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Monday, January 13, 2025

AO25 - Aussies Activated








=AO NOTES=
...with 24 1st Round matches still to be completed heading into Day 3, the "moments" are starting to stack up on the "lower end" of the draw (i.e. involving players who maybe aren't expected to still be standing heading into the deep trenches of the AO second week).

Of course, we *are* talking about a women's major, so even if a stunning champion "probably" isn't likely, almost anything else is. See Jasmine Paolini in back-to-back slam finals, as well as the likes of Dayana Yastremska, Magda Linette, Tatjana Maria and Martina Trevisan in major semifinals. And that's just since the start of 2022.

...the locals are shining in the opening days in Melbourne, as so far three Aussies have advanced to the 2nd Round. On Monday, Talia Gibson became the second Tennis Australia wild card (along with countrywoman Ajla Tomljanovic) to get a 1st Round win. The 20-year old recorded her maiden slam MD victory (in her 2nd MD), as Gibson outlasted Zeynep Sonmez in three sets to deny the Turk *her* first career victory in a major. After winning the opening set, Sonmez had recovered from a 3-1 2nd set deficit to force a TB, but Gibson took it 7-5 and then ran out to a 4-0 lead in the decider en route to the win.



Later on MCA, Destanee Aiava continued a heady run that began with last week's qualifying tournament, during which she shook social media with her United Cup commentary, expert fashion sense (donning past Ivanovic and Sharapova designs) and an alert response to internet trolling.

The 24-year old, who has gone from teen phenom to troubled mental health saga and (now) back again, got her first career slam MD win (in her 6th draw, the first coming in Melbourne eight years ago) in a thrilling three-set victory over Greet Minnen in which she saved a pair of MP.



Minnen had led 7-5/5-2, then again at 5-3 in the 3rd. The Belgian had two MP at 5-4, only to see Aiava surge back and hold her own MP at 6-5. Minnen took things to a deciding MTB, where Aiava finally won 10-5 on MP #3.

...it's become commonplace to see WTA players take maternity leave and return to the tour to find success, and we saw such a thing in two developing situations in the second day of 1st Round action as Belinda Bencic and Naomi Osaka posted impressive wins.

Bencic, in her first slam match since 2023, took out #16-seed Alona Ostapenko, 6-3/7-6(6). The Latvian saved five MP at 5-4, but the Swiss finally closed things out on #6 in the breaker.

For all the good things Ostapenko did in 2024 -- winning two titles in the first two months and returning to the Top 10 -- her results tailed off as the season wore on (1-6 post-SW19), and outside of a QF at Wimbledon she won just three total matches at the other three majors last season.

Ranked at #421, Bencic isn't even a Top 3 lowest-ranked player to defeat Ostapenko since the start of 2023, as she has additional losses vs. a #569, #584 (Brady) and #607 (vs. another new mother, Kerber) during that span.



Osaka, in a rematch of their AO 1st Rounder from last year, got some revenge on Caroline Garcia for that loss with a 6-3/3-6/6-3 win over the Pastry, leveling their head-to-head at 2-2 since Osaka returned to tennis last season. This was the third early round meeting in Melbourne between the two in the last five AOs, with Osaka winning in '21 (2r, after which she'd go on to win her most recent slam title) and Garcia doing so in '24. This is two-time AO champ Osaka's first victory in the event since 2022.

...there were four women who saved MP on their way to the 2nd Round on Monday. Moyuka Uchijima did it vs. Magda Linette (the Pole had a break lead in the 3rd three times, and a MP at 5-4), while Elise Mertens (2 vs. Viktorija Golubic in a 2nd set TB) and Aiava followed suit.

The fourth? Well, unfortunately, that'd be Jana Fett. Again.



Seven years ago, Fett held two MP vs. Caroline Wozniacki in a 2nd Round Australian Open encounter. The Dane battled back to win, then the following week won her lone slam title. Since then, the Croatian had failed to return to the AO MD, losing four times in qualifying before finally sweeping through a trio of straight sets wins last week. She was set to face Marketa Vondrousova, who'd retired from her 2nd Round match in Adelaide last week. The Czech pulled out of the MD on Monday, leaving lucky loser Harriet Dart to face off with Fett.

Then it happened all over again.

Fett fell behind 3-1 to the Brit in the 1st set, but came back to lead 5-3 and served at 5-4. Dart took the set, though. No matter, as the Croatian won the 2nd and, again after falling behind 3-1, ultimately twice served for the win in the 3rd. At 6-5, Fett held two MP (for a second straight AO MD match), but Dart saved both and forced a final MTB.

Likely suffering from a case of severe flashback, Fett fell behind 6-0. She tightened things on the scoreboard to put pressure on Dart, but the Brit won 10-7 to once again send Fett packing from Melbourne with a case of "what-coulda-been" ringing in her ears. Dart will next get another Croat, #18 Donna Vekic.

The other lucky loser who'd gotten a spot in the draw was Fett and Vekic's Croatian countrywoman Petra Martic. As it turned out, after she also had victory within her grasp, Martic's time in Melbourne was short, as well.

Martic led 3-1 in the 3rd vs. Jaqueline Cristian, and served for the win at 6-5. The Romanian eventually won in a 10-7 MTB.



...while the 1st Round isn't over, one can gaze a little at some so-far stats and potential Early-Round Award winners.

The contest for the most players through to the 2nd Round, not surprisingly (as they had the most in the MD), involves both the Bannerettes (4 wins in 10 matches, after a 1-6 start, and with five solo performers still to play along with a pair of all-U.S. match-ups on deck) and Hordettes (6-2 start, with five still to play). The surprise third "contender" (though it's a long, long shot) for co-top honors are the Aussies, 3-2 so far with three more home favorites still to play.

So far, Germany is 3-0 (led by 37-year old Tatjana Maria and 36-year old Laura Siegemund, plus Jule Niemeier), as are the Spaniards (the Killer B's: Badosa, Bucsa and Bouzas Maneiro, with Parrizas Diaz to play).

On the other end of the spectrum, France is 0-4 (w/ Gracheva waiting) but, in a rare turn, nothing may keep the Czechs (!) from the Nation of Poor Souls "honors."

The Czechs were already down Petra Kvitova (maternity leave) and Karolina Pliskova (out since August w/ injury), then Barbora Krejcikova and Marketa Vondrousova withdrew, Marie Bouzkova was the first player to lose a 1st Round match, #29 Linda Noskova was the First Seed Out, Sara Bejlek fell to 0-5 in career slam MD matches, and Katerina Siniakova lost to Iga Swiatek.

Already the last Czech standing before she hit the court, the "lady in red" -- aka #20 Karolina Muchova -- saved the Crusher Collective from a complete shutout by defeating Nadia Podoroska 1 & 1 to set up a 2nd Rounder vs. Naomi Osaka.









...A LOGO-WORTHY PHOTO:




...I LIKE BRONZETTI'S OUTFIT (it sort of reminds me of a multi-colored peppermint stick):
















Although, when I hear that song, I only think of this...








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*SLAM "LUCKY LOSER" WINNERS IN 2020s*
2020 RG: Astra Sharma, AUS (out 2nd Rd.)
2021 AO: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK (2nd)
2021 WI: Kristie Ahn, USA (2nd)
2021 US: Kristina Kucova, SVK (2nd)
2021 US: Greet Minnen, BEL (3rd)
2021 US: Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS (3rd)
2022 WI: Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, NED (2nd)
2023 RG: Elina Avanesyan, RUS (4th)
2023 RG: Aliona Bolsova, ESP (2nd)
2023 RG: Camila Osorio, COL (2nd)
2023 WI: Tamara Korpatsch, GER (2nd)
2023 US: Yanina Wickmayer, BEL (2nd)
2024 RG: Hailey Baptiste, USA (2nd)
2024 RG: Jana Fett, CRO (2nd)
2024 WI: Erika Andreeva, RUS (2nd)
2025 AO: Harriet Dart, GBR
--
Recent 3rd Rd. AO - Sandra Kleinova/CZE (1997), Bernarda Pera/USA (2018)






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TOP QUALIFIER: Maja Chwalinska, POL
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - #20 Maja Chwalinska/POL def. Dominika Salkova/CZE 7-6(3)/5-7/7-6(12-10) - Chwalinska in 3:23, was down a break twice in the 3rd. Salkova served for the win at 5-4, led 7-3 in the deciding MTB and held a pair of MP.
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #14 Mirra Andreeva/RUS (def. Marie Bouzkova/CZE)
FIRST SEED OUT: #29 Linda Noskova/CZE (1st Rd.- Tauson/DEN)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Aiava/AUS (6th MD), Gibson/AUS (2nd MD), Lamens/NED (1st MD), Sramkova/SVK (5th MD)
PROTECTED RANKING BEST: in 2r: Bencic/SUI, Burrage/GBR
LUCKY LOSER BEST: Harriet Dart/GBR (in 2nd Rd.)
UPSET QUEENS: x
REVELATION LADIES: x
NATION OF POOR SOULS: x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: in 2r: Aiava/AUS
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: in 2r: Gibson/AUS, Tomljanovic/AUS
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: in 2r: Aiava, Gibson, Tomljanovic
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: x
IT (TBD): x
COMEBACK PLAYER: x
CRASH & BURN: Nominees: Noskova (1r- Tauson; in '24 def. Iga and to QF); Fett (1r- in first AO match since lost w/ 2 MP vs. Woziacki in '18, loses to Dart after having 2 MP)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Nominees: Aiava (1r- Minnen led 7-5/5-2, 2 MP at 5-4); Dart (1r- late LL add; saved 2 MP vs. Fett, who twice served for match in 3rd); Uchijima (1r- saved MP vs. Linette; down break three times in 3rd); Mertens (1r- down set and Golubic 2 MP in 2nd set TB)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: x
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominee: Sabalenka/Dokic
AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD: Nominees: Aiava dons iconic Ivanovic/Sharapova dress designs during Q-run; Sabalenka/Dokic & crowd dance on Laver
DOUBLES STAR: x
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x





All for now. More soon.
AO25 - Aussies Activated
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Sunday, January 12, 2025

AO25 - Dancing Like Everyone is Watching

And away we go...







=AO NOTES=
...this year's Australian Open began with a little of everything in Melbourne: rain, a win from Mirra, Blinkova on the brink, a seed taken out (again) by Tauson and, in the end, some dancing on Laver.

A quick spin arond the grounds on Sunday saw #14 seeded Mirra Andreeva become the first player to move through to the 2nd Round, via a 6-3/6-3 win over Marie Bouzkova while many of the matches taking place on other courts endured a rain delay.



...qualifier Anca Todoni (henceforth known in this space as "Anca!") gave #5-seed and '24 finalist Zheng Qinwen some early trouble, leading the 1st set 5-3 and holding three SP at 6-5 under the roof (in the Laver opener) before Zheng rallied to win the 1st in a TB and take a 6-1 2nd.



Still, Todoni, as she did down the stretch last year, shows loads of promise and is now on the brink of the Top 100. Might she be the top-ranked Romanian by year's end?

...the Netherlands' Suzan Lamens, in her maiden slam match after gaining automatic MD entry due to a surprising '24 campaign that included some BJK Cup heroics, her first tour title (Osaka) in October and a Top 80 ranking, notched her first career slam MD victory, defeating slam debuting qualifier Veronika Erjavec 7-5/7-6(2). Before Sunday, Lamens had never played any later than the second round of qualifying in any major, and sported a 2-8 Q-round mark in slam events.



...elsewhere, the oldest woman in the draw, 37-year old German Tatjana Maria, advanced past Bernarda Pera; while Anna Blinkova returned to the "scene of the crime," the major where the Hordette won a slam record 42-point MTB over Elena Rybakina in the 2nd Round a year ago. Her '24 season didn't go quite as she'd hoped after that, but she's back in Melbourne to start her "do-over."

Blinkova took out Aussie wild card Dasha Saville in three sets, throwing in some extra drama by staging a comeback from a set down and 3-1 back in the 3rd to get her first victory in Melbourne (and just her second win in any of the last four majors she's played) since that win over Rybakina.



...#29 Linda Noskova became the first seed to fall at this AO, one year after she'd upset then-#1 Iga Swiatek in Melbourne on her way to her first career slam QF (a run that also included wins over Bouzkova, McCartney Kessler, and Elina Svitolina via retirement). Ooh, ouch.

Who knocked her out? Well, Clara Tauson, of course. Because, you know, naturally... you could see that one coming from a mile away once the draw was made.



The Dane won Auckland in Week 1 (def. Week 2 champ Madison Keys along the way, and firing off 26 aces in a win over Sofia Kenin), and has now posted five career victories over slam seeds in her career since she debuted at the 2020 Roland Garros (with, of course, a win over a seeded Jennifer Brady). Those wins account for more than a third (5 of 14) of her career MD win total in majors. Tauson "only" had 13 aces in her AO 1st Round win on Sunday, though.

This was just an horrific draw for the Czech, and now Tauson (6-0 in '25) edges ever closer to an intriguing power match-up vs. #1 Aryna Sabalenka in the 3rd Round.

...two-time defending AO champ Sabalenka (looking for the first Melbourne three-peat since *1999*) handled Sloane Stephens 3 & 2 in the Laver night opener, garnering her 15th straight AO victory (she's now 28-1 in hard court majors since 2023), but the headlines came from what happened *after* the match as Sabalenka and Jelena Dokic added another chapter to their winning AO post-match relationship.

The two have already shared some lovely moments after Sabalenka's AO wins in the past, and we got another this time around as the Aussie encouraged Sabalenka to do one of her regular pre-event TikTok dances (a routine usually performed with her team) right then and there, only this time with the crowd *and* Dokic herself joining in.







...JELENA & ARYNA: actually making that "happy slam" thing seem real, and not just a hopeful gimmick::




...SHE'D RATHER BE THE *FINAL* WINNER, THOUGH (I'm sure she'd say that if anyone asked her, too):




...I CAN GET BEHIND THIS SENTIMENT AT THE FOUR BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR:




...MEANWHILE, IN PICKLEBALL LAND...:




...WELL, I GUESS THERE'S THAT...:




















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A flashback to last year's AO...













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*TAUSON SLAM WINS OVER SEEDS*
2020 RG 1st Rd.: #21 Jennifer Brady (lost in 2nd Rd.)
2022 AO 2nd Rd.: #6 Anett Kontaveit (lost in 3rd Rd.)
2023 US 1st Rd.: #27 Anastasia Potapova (lost in 2nd Rd.)
2024 RG 2nd Rd.: #9 Alona Ostapenko (lost 4th Rd.)
2025 AO 1st Rd.: #29 Linda Noskova

*RECENT AO "FIRST VICTORY" HONORS*
2018 Duan Yingying, CHN (def. Duque Marino)
2019 Rebecca Peterson, SWE (def. Cirstea)
2020 Paula Badosa, ESP (def. Larsson)
2021 Naomi Osaka, JPN (def. Pavlyuchenkova)
2022 Camila Giorgi, ITA (def. Potapova)
2023 Jessie Pegula, USA (def. Cristian)
2024 Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS (def. Bektas)
2025 Mirra Andreeva, RUS (def. Bouzkova)

*RECENT AO "FIRST SEED OUT"*
2015 #32 Belinda Bencic, SUI (lost to Goerges)
2016 #17 Sara Errani, ITA (lost to Gasparyan)
2017 #4 Simona Halep, ROU (lost to Rogers)
2018 #13 Sloane Stephens, USA (lost to Sh.Zhang)
2019 #14 Julia Goerges, GER (lost to Collins)
2020 #32 Barbora Strycova, CZE (lost to Cirstea)
2021 #23 Angelique Kerber, GER (lost to Pera)
2022 #18 Coco Cauff, USA (lost to Q.Wang)
2023 #28 Amanda Anisimova, USA (lost to Kostyuk)
2024 #13 Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (lost to Anisimova)
2025 #29 Linda Noskova, CZE (lost to Tauson)

*MAIDEN CAREER SLAM MD WINS AT AO - in 2020s*
[2020]
Paula Badosa, ESP
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
Ann Li, USA
Greet Minnen, BEL
Elena Rybakina, KAZ
[2021]
Olga Danilovic, SRB
Liudmila Samsonova, RUS
Mayar Sherif, EGY
Nina Stojanovic, SRB
[2022]
Lucia Bronzetti, ITA
Jaqueline Cristian, ROU
Maddison Inglis, AUS
Nuria Parrizas Diaz, ESP
Gabriela Ruse, ROU
Wang Xinyu, CHN
Wang Xiyu, CHN
Maryna Zanevska, BEL
Zheng Qinwen, CHN
[2023]
Anna Bondar, HUN
Olivia Gadecki, AUS
Diana Shnaider, RUS
[2024]
Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE
McCartney Kessler, USA
Alina Korneeva, RUS
Maria Timofeeva, RUS
Anastasia Zakharova, RUS
[2025]
Suzan Lamens, NED




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TOP QUALIFIER: Maja Chwalinska, POL
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1 - #20 Maja Chwalinska/POL def. Dominika Salkova/CZE 7-6(3)/5-7/7-6(12-10) - Chwalinska in 3:23, was down a break twice in the 3rd. Salkova served for the win at 5-4, led 7-3 in the deciding MTB and held a pair of MP.
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): x
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): x
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #14 Mirra Andreeva/RUS (def. Marie Bouzkova/CZE)
FIRST SEED OUT: #29 Linda Noskova/CZE (1st Rd.- Tauson/DEN)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: 1r wins: Lamens
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: in 2r: x
UPSET QUEENS: x
REVELATION LADIES: x
NATION OF POOR SOULS: x
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: 1r wins: x
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: 1r wins: x
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: 1r wins: x
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: x
IT (TBD): x
COMEBACK PLAYER: x
CRASH & BURN: Nominee: Noskova (1r-Tauson; in '24 def. Iga and to QF)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: x
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: x
LADY OF THE EVENING: x
AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD: Nominees: Aiava dons old Ivanovic/Sharapova dress designs during Q-run; Sabalenka/Dokic & crowd dance on Laver
DOUBLES STAR: x
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: x





All for now. More soon.
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