AO.12 - The Day Before the Day

=DAY 12 NOTES=...naturally, the Australian summer had to eventually have its say at this slam. After nearly two weeks of keeping the sometimes savage heat conditions at bay, they finally arrived yesterday. Today, play was suspended on the outside courts due to the heat at the start of the day. By the afternoon, the delays were because of rain.

Because of this, much of the usual relatively-sparse late slam schedule was pushed into the nighttime hours. But the show courts *did* manage to complete and/or set up quite a few of the title-deciding match-ups for this Australian Open.

...first up were the mixed semis on Laver. Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, along with new partner Nikola Mektic, defeated Gaby Dabrowski & Henri Kontinen to return to the final. A year after the Czech won the title with Rajeev Ram, she'll meet two-time U.S. Open MX champs Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Jamie Murray, who took out Aussie wild cards Astra Sharma & JP Smith, the '19 AO finalists.

View this post on Instagram

That final feeling. @matteksands ?? @jamie__murray #AusOpen | #AO2020

A post shared by Australian Open (@australianopen) on Jan 30, 2020 at 10:13pm PST

...next, the first champions of this slam were crowned in the women's doubles final.

?? CHAMPIONS ??@TimeaBabos/@KikiMladenovic capture their second #AusOpen women's doubles title in three years dominating Hsieh/Strycova 6-2 6-1.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/gscavoI96o

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2020

Winning their third slam crown as a duo, #2-seeded Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic defeated #1's Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova 6-2/6-1. They previously combined to win the AO two years ago, along with Roland Garros last year. Mladenovic also claimed a second RG in '16 alongside Caroline Garcia, as well, and has won a pair of MX doubles crowns.

??????#AO2020 | #AusOpen | @TimeaBabos | @KikiMladenovic pic.twitter.com/YuHMehU2gG

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2020

...originally scheduled earlier in the day, the junior singles semis were pushed into the evening, where Weronika Baszak will try to become the sixth Polish girl to reach a slam singles final when she faces German Alexandra Vecic in an all-unseeded contest. In the other semi, #13 Bai Zhuoxuan is a win away from a shot to become China's second junior slam singles champ (after Wang Xiyu - '18 U.S.), while Victoria Jimenez Kasitseva will be trying to move closer to becoming the first from Andorra (population 77,000) to win such a big tennis crown. 14-year old Kasitseva was the youngest in the girls draw, and is playing in her first slam. Kasintseva's father was a low-ranked ATP player in the 1990's, and she spent three years in Kentucky while he worked as a tennis pro.

Joan Jimenez, father of Andorran junior Victoria, who is through to the #ausopen girls' semis:

“We are from a very small country, with very big difficulties to play tennis because we are a ski country. We have only one indoor court in the whole country.” https://t.co/SEgSGM4wsf

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) January 31, 2020

...Alexandra Eala (PHI) & Priska Madelyn Nugroho (INA) defeated Ziva Falkner & Matilda Mutavdzic (GBR) 6-1/6-2 in the girls doubles final.

In the wheelchair doubles final, Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley knocked off the #1-seeded Dutch duo of Diede de Groot & Aniek Van Koot, 6-2/6-4, winning their tenth slam as a pair (and first since the '17 RG, before the Brit's pregnancy break). For Kamiji, it's career slam doubles win #15. The result ends de Groot/Van Koot's string of slam titles, having won a Grand Slam in '19, and de Groot's run of seventh consecutive slam doubles crowns.

Jordanne Whiley and Yui Kamiji, women's wheelchair doubles champions at the Australian Open. pic.twitter.com/NuwvI9eVWa

— 🎾 #AusOpen on telly 📺🇬🇧 (@tennisontelly) January 31, 2020

During the trophy ceremony, Kamiji broke down in happy tears when talking about how great it was to be able to play and win with Whiley, her best friend, once again.

Just 11 months after coming back from maternity leave, Jordanne Whiley wins the Aus Open wheelchair doubles title with Yui Kamiji who is in tears as she tells her doubles partner:

"I’m just very happy to be with you on the court again and that you’re playing with me again."

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) January 31, 2020

It wasn't a good tournament for the previously dominant world #1 de Groot, who finishes with a combined 1-2 record in singles/doubles in what was her '20 season debut event after skipping the pre-AO schedule, and leaves a slam title-less for the first time since the '17 Roland Garros.




...LIKE ON DAY 12:

Even if Clijsters ultimately ends up playing only a handful of matches in 2020, oh, let one of them be against Kenin.

View this post on Instagram

?? Ultimate cuteness ??

A post shared by WTA (@wta) on Jan 30, 2020 at 8:17am PST

...LIKE ON DAY 12:

We’ve turned our courts pink to help raise awareness and money for breast cancer charity #gopink #BreastCancerAwareness @WTA #huahin pic.twitter.com/AESMcBTC3g

— WTA Thailand Open (@ThailandOpenHH) January 31, 2020

...LIKE ON DAY 12:

Nobody has more social media fun with their doubles partners than BMS...

'Keep crying!'@SofiaKenin @matteksands ????#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ANyZr1ai2E

— WTA (@WTA) January 30, 2020

...NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT... ON DAY 12:

It will be a Full House at the women’s final between Muguruza and Kenin.

Speaking of Full House, a young Kenin could have comfortably doubled for the Olsen twins in that show. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/KnpdRpINqT

— Ace Tennis Previews (@Ace_Previews) January 31, 2020

...LIKE ON DAY 12:

Much like with the Trump and old Tweets, there's a photo/video for anything when you're talking about Kid Kenin...

Hey @AndyRoddick, Sofia is into the Final.
Think she can return your serve now?@SofiaKenin | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0eeDTP2Tzg

— TENNIS (@Tennis) January 30, 2020

...SLOANE TELLIN' IT LIKE IT IS ON DAY 12:

Live footage of me trying to get through January ?? pic.twitter.com/qE4XbfZ4YJ

— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) January 31, 2020

A tradition in this space at every Australian Open, but quite a different version than in past years...






=SINGLES FINAL=
#14 Sofia Kenin/USA vs. Garbine Muguruza/ESP

=DOUBLES FINAL=
#2 Babos/Mladenovic (HUN/FRA) def. #1 Hsieh/Strycova (TPE/CZE) 6-2/6-1

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
Mattek-Sands/J.Murray (USA/GBR) vs. #5 Krejcikova/Mektic (CZE/CRO)

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
Kamiji/Whiley (JPN/GBR) def. #1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) 6-2/6-4

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
Weronika Baszak/POL vs. #9 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/AND

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
#4 Eala/Nugroho (PHI/INA) def. Falkner/Mutavdzic (SLO/GBR) 6-1/6-2

=LEGENDS DOUBLES FINAL=
Hantuchova/Navratilova (SVK/USA) vs. x/x

This one hurt a lot, and still does, but if I have learnt anything in my career, it's that the lessons from the toughest losses can become the reason behind your biggest wins.

So I will take it, and learn from it.

Thank you to this beautiful country, see you next year ?????? pic.twitter.com/81qaGCQF2z

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) January 31, 2020

#AusOpen Vamosssss!! pic.twitter.com/XLSfb5NCjE

— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) January 30, 2020

Incredible to see @GarbiMuguruza painting the lines again. Having instant success once more w/ smart, uber professional, calm coach @conchitamartinz (Wimbledon). Happy, close-knit, hard working team=success.

— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) January 30, 2020

.@CaroWozniacki is being recognized by tournament director Craig Tiley as AO Inspirational Woman of 2020 pic.twitter.com/xiVijiAQ4e

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) January 30, 2020

View this post on Instagram

Picture + video from our yesterday practice with @dokic_jelena ?? It’s so nice to be back @australianopen It’s been 11 years ?? since we played our match in Rod Laver Arena ?? Happy and Happy to be back here in Australia and enjoying so much ?????? #australianopen #tennis #wtatennis #practice #havingfun #??

A post shared by Dinara Safina (@dinarasafinaofficial) on Jan 28, 2020 at 11:28am PST

*AO WOMEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONS - since 2009*
2009 Serena Williams / Venus Williams, USA/USA
2010 Serena Williams / Venus Williams, USA/USA
2011 Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta, ARG/ITA
2012 Svetlana Kuznetsova / Vera Zvonareva, RUS/RUS
2013 Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2014 Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2016 Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza, SUI/IND
2017 Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2018 Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2019 Samantha Stosur / Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
2020 Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA

*RECENT WD SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2017]
AO: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Safarova (USA/CZE)
RG: Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Safarova (USA/CZE)
WI: Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina (RUS/RUS)
US: Latisha Chan / Martina Hingis (TPE/SUI)
[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)

*CAREER OVERALL SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE*
[singles/doubles/mixed]
39 - Serena Williams, USA (23-14-2)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (7-14-2)
9 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (0-5-4) [in MX final]
7 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (1-3-3)
6 - Kim Clijsters, BEL (4-2-0)
6 - KRISTINA MLADENOVIC, FRA (0-4-2)
6 - Sania Mirza, IND (0-3-3)
6 - Katarina Srebotnik, SLO (0-1-5)
5 - Sara Errani, ITA (0-5-0)
5 - Maria Sharapova, RUS (5-0-0)

*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Serena Williams, USA
14...Venus Williams, USA
5...Sara Errani, ITA
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
4...KRISTINA MLADENOVIC, FRA
3...TIMEA BABOS, HUN
3...Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
[3...Ekaterina Makarova, RUS]
3...Sania Mirza, IND
3...Samantha Stosur, AUS
3...Elena Vesnina, RUS

*AUSTRALIAN OPEN GIRLS DOUBLES CHAMPS - since 2010*
2010 Jana Cepelova / Chantal Skamlova, SVK/SVK
2011 An-Sophie Mestach / Demi Schuurs, BEL/NED
2012 Gabby Andrews / Taylor Townsend, USA/USA
2013 Ana Konjuh / Carol Zhao, CRO/CAN
2014 Anhelina Kalinina / Elizaveta Kulichkova, UKR/RUS
2015 Miriam Kolodziejova / Marketa Vondrousova, CZE/CZE
2016 Anna Kalinskaya / Tereza Mihalikova, RUS/SVK
2017 Bianca Andreescu / Carson Branstine, CAN/USA
2018 Liang En-shou / Wang Xinyu, TPE/CHN
2019 Natsumi Kawaguchi / Adrienn Nagy, JPN/HUN
2020 Alexandra Eala / Priska Madelyn Nugroho, PHI/INA

*RECENT GIRLS DOUBLES SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2018]
AO: Liang En-Shuo / Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
RG: Caty McNally / Iga Swiatek (USA/POL)
WI: Wang Xinyu / Wang Xiyu (CHN/CHN)
US: Coco Gauff / Caty McNally (USA/USA)
[2019]
AO: Natsumi Kawaguchi / Adrienn Nagy (JPN/HUN)
RG: Chloe Beck / Emma Navarro (USA/USA)
WI: Savannah Broadus / Abigail Forbes (USA/USA)
US: Kamilla Bartone / Oksana Selekhmetova (LAT/RUS)
[2020]
AO: Alexandra Eala / Priska Madelyn Nugroho, PHI/INA

*AUSTRALIAN OPEN GIRLS FINALS - since 2010*
2010 Karolina Pliskova/CZE def. Laura Robson/GBR
2011 An-Sophie Mestach/BEL def. Monica Puig/PUR
2012 Taylor Townsend/USA def. Yulia Putintseva/RUS
2013 Ana Konjuh/CRO def. Katerina Siniakova/CZE
2014 Elizaveta Kulichkova/RUS def. Jana Fett/CRO
2015 Tereza Mihalikova/SVK def. Katie Swan/GBR
2016 Vera Lapko/BLR def. Tereza Mihalikova/SVK
2017 Marta Kostyuk/UKR def. Rebeka Masarova/SUI
2018 Liang En-shou/TPE def. Clara Burel/FRA
2019 Clara Tauson/DEN def. Leylah Annie Fernandez/CAN
2020 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/AND vs. Weronika Baszak/POL

*SLAM GIRLS SINGLES FINALS - POLAND*
1995 Wimbledon - Aleksandra Olsza (W)
1996 Australian Open - Magdalena Grzbowska (W)
2005 Wimbledon - Aga Radwanska (W)
2006 Roland Garros - Aga Radwanska (W)
2007 Wimbledon - Ula Radwanska (W)
2007 US Open - Ula Radwanska (RU)
2018 Wimbledon - Iga Swiatek (W)
2020 Australian Open - Weronika Baszak (?)

*SLAM GIRLS SINGLES FINALS - ASIAN NATIONS*
1952 Wimbledon - Rita Davar, IND (RU)
1969 Roland Garros - Kazuko Sawamatsu, JPN (W)
1969 Wimbledon - Kazuko Sawamatsu, JPN (W)
1983 Wimbledon - Patricia Hy, HKG (RU)
1993 US Open - Yuka Yoshida, JPN (RU)
1994 Wimbledon - Jeon Mi-ra, KOR (RU)
1995 Wimbledon - Tamarine Tanasugarn, THA (RU)
1998 Australian Open - Wynne Prakusya, INA (RU)
1999 Wimbledon - Iroda Tulyagnova, UZB (W)
2002 Roland Garros - Angelique Widjaja, INA
2008 Wimbledon - Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, THA (RU)
2009 Wimbledon - Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, THA (W)
2010 Wimbledon - Sachie Ishizu, JPN (RU)
2018 Australian Open - Liang En-shuo, TPE (W)
2018 US Open - Wang Xiyu, CHN (W)
[CHN - slam GS/GD champions]
2004 AO GD: Sun Sheng-nan
2014 WI GD: Ye Qiuyu
2018 AO GD: Wang Xinyu
2018 WI GD: Wang Xinyu/Wang Xiyu
2018 US GS: Wang Xiyu

*AO WC DOUBLES CHAMPIONS*
2004 Classic 8's: Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2005 Classic 8's: Florence Gravellier/Maaike Smit (FRA/NED)
2006 Classic 8's: Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2007 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2008 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2010 Florence Gravellier/Aniek van Koot (FRA/NED)
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven (NED/NED)
2012 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven (NED/NED)
2013 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot (NED/NED)
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
2015 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
2016 Marjolein Buis/Yui Kamiji (NED/JPN)
2017 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot (NED/NED)
2018 Marjolein Buis/Yui Kamiji (NED/JPN)
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2020 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)

*LOW-SEEDED AO CHAMPIONS - OPEN ERA*
Un - 1978 Chris O'Neil, AUS
Un - 2007 Serena Williams, USA
#12 - 2001 Jennifer Capriati, USA
#7 - 2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
#7 - 2005 Serena Williams, USA
#5 - 1979 Barbara Jordan, USA
#5 - 2008 Maria Sharapova, RUS
#4 - 1995 Mary Pierce, FRA
#4 - 1997 Martina Hingis, SUI
#4 - 2014 Li Na, CHN
#4 - 2019 Naomi Osaka, JPN
--
NOTE: #14 Kenin vs. (un) Muguruza

*AO "JUNIOR BREAKOUT" WINNERS*
2007 Madison Brengle, USA
2008 Jessica Moore, AUS and Arantxa Rus, NED
2009 Ksenia Pervak, RUS
2010 Karolina & Kristyna Pliskova, CZE/CZE
2011 Japanese girls
2012 Taylor Townsend, USA
2013 Ana Konjuh, CRO
2014 Elizaveta Kulichkova, RUS
2015 Tereza Mihalikova, SVK
2016 Sara Tomic, AUS
2017 Marta Kostyuk, UKR
2018 Liang En-shuo, TPE
2019 Clara Tauson, DEN and Anastasia Tikhonova, RUS
2020 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND

"Hunter Biden" is the new "Hillary's emails" of this election cycle. Don't get fooled again.

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) January 30, 2020

No more walking for me. pic.twitter.com/PvRdyfORT2

— Dogs are the best people (@_TheBestDogs) January 30, 2020

Fiona the hippo attempts to make #SuperBowl pick, vomits on Kansas City: https://t.co/I69pNMvkd8 pic.twitter.com/Z3qfMm5Wee

— WLWT (@WLWT) January 30, 2020

This is what it sounds like across #Wuhan tonight. In the city (of 11 million) that is effectively quarantined as the epicenter of the #coronarvirus, a social media message urged people to chant ‘Jiayóu!’ from balconies & streets. It means, ‘keep going’. Have a listen: @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/yJSP0Cg5fK

— Janis Mackey Frayer (@janisfrayer) January 27, 2020

TOP QUALIFIER: #31 Ann Li/USA
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): #8 Serena Williams/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): Garbine Muguruza/ESP
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - #5 Anna Kalinskaya/RUS def. Wang Xiyu/CHN 4-6/7-6(2)/6-2 (down 6-4/5-3, MP at 5-4)
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - Caroline Wozniacki/DEN def. #23 Dayana Yastremka/UKR 7-5/7-5 (double-break down in both sets, 5-1 in 1st; staves off retirement)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #27 Wang Qiang/CHN def. #8 Serena Williams/USA 6-4/6-7(2)/7-5 (first first week HC slam loss since '06)
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr./WC/Doub.): Nominee: WC QF - Zhu def. #1 de Groot 6-7(3)/6-3/7-5 (on 10th MP; first match by CHN in WC slam history)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Paula Badosa/ESP (def. Larsson/SWE)
FIRST SEED OUT: #32 Barbora Strycova/CZE (1st Rd. - lost to Cirstea/ROU)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Paula Badosa/ESP, Barbora Krejcikova/CZE, Ann Li/USA, Greet Minnen/BEL, Elena Rybakina/KAZ
UPSET QUEENS: Spain
REVELATION LADIES: Kazakhstan
NATION OF POOR SOULS: BLR (0-2 1st Rd., #11 Sabalanka highest seed out, Azarenka absent)
LAST QUALIFIERS STANDING: Harriet Dart/GBR, Nao Hibino/JPN, Barbora Krejcikova/CZE, Ann Li/USA, Caty McNally/USA, Greet Minnen/BEL (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARDS STANDING: Patricia Hon/AUS and Arina Rodionova/AUS (both 2nd Rd.) [PR: CiCi Bellis/USA - 3rd Rd.]
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: Ash Barty (first Aussie in SF since '84)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Sofia Kenin/USA
IT (Arab): Ons Jabeur, TUN (first Arab in slam QF)
COMEBACK PLAYER: CiCi Bellis/USA
CRASH & BURN: #8 Serena Williams/USA (3r/Q.Wang - out of first week of HC slam for first time since 2006)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Coco Gauff (2nd Rd. - down 3-0 in 3rd vs. Cirstea/ROU)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: Nominees: Mattek-Sands, Van Koot (WC)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Garbine Muguruza/ESP (announced return to form w/ dominating 3rd Rd. win over #5 Svitolina)
"G'DAY/GOOD ON YA, MATE" AWARD: Aces for Bushfire Relief program
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Babos/Mladenovic, Kamiji/Whiley (WC), Krejcikova
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/AND





All for Day 12. More tomorrow.