Women’s favourite tough to pin down
8 Slam crowns split 8 ways
When Serena Williams was at her best, there was never much doubt she’d be the favourite at any tournament she entered. While she was off the tour becoming a mom, women’s tennis was as wide open as ever.
Could the Australian Open, where play begins Monday (Sunday EST), end the recent run in which eight women divvied up the past two years’ worth of Grand Slam championships, the first time that had happened since the 1930s?
It began with Williams claiming her seventh title from Melbourne, and 23rd major singles trophy overall, in January 2017. The world didn’t know it, but she was pregnant then; her daughter, Olympia, was born Sept. 1 of that year. Williams didn’t return to Grand Slam action until last year’s French Open and while she reached the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, her title drought continues.
In the meantime, players such as No. 1-ranked Simona Halep, defending Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens, Naomi Osaka and Jelena Ostapenko each claimed a first major, while Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza added to their collections.
DJOKOVIC’S DOMINANCE
Novak Djokovic returned to his old form in the second half of last season, winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open to run his major title total to 14, trailing only Roger Federer’s 20 and Rafael Nadal’s 17.
Even if he got off to a bit of a shaky start in 2019, Djokovic is still the oddsmakers’ favourite to add a record seventh trophy in Melbourne.
“My focus and objectives are Grand Slams,” the 31-year-old said. “That’s where I want to be able shine and play my best.”
ROGER AND RAFA
Federer has won the past two titles at Melbourne Park and a total of six, like Djokovic; they could meet only in the final in two weeks’ time.
Federer is 37, but he’s healthy and looks young on court. The same can’t necessarily be said for Nadal, whose only Australian Open trophy came via a win over Federer in 2009.
Nadal has dealt with injuries in Melbourne, including retiring during the quarter-finals in 2018, and his hard-court record of late is discouraging. But if he can put aside the thigh strain that cropped up, his game is good enough for another deep run.