BACK-TO-BACK ??@BKrejcikova and @K_Siniakova defend their #AusOpen women's doubles title! @wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/V12T4f5w4R
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023
During the post-match ceremony, Krejcikova continued her tradition of being possibly the most historically aware player on tour, taking a long moment to single out trophy presenter Judy Dalton, a member of the Original 9, for her contribution to the sport and all that she's done for the current players on tour. Dalton has been a presenter at a number of trophy ceremonies the last few days, but at none of them did she get a better or more heartfelt acknowledgement from a player. With this slam title, their seventh, one can begin to wonder just how deeply into the record books the pair themselves might end up re-writing tour doubles history. With Siniakova this May joining Krejcikova in turning 27, with potentially *many* years ahead of them, they've already completed a Career Slam, which is also a Golden Career Slam (w/ their Olympic win in '21), and are the only female duo with a career Super Slam as a pair (all four majors, Olympic Gold and a WTAF crown).
Sublime way to end a super rally ??@Kia_Worldwide • #MovementThatInspires • #AusOpen • #AO2023@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/TOnHmnX5op
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023
The Czechs have won 24 straight slam matches, and a win in Paris in the spring (they missed RG last year due to Krejcikova getting Covid) would give them a non-calendar Grand Slam ("The 'Ova Slam?"... I'm not sure there's a good potential nickname for it), and possibly set their sights on a *true* GS for 2023. The only women's duo to sweep all four majors in a single season was Martina Navratilova & Pam Shriver in 1984. Another slam win this year (or two, or more) and the Czechs could possibly be looking at reaching double digits during the '24 season, bringing the all-time Open era mark of 20 from Navratilova/Shriver into clear view. On that Open era list, Krejcikova/Siniakova are now only behind Virginia Ruano-Pascual/Paola Suarez (8), Gigi Fernandez/Natasha Zverava (14), Venus & Serena Williams (14) and Navratilova/Shriver. The Czechs' post-title trophy jump has already become a tradition, but it might end up being as iconic as the Bryan twins' leaping chest bump.
Soaking it up ?? @BKrejcikova and @K_Siniakova know EXACTLY how to pose with a trophy ??
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2023
#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/UZmdxIEDTI
...TOP OF THE POPS...ON DAY 14:
New WTA Top 10
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 28, 2023
1. Swiatek
2. Sabalenka (+1)
3. Jabeur (-1)
4. Pegula (-1)
5. Garcia (-1)
6. Gauff (+1)
7. Sakkari (-1)
8. Kasatkina
9. Bencic (+1)
10. Rybakina (+15)
...THE *OTHER* TOP 10 IS HERE, TOO...ON DAY 14:
"The comeback just keeps getting better" "'It ain't over 'til it's over' doesn't begin to describe it" "Polish power in Melbourne" "We liked it so much, we did it again" "When it all comes together"
— Diane Elayne Dees (@WomenWhoServe) January 29, 2023
My Australian Open top 10 https://t.co/xlljBPXnHM #australianopen2023 #WTA
...WHEN...ON DAY 14:
You finally stop playing in a tournament and realize that all along -- from commentators on down (on ESPN, it was mostly Rennae Stubbs) -- people have been talking sh-- about your coach (as a way of "protecting" you?) while you've been busy reaching another slam final.
Message from Elena #Rybakina regarding the critics towards her coach Stefano Vukov ???? pic.twitter.com/SVWADStLlh
— Elena Rybakina Fan page (@ElenaRybakina2) January 29, 2023
...THE GOOD PART OF THE CHAMPION'S PHOTOSHOOT...ON DAY 14:
Good morning, @SabalenkaA & Daphne ??#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/spCVdXS7U7
— wta (@WTA) January 29, 2023
You can keep the rest of it. There's "trying," and then there's "trying too hard." I think the flowers on the dress turned it into the latter.
Trophy cuddles are the best cuddles. pic.twitter.com/SppIbq1Etw
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) January 29, 2023
...PETKO...ON DAY 14:
he can adapt to any given condition, surface and opponent. He needs to play defensive? He can. He needs to be aggressive? He can. He needs to counter-punch? He damn well can. Something @TheBorisBecker said to me recently was very interesting:
— Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) January 29, 2023
on the other side of the net on any given day. Also: Sometimes his biggest opponent seems to be… Goran. ?? What do you guys think?
— Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) January 29, 2023
...HMMM...ON DAY 14:
Since it's going to be said *so* much, she's going to almost need to officially change her name to Ekaterina (No Not *THAT* Ekaterina Makarova) Makarova.
Ekaterina Makarova is into her second WTA250 main draw at the Thailand Open!
— WTARussians (@WTArussians) January 29, 2023
She beats Miyu Kato 6-4, 6-1, winning 61% of first-serve points in a good day at the office.
A huge relief for Katya after surviving a scare against local wildcard Chanta yesterday. pic.twitter.com/pKrRWGBR2O
...MIRRA'S BIG SIS...ON DAY 14:
A solid performance from Erika Andreeva as she beats the higher-ranked home favourite Diane Parry 6-4, 6-4 to reach the main draw at the Lyon Open!
— WTARussians (@WTArussians) January 29, 2023
Having faced 17 break points yesterday, she went unbroken today, saving all 4 break points faced. pic.twitter.com/AJa71dXuca
#5 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR def. #22 Elena Rybakina/KAZ 4-6/6-3/6-4
#1 Krejcikova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) def. #10 Aoyama/Shibahara (JPN/JPN) 6-4/6-4
Stefani/Matos (BRA/BRA) def. Mirza/Bopanna (IND/IND) 7-6(2)/6-2
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 0-6/6-2/6-2
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) def. #2 Kamiji/Zhu (JPN/CHN) 6-3/6-2
#9 Alina Korneeva/RUS def. #7 Mirra Andreeva/RUS 6-7(2)/6-4/7-5
Jamrichova/Urgesi (SVK/ITA) def. #4 Kinoshita/Saito (JPN/JPN) 7-6(5)/1-6 [10-7]
I can’t ?? this is too good hahaha! @SabalenkaA @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/9WQPnUOQDY
— Daria Saville (@Daria_gav) January 29, 2023
"I used to think if I was screaming 'come on' and keep hit the ball hard, that this to fight.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 29, 2023
"Now I have an understanding that fighting is to be able in the tough moments to keep working."#AusOpen champion Aryna Sabalenka's Champions Corner: https://t.co/WYjbKlavNN pic.twitter.com/A3cku8BgS1
i thought about telling everyone to stop making awful assumptions, but tennis twitter is just as bad as the gossip on tour.
— Jamie Hampton (@Jamie_Hampton) January 29, 2023
aggressive does not equal abusive. not everyone is john freaking wooden. https://t.co/V2R06XbKvb
[2018]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
US: Ash Barty/CoCo Vandeweghe (AUS/USA)
[2019]
AO: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE)
US: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
[2020]
AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
US: Laura Siegemund/Vera Zvonareva (GER/RUS)
RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)
[2021]
AO: Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)
RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens (TPE/BEL)
US: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai (AUS/CHN)
[2022]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
RG: Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA/FRA)
WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
US: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
[2023]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
*SLAM DOUBLES TITLES, DUOS - Open Era*
20 - Martina Navratilova & Pam Shriver
14 - Gigi Fernandez & Natasha Zvereva
14 - Serena Williams & Venus Williams
8 - Virginia Ruano Pascual & Paola Suarez
7 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA & KATERINA SINIAKOVA
5 - Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci
5 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova
*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Venus Williams, USA
7...BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE
7...KATERINA SINIAKOVA, CZE
6...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
5...Sara Errani, ITA
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
4...Timea Babos, HUN
4...Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
*CAREER SLAM TITLES - active*
23 - Venus Williams [7-14-2]
11 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA [1-7-3]
9 - Kristina Mladenovic [0-6-3]
9 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands [0-5-4]
7 - KATERINA SINIAKOVA [0-7-0]
6 - Sania Mirza [0-3-3]
5 - Sara Errani [0-5-0]
5 - Vera Zvonareva [0-3-2]
*RECENT AO "DOUBLES STAR" WINNERS*
2014 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2016 Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza, SUI/IND
2017 Abigail Spears, USA
2018 Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2019 Astra Sharma, AUS
2020 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2021 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2022 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2023 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
*DIEDE DE GROOT vs. IN STREAK*
[82-0]
17 - Yui Kamiji, JPN
11 - Kgothatso Montjane, RSA
9 - Aniek Van Koot, NED
7 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN
5 - Angelica Bernal, COL
5 - Dana Mathewson, USA
4 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR
3 - Macarena Cabrillana, CHI
3 - Lucy Shuker, GBR
2 - Katharina Kruger, GER
2 - Viktoriia Lvova, RUS
2 - Cornelia Oosthuizan, GBR
2 - Manami Tanaka, JPN
1 - Shelby Baron, USA
1 - Jiske Griffioen, NED
1 - Huang Jinlian, CHN
1 - Emmanuelle Morch, FRA
1 - Saki Takamura, JPN
1 - Busra Un, TUR
1 - Britta Wend, GER
1 - Louie Charlotte Willerslev-Olsen, DEN
1 - Zhu Zhenzhen, CHN
1 - Maayan Zikri, ISR
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): #3 Jessie Pegula/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #22 Elena Rybakina/KAZ
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): #5 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - #27 Brenda Fruhvirtova/CZE def. Daria Snigur/UKR 5-7/7-6(3)/6-3 (rallies from 7-5/5-1, break down twice early in the 3rd; 15-year old is youngest in AO MD in slam debut)
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #6 Maria Sakkari/GRE def. (Q) Diana Shnaider/RUS 6-3/5-7/3-6
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): WD 2r - Kolodziejova/Vondrousova (CZE/CZE) def. #7 Haddad Maia/Zhang (BRA/CHN) 3-6/7-6(9)/7-6(12) - saved 9 MP; trailed 5-0, 40/love in 3rd
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): Girls Final - #9 Alina Korneeva/RUS def. #7 Mirra Andreeva/RUS 6-7(2)/6-4/7-5 - 3:18; two 15-year olds in fifth all-RUS girls' slam final
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #3 Jessie Pegula/USA (def. Jaqueline Cristian/ROU)
FIRST SEED OUT: #28 Amanda Anisimova/USA (1r-lost to Kostyuk/UKR)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Anna Bondar/HUN, Olivia Gadecki/AUS, Diana Shnaider/RUS, Lucrezia Stefanini/ITA
BEST PROTECTED RANKING MD RESULT: Laura Siegemund/GER, Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (both 3rd Rd.)
UPSET QUEENS: UKR
REVELATION LADIES: CZE (three youngest players in MD)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: GER (1-4 1r; Petkovic ret., Kerber pregnant; NextGen 0-2)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Cristina Bucsa/ESP and Katie Volynets/USA (both 2nd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Kimberly Birrell/AUS, Olivia Gadecki/AUS, Taylor Townsend/USA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki (both 2nd Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR and Magda Linette/POL
IT (Czech Crusher): Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE (into second week at age 17 in second major)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Donna Vekic/CRO and Luisa Stefani/BRA
CRASH & BURN: Garbine Muguruza/ESP (1r; 5 con. losses; out of Top 80 first time in a decade)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Miriam Kolodziejova/Marketa Vondrousova, CZE/CZE (2r: down 5-0, 40/love in 3rd; saved 9 MP vs. Haddad Maia/Zhang; won 14-12 MTB)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: Sania Mirza/IND
LADY OF THE EVENING: Victoria Azarenka/BLR
AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD: One year after Barty is first WS champ in 44 years, #160 Fourlis is highest ranked AUS in MD; only two AUS wild cards get 1r wins, none past 2r
DOUBLES STAR: Barbora Krejicikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Mirra Andreeva/RUS and Alina Korneeva/RUS
