeing a pattern as well?
What pattern?
A pattern of how Coco has been performing in the big matches, at the Slams, when the hope is that she would solidify her game in the third set, but instead, not only is she losing, like recently with Ash Barty, she loses badly.
For Coco, if that pattern continues, there is good news and bad news.
Which one do you want first?
Let’s go with the bad news.
Ash Barty, Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens are all scheduled to play at the 2022 Australian Open.
The good news?
Sloane plays the 2021 US Open Champion Emma Raducanu in the first round.
Sofia plays the always dangerous Madison Keys.
As announced at wtatennis.com on January 14, 2022, “After more than two years, Madison Keys is back in the winner’s circle. The former Top 10 played capped a resurgent week at the Adelaide International 2 by rolling past compatriot Alison Riske 6-1, 6-2 to win her sixth career WTA singles title.”
Madison has improved her record in WTA singles finals to 6-5.
Very important point.
She has now beaten a fellow American to win two of those titles.
Besides Alison, who is the other American?
Coco Gauff.
Okay, so we were premature. Maybe the good news is still bad news.
Madison or Sofia, pick your poison.
Now we’re getting confused.
Even if Madison defeats Sofia, now Coco has to play Madison who recently defeated her.
Yet, there is actually good news and this is the key if she has to play Ms. Keys again.
The WTA reported, “Former World No.7 Madison Keys engineered a valiant comeback to defeat No.19 Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the final of the Adelaide International.”
Actually that is very encouraging. There is a ray of light for Coco, even in defeat.
First of all, she made it to the semi-finals. That’s huge.
Second, when she got there, the third set was lost 5-7. She didn’t just fade away.
That is massive good news.
Coco grinded it out and stayed in the fight.
So, Serena will not be there. That does create an opening for all involved. When Serena is on her game and healthy, we feel that she still can defeat anyone.
If you are a top player, would you want to face a healthy Serena in, say the third round?
Questions abound. The game is afoot.
Will Naomi toughen up? Will Sofia Kenin regain her form? Will Madison’s hot streak continue? Will Coco pull out some tough third set dog fights? Will Sloane Stephens regain her form as a former US Open champion?
What designer dress will Eugenie wear on the Tennis Channel?
And we haven’t even touched upon the other top players with much higher rankings and sizzling streaks of their own who will be there. That list is daunting.
Who do we think will win the 2022 Australian Open?
We don’t have the faintest idea. Seriously folks. Not a clue.
That’s what makes this year’s tournament so incredibly exciting.
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OPENING PHOTO Femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com, fciwomenswrestling.com, fcielitecompetitor.com lev-radin-Shutterstock-photo-credit-Editorial-use
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/33056013/coco-gauff-says-loss-ash-barty-lesson-raise-game
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2448249/keys-rolls-past-riske-to-adelaide-250-title
