Wet, wild tourney in for classic finish
The 2018 ASB Classic has had an inauspicious start, but an unrivalled conclusion could be in store.
Rain wiped out yesterday’s play and looks set to force players into two matches in a day. Yet the crammed schedule could produce a rarely-seen glamour semifinal schedule at Stanley St. There is a significant chance that the semifinals could consist of the top four seeds — a feat that has occurred just once in tournament history.
Caroline Wozniacki, Julia Goerges, Barbora Strycova and Agnieszka Radwanska are all strong chances to win their quarter-final clashes against unseeded opponents, potentially creating a big-name semifinal slate.
In the 32-year history of the event, 1994 was the only time where all of the top four seeds contested the semifinals, when the tournament had a much lower profile.
Those 1994 semifinalists — Julie Halard-Decugis, Patricia Hy-Boulais, Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen and Ines Gorrochategui — can’t hold a candle to the current top four, with none of the 1994 four getting past the quarter-finals at a grand slam.
So, the chance for the four biggest names at the classic to progress will surely be a boon to the organisers, as they hope to recoup crowds after rain ruined yesterday’s play.
It is a contrast to last year, which saw none of the top four seeds make the semifinals.
Serena and Venus Williams were gone by the second round, while Wozniacki fell in the quarter-finals, leaving a relatively underwhelming conclusion to a tournament which promised much more.
This year, however, the top four seeds — all ranked inside the world’s top 30 — all face players ranked outside the top-100 in their quarterfinal clashes.
World No 3 Wozniacki takes on Sofia Kenin (108). Radwanska plays Sachia Vickery (122), Georges meets Polona Hercog (100), and Strycova faces Su-Wei Hsieh (103).
If the weather is fine today, players could play their quarter-final and semifinal, though semis cannot be held before 5pm. Another possibility could see semifinals and the final tomorrow.
“We’ve done it before,” said tournament director Karl Budge. “There’s been times where three matches have been played on a day as well.”