AO.10 - The Land of Opportunity

While the bottom half of this Australian Open's women's singles draw has and is all about battlefields, spotlights and superhero tights, the top came into quarterfinal day (Part 2) with a trio of mid-twenties breakthrough stars and an unassuming world #1 seeking to earn the role of "the other player" who'll meet either Naomi Osaka or Serena Williams in the final on Saturday.

In both matches, how things started had little connection to how they finished.




=DAY 10 NOTES= ...in a match-up of all-court players, #1 Ash Barty and #25 Karolina Muchova got the first crack at seizing the opportunity that the top half of the draw presented the four remaining players there.

The '19 Roland Garros champion Aussie had been the only player there to advance to the 4th Round who'd held the #1 singles position and/or won a major title (the bottom had had four and five, respectively, and combined to win thirty-one). With a win, Barty, an AO semifinalist a year ago, would become the first Aussie woman to reach at least the semis at the nation's home slam in back-to-back years since Wendy Turnbull in 1980-81 (F/SF); while Muchova would officially "join the club" of recent Czech (Kvitova, Pliskova, Strycova, Vondrousova and the now-retired Safarova) slam singles semifinalists, once more highlighting the admirable depth that continues to fuel (or will, eventually) the country's sterling Fed/BJK Cup results over the past decade.

While the more experienced Barty was the favorite heading in, having yet to lose a match (8-0) since her return to action from her year-long pandemic-related absence from the tour, and hadn't dropped a set at this AO, Muchova had won all eight sets she'd played at this tournament, as well, usually proving her ability to stage comebacks from deeps slides, such as falling behind 5-0 in the 2nd vs. Karolina Pliskova in the 3rd Round, and 4-0 in the 1st to Elise Mertens in the Round of 16, before rallying to win in straights.

That history would prove to be to the Czech's benefit today, as she quickly found herself on the wrong side of a 6-1/2-0 scoreline, with Barty having claimed the 1st set in twenty-four mintues and lost just four points on serve.

Sometimes you see the ?? like a ?? & so far, it's looking like one of those days for @ashbarty.

The Aussie takes the opening set 6-1 over Muchova in 24 minutes. #AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/u2aSoXcKpG

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

After getting on the scoreboard at 2-1, it was at this moment that Muchova called for medical attention, and she was ultimately taken off the court for nine mintues for treatment. Later, she revealed that she hadn't been feeling well in the day's heat, and that she'd been iced down while she was away. Whether such a thing should have been allowed to occur, as it calls into question whether it was a fitness issue that unfairly gave Muchova an edge over Barty, who had no such issue, is a debate that will surely gain steam. But what is not in question is that the match turned at that very moment.

A quick ? in play as @karomuchova7 takes a medical time-out.#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/Du5ypMwVmv

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

Once the Czech returned, after having possibly been nervous throughout the 1st, she was much more settled. At the same time, errors crept into the game of Barty, who became more and more tentative and was never able to recover her earlier form. At any moment during which Barty got close to pulling herself back, Muchova managed to stave off the threat. After Barty failed to convert two BP at 3-3 in the 2nd, Muchova ran off seven of eight games, winning the 2nd at 6-3 and going up a break to open the 3rd. Barty continued to sink in the decider, and wasn't able to recover from the immediate 1-0 deficit. Down 4-2, Barty fell behind love/30 on serve. After getting back to 30/30, a Barty ball bounced twice off the net cord and landed on her side of the court. She'd soon so on to drop serve for the fourth time in the match. Serving for the win at 5-2, Muchova saved three last ditch BP chances in the Aussie's favor, then aced her on MP to win 1-6/6-3/6-2.

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The win makes Muchova a first time slam semifinalist, and extends the AO's streak of years with at least one in the women's Final 4 to nine (since 2013), and her first career #1 victory gives her three over Top 10 players in her career (two at this event). Both the other two came against countrywoman Pliskova.

A symbol of luck ahead of the semis?

?? x @karomuchova7#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/0C44TSdoaK

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

...it was all-Bannerette affair in the day's other quarterfinal, as even before Serena Williams' win yesterday it was assured that a U.S. woman would reach the semis at an eleventh consecutive major.

Good friends, #22 Jennifer Brady and unseeded Jessica Pegula have been leaving notes on the lenses of courtside cameras for each other at the conclusion of their matches at this AO, leaving a virtual trail of breadcrumbs to this second match-up between the two at the tour level. Pegula won the last, a 1st Rounder at 2020's Cincy-at-NYC tournament in Brady's first match after she'd claimed her maiden tour title in Lexington.

While Brady has been down this path before, reaching last year's U.S. Open semis, Pegula had never gone beyond the 3rd Round in a major ('20 U.S., as well), but at this AO had already outlasted the likes of two former slam champs (Azarenka, Stosur), a doubles #1 (Mladenovic) and Top 5 seed (Svitolina) while seemingly feeling more and more comfortable in this new land with every round.

Early on in this one, the same held true. It was Pegula who got the early break lead in the 1st, and kept Brady's power at bay with her deep shots. Brady broke back for 4-4, only to drop serve the following game. Serving for the set, Pegula went up 40/love and moments later took the 1st 6-4.

But Brady quickly adjusted, and over the course of the rest of the match appeared the far fresher and more fit player (despite having been in a two-week lockdown prior to the AO -- though Brady said afterward that her offseason training work had been so intense that she was due a break to rest, so it worked out pretty well for her). After exchanging breaks early in the 2nd, Brady began to get a higher percentage (57% vs. 45% in the 1st) of first serves in (allowing her to be on the offensive in rallies, rather than Pegula getting the chance with a second serve return) and moved forward in the court more often. She began to control the rallies. By the end of the set Brady was breaking Pegula at love to take the 2nd at 6-2.

In the 3rd, Brady started off the set by again missing on a series of first serves. Predictably, she saw Pegula get the break on her fifth BP. But from there, as Pegula flagged down the stretch, Brady appeared to pick up steam and seemed ready to play a *fourth* set if it'd been necessary. Pegula failed to hold serve in the 3rd, and did so just once in her last seven service games in the final two sets (she was broken in each of the last five times she served in the match). Brady quickly turned the 1-0 deficit into a 5-1, double-break lead. Serving up 5-1, Brady held at love to win 4-6/6-2/6-1.

A picture is worth a thousand words ??

Jen Brady is through to the semifinals in Melbourne after a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Jessica Pegula#AusOpen | @jennifurbrady95 pic.twitter.com/c2uJZW22a2

— USTA (@usta) February 17, 2021

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Friends & competitors ??

Nothing but respect between Jen Brady and Jessica Pegula following their three-set quarterfinal#AusOpen | @JLPegula | @jennifurbrady95 pic.twitter.com/UThfYPp0Zx

— USTA (@usta) February 17, 2021

The win raises Brady up the a new career high, crashing through the Top 20 ceiling at (as of now) #15. Pegula breaks into the Top 50 for the first time at #43.

...in doubles and mixed action, the women's final was set with #2 Mertens/Sabelenka (def. #4 Melichar/Schuurs) and #3 Krejcikova/Siniakova (def. Jurak/Stojanovic) advancing out of the semis. Mertens/Sabalenka have one slam crown ('19 U.S.) in their career column, while the Czechs have two ('18 RG & WI) and have now reached finals (w/ '17 U.S.) at all four majors as pros after winning three quarters of a Junior Grand Slam (RG-WI-US) in 2013.

Women's doubles final berth ?

Second seeds @elise_mertens/@SabalenkaA squeeze past fourth seeds Melichar/Schuurs 7-5 6-4. #AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/mKCRTLmkIa

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

Barbora Krejcikova is not only playing for a WD title, but she's still alive in the MX, as well. She and Rajeev Ram (who's also alive in the MD semis) advanced to the semifinals on Day 10, joining Ram's partner Joe Salisbury as the only players still with a chance to win *two* doubles slams at this AO.

...after such an up-and-down 2020 season, Diede de Groot has gotten off to a more appropriate start in '21. But it wasn't easy today.

A day after winning the doubles title with Aniek Van Koot, the top-seeded Dutch woman faced off for the singles crown with #2-seeded rival Yui Kamiji in their third match up of the season (they split the Victorian and Melbourne Open titles heading into this slam), and in their ninth slam singles final since 2017.

De Groot led 6-3/3-1, only to see Kamiji rally. The Japanese former #1 served for the set at 5-4, but saw de Groot get the break. Going to a TB, Kamiji won it 7-4 to force a 3rd set.

The 3rd started with six breaks of serve. Nine games in, de Groot broke Kamiji for a 5-4 lead, but failed to serve out the match. With the championship going to a deciding 10-point TB, de Groot came back from 2-0 down to win 10-4, picking up her ninth career slam singles crown with a 6-3/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4) win in 2:20. She's now won the Australian crown three of the last four years, failing to win it all only last season when she was shockingly upset in the 1st Round by Zhu Zhenzhen in her slam debut. Unchallenged by de Groot, Kamiji picked up her second AO title.

??????#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/GT5RpNCdUk

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

This is de Groot's sixth sweep of the s/d titles at a major in her career, but her first since doing it three times (AO-RG-US) in '19 when she came within a Wimbledon singles final defeat of pulling off a Grand Slam Double.

De Groot now leads her head-to-head with Kamiji 18-15, including 16-4 in their last twenty meetings. She's 15-8 in singles finals (15-3 in the last eighteen), 7-2 in slam finals.

...RADKA LEITMERITZ STRIKES AGAIN ON DAY 10:

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...AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T USE A PHOTO OF KOURNIKOVA ON DAY 10:

Hahahaha. A fitting end to a B+ career ?????????????. https://t.co/dJGpW7rgNC

— Nicole Gibbs (@Gibbsyyyy) February 16, 2021

...AND THIS RECENT LOCKDOWN WAS AFTER JUST A FEW CASES. NOT HALF A MILLION PEOPLE DYING. WEIRD... ON DAY 10:

Crowds back at the #AusOpen for the semifinals and finals. 12.500 per session

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 16, 2021

...AN AUSSIE "IN" WITH THE (small) CROWD?... ON DAY 10:

With @karomuchova7 locked in battle with Australian treasure @ashbarty on court..

...a lesser-known fact is that she's pals with our very own @RebelWilson! ????

??: @karolinamuchova/Instagram#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/kEDWMtB22V

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

...LIKE (UCLA BRUINS EDITION) ON DAY 10:

???? https://t.co/Lz2xUq50lA

— UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) February 17, 2021

With just two days remaining in this "Six Degrees of David Bowie" series, I'm sticking with country music since I haven't gone there in any of the other slam iterations like this, and since this is probably the last time I'll plumb the depths of YouTube for musical selections for a slam "And Finally..." (I think I've reached the end of the internet there, but I've got some ideas for different things for the U.S. Open).

So, today is just a little flash of memories of some songs from around that time, including from K.T. Oslin, who just passed away two months ago. I think what I remember most about her from back then are her many appearances on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show." I remember her being a great interview guest, which is to be expected since she had an interesting career story that included not having her first hit song until her mid-forties, with "80's Ladies," which would win the Grammy for Song of the Year and become the title song of her debut studio album, which would become the highest-charting album by a female country artist in twenty years.



This one's a little bit of a "cheat," as I remember Kathy Mattea from the late '80s/early '90 period, but little else. This is more about the Ken Burns "Country Music" documentary series, which had a very nice segment about the orgins of the song "Where've You Been," as well as the Nashville Bluebird Cafe, where the song debuted (but not with Mattea singing it).

I've cued up this part of the docuntary to that section, which starts with the only brief mention of *my* favorites, Lyle Lovett and k.d. lang, in the whole project, including when interviewee Mattea talks about what I noted the other day, namely how in that period the doors "swung open" to allow all sorts of variations on the country music genre, only to be closed once again after a very brief time. The part about the song soon follows. It wasn't expected to be a hit, as the listener really has to stick with it until the end to get the full emotional affect. But when it does finally hit, it hits hard. (I also included Mattea singing the song in 2019.)



The male singers of that time, I think, were so much more admirable than the carbon copies (it seems) you see today in country music. You know, the ones with names like Luke Brown, or Cody Morgan. I don't *think* those are actual singers, but they *could* be. Here's one of Clint Black's (all right, so his name was sort of country-typical, too) biggest early hits, "Killin' Time." (Black, by the way, was just on "The Masked Singer" with his wife, singer/actress Lisa Hartman... though I don't know if that's a particularly *good* development.)



I remember really liking Mary Chapin Carpenter, then hardly ever hearing about her anymore. In doing this I did find out she just released a very highly-praised album last August called "The Dirt and the Stars," and that over the years she's had periods of depression and, at some point, suffered a pulmonary embolism. Here are two of her big songs from decades ago -- "Down at the Twist and Shout" and "Shut Up and Kiss Me" -- on which I saw one commenter said of her, "She's like a cross between Bonnie Raitt & Wynonna Judd." Sounds pretty good.



Clearly I half-stepped back into country music around the end of the late 2000's, as I recognized many of the songs/artists from that era while doing this. It was probably linked to singers coming from "American Idol" like Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler, as well as Darius Rucker (who I've always really liked) making the switch to country, and that that was when the original breakout stretch of a teenage Taylor Swift occurred.

I still consider "In Color," Jamey Johnson's 2009 song about the World War II generation, one the best songs I've ever heard. The lyrics are about as perfect as those in a song can be. Here's the original video, as well as Johnson at the 2018 Farm Aid (it maybe works even better in this acoustic style). Ummm, he's changed his looks *just a little*... and even now is only 45, but you'd think he might be (at least) a decade older.



Swift was a genre changer when she arrived in the late 2000's, so it's no surprise that country couldn't contain her, as her stardom has taken her to whole other areas (with likely still more to come). While following her, and being familiar with many of her more recent songs (you know the ones, as they become hard to avoid), in some ways my dominant mind's eye image of her is still that of her early in her career, showing up at country music award shows and just totally infusing the proceedings with something that, without her, they just did not have.

Her 2008 Romeo-and-Juliet themed song "Love Story" is a signature from the time. Here she is in the original video, and in 2010 on "Late Show with David Letterman" and at the All for the Hall Los Angeles benefit contest, where the connection of her fans to her and her music was already more than little bit clear.



After her highly public battle to control her old music, sold off in 2019 in an act of not only greed but also an intentional effort to get back at her after she wouldn't meet the demands of the talent manager of her old label that would allow her to buy the original master recordings, Swift announced that she would re-record her first six albums. The thought is that those releases would become the dominant versions of the songs on the market, therefore devaluing the masters purchased out from under her.

Just this week Swift released the audio version of "Love Story" (Taylor's Version) ahead of the full (new) re-release of her second album, "Fearless," (from 2008) this spring. Here is the L.A. Times' story on this development, as well as a good column about Swift and the song from The Atlantic.

Here's the official lyric video featuring the re-done version:



This series ends tomorrow with some selections from the country singer who was *the* biggest star of the era in question, flying higher (literally, at times) than anyone could have imagined.

To be continued...







=WOMEN'S SINGLES SF=
#25 Karolina Muchova/CZE vs. #22 Jennifer Brady/USA
#3 Naomi Osaka/JPN vs. #10 Serena Williams/USA

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#3 Krejcikova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) vs. #2 Mertens/Sabalenka (BEL/BLR)

=MIXED DOUBLES QF=
(Alt.) Carter/Gille (USA/BEL) vs. (WC) Stosur/Ebden (AUS/AUS)
Krawczyk/Salisbury (USA/GBR) vs. Klepac/Skupski (SLO/GBR)
#6 Krejcikova/R.Ram (CZE/USA) def. #3 Dabrowski/Pavic (CAN/CRO)
(WC) Sanders/Polmans (AUS/AUS) def. (WC) Ar.Rodionova/Purcell (AUS/AUS)

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
#1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-3/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4)

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) def. #2 Montjane/Shuker (RSA/GBR) 6-4/6-1

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My new idol! Keep it simple guys! ?? @AsKaratsev pic.twitter.com/m0ab0t0k87

— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) February 16, 2021

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Chin up, and focused on the positives no matter the result.

?? @ashbarty #AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/SW8jXpjk7g

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021

*WTA SLAM QF RECORDS - 2020-21*
2 - BRADY (2-0)
2 - Kenin (2-0)
2 - OSAKA (2-0)
2 - S.WILLIAMS (2-0)
2 - BARTY (1-1)
2 - HALEP (1-1)
2 - Kvitova (1-1)
1 - Azarenka (1-0)
1 - MUCHOVA (1-0)
1 - Muguruza (1-0)
1 - Podoroska (1-0)
1 - Swiatek (1-0)
1 - Collins (0-1)
1 - HSIEH (0-1)
1 - Jabeur (0-1)
1 - Kontaveit (0-1)
1 - Mertens (0-1)
1 - Pavlyuchenkova (0-1)
1 - PEGULA (0-1)
1 - Pironkova (0-1)
1 - Putintseva (0-1)
1 - Rogers (0-1)
1 - Siegemund (0-1)
1 - Svitolina (0-1)
1 - Trevisan (0-1)

*LOWEST-SEEDED WOMEN IN AO SF, since 2010*
Unseeded - 2010 Zheng Jie, CHN
Unseeded - 2015 Madison Keys, USA
Unseeded - 2016 Johanna Konta, GBR
Unseeded - 2017 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, CRO
Unseeded - 2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
Unseeded - 2018 Elise Mertens, BEL
Unseeded - 2019 Danielle Collins, USA
Unseeded - 2020 Garbine Muguruza, ESP (RU)
Wild Card - 2010 Justine Henin, BEL (RU)
#30 - 2014 Genie Bouchard, CAN
#29 - 2013 Sloane Stephens, USA
#25 - 2021 KAROLINA MUCHOVA, CZE
#22 - 2021 JENNIFER BRADY, USA
#21 - 2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
#20 - 2014 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK (RU)
#16 - 2010 Li Na, CHN
#14 - 2020 Sofia Kenin, USA (W)
#13 - 2017 Venus Williams, USA
#11 - 2012 Kim Clijsters, BEL
#10 - 2015 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
#10 - 2021 SERENA WILLIAMS, USA

*FIRST-TIME SLAM SEMIFINALISTS SINCE 2017*
=2017=
AO: CoCo Vandeweghe/USA
RG: Alona Ostapenko/LAT (W)
WI: Magdalena Rybarikova/SVK
US: -
=2018=
AO: Elise Mertens/BEL
RG: -
WI: Julia Goerges/GER
US: Naomi Osaka/JPN (W), Anastasija Sevastova/LAT
=2019=
AO: Danielle Collins/USA
RG: Amanda Anisimova/USA, Ash Barty/AUS (W), Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (RU)
WI: Barbora Strycova/CZE, Elina Svitolina/UKR
US: Bianca Andreescu/CAN (W), Belinda Bencic/SUI
=2020=
AO: Sofia Kenin/USA (W)
US: Jennifer Brady/USA
RG: Nadia Podoroska/ARG, Iga Swiatek/POL (W)
=2021=
AO: Karolina Muchova/CZE
--
29/31 slams, & 30/33
--
9 consecutive AO (2013-21)

*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
40 - SERENA WILLIAMS, USA (33-6)
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
16 - Kim Clijsters, BEL (8-8)
8 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (5-3)
8 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-3)
7 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-3)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (4-1)
5 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (2-3)
4 - NAOMI OSAKA, JPN (3-0)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
4 - Madison Keys, USA (1-3)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Johanna Konta GBR (0-3)
3 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-2)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Ash Barty, AUS (1-1)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - JENNIFER BRADY, USA (0-1)
2 - Timea Bacsinszky, SUI (0-2)
2 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
1 (W) Andreescu,Swiatek,Vondrousova
1 = MUCHOVA (0-0)
1 (L) Anisimova,Bencic,Bertens,Collins,Flipkens
1 (L) Mertens, Peng,Petkovic,Pironkova,Podoroska
1 (L) Sevastova,Strycova,Vesnina,Wickmayer

*ACTIVE PLAYERS WITH EXACTLY ONE SLAM SF IN CAREER*
Bianca Andreescu, CAN
Amanda Anisimova, USA
Ash Barty, AUS
Belinda Bencic, SUI
Kiki Bertens, NED
Danielle Collins, USA
Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
Elise Mertens, BEL
Karolina Muchova, CZE
Peng Shuai, CHN
Andrea Petkovic, GER
Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
Nadia Podoroska, ARG
Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
Barbora Strycova, CZE
Iga Swiatek, POL
Elena Vesnina, RUS
Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
Yanina Wickmayer, BEL

*RECENT AO SEMIFINALISTS*
2015: S.Williams (W), Sharapova (RU), Keys/Makarova
2016: Kerber (W), S.Williams (RU), A.Radwanska/Konta
2017: S.Williams (W), V.Williams (RU), Lucic-Baroni/Vandeweghe
2018: Wozniacki (W), Halep (RU); Mertens/Kerber
2019: Osaka (W), Kvitova (RU); Collins/Ka.Pliskova
2020: Kenin (W), Muguruza (RU); Barty/Halep
2021: Muchova vs. Brady, Osaka vs. S.Williams

*LOW-SEEDED AO CHAMPIONS - OPEN ERA*
Unseeded - 1978 Chris O'Neil, AUS
Unseeded - 2007 Serena Williams, USA
#14 - 2020 Sofia Kenin, 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
--
SF MATCH-UPS: #25 Muchova vs. #22 Brady, #3 Osaka vs. #10 S.Williams

*AO "Ms. OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS*
2004 Fabiola Zuluaga, COL
2005 Nathalie Dechy, FRA
2006 Martina Hingis, SUI
2007 Serena Williams, USA
2008 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2009 Vera Zvonareva, RUS
2010 Zheng Jie, CHN & Li Na, CHN
2011 Li Na, CHN
2012 Sara Errani, ITA
2013 Sloane Stephens, USA
2014 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
2015 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
2016 Johanna Konta, GBR
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
2018 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2019 Danielle Collins, USA
2020 Sofia Kenin, USA
2021 Karolina Muchova, CZE

*AO WC SINGLES CHAMPIONS*
2002 Classic 8's: Esther Vergeer/NED
2003 Classic 8's: Esther Vergeer/NED
2004 Classic 8's: Esther Vergeer/NED
2005 Classic 8's: Mie Yaosa/JPN
2006 Classic 8's: Esther Vergeer/NED
2007 Esther Vergeer/NED
2008 Esther Vergeer/NED
2009 Esther Vergeer/NED
2010 Korie Homan/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer/NED
2012 Esther Vergeer/NED
2013 Aniek Van Koot/NED
2014 Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
2015 Jiske Griffioen/NED
2016 Jiske Griffioen/NED
2017 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 Diede de Groot/NED
2019 Diede de Groot/NED
2020 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 Diede de Groot/NED

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM SINGLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
21 - Esther Vergeer, NED [9-6-0-6]
9 - Diede de Groot, NED [3-1-2-3]
8 - Yui Kamiji, JPN [2-4-0-2]
4 - Jiske Griffioen, NED [2-1-1-0]
3 - Aniek van Koot, NED [1-0-1-1]
3 - Monique Kalkman, NED [0-0-0-3]

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM TITLES*
[singles/doubles]
42 - Esther Vergeer, NED (21/21)
24 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8/16)
19 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3/16)
18 - Diede de Groot, NED (9/9)
18 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4/14)
12 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1/11)

*WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS - active*
18 - Yui Kamiji, JPN (8-10)
13 - Aniek Van Koot, NED (3-10)
12 - Diede de Groot, NED (9-3)
6 - Jiske Griffioen, NED (4-2)
1 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR (1-0)
1 - Momoko Ohtani, JPN (0-1)

*de Groot vs. Kamiji Slam Finals*
2017 US - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 AO - #2 Diede de Groot/NED def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 RG - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2021 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
--
de Groot leads 7-2

*de Groot vs. Kamiji*
2021 Australian Open Final - DE GROOT 6-3/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4)
2021 Melbourne WC Open Final - KAMIJI 6-1/6-4
2021 Victorian WC Open Final - DE GROOT 6-1/7-5
----------------------------------------------------
2020 US Open Final - DE GROOT 6-3/6-3
----------------------------------------------------
2019 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters Final - DE GROOT 6-2/6-3
2019 US Open USTA WC Chsp. Final - DE GROOT 6-4/4-6/6-3
2019 US Open Final - DE GROOT 4-6/6-1/6-4
2019 British Open SF - DE GROOT 6-2/6-2
2019 Roland Garros Final - DE GROOT 6-1/6-0
2019 World Team Cup Final - KAMIJI 3-6/6-2/6-1
2019 Japan Open Final - DE GROOT 6-3/7-6(8)
2019 Australian Open Final - DE GROOT 6-0/6-2
2019 Melbourne Open Final - KAMIJI 3-6/7-5/7-6(11) - saved 5 MP
----------------------------------------------------
2018 NED Wheelchair Tennis Masters Final - DE GROOT 6-3/7-5
2018 US Open Final - DE GROOT 6-2/6-3
2018 British Open WC Tennis Chsps Final - DE GROOT 6-2/3-6/3-6
2018 BNP Paribas Open de France Final - DE GROOT 7-5/6-4
2018 Roland Garros Final - KAMIJI 2-6/6-0/6-2
2018 Australian Open Final - DE GROOT 7-6(6)/6-4
---------------------------------------------------
2017 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters Final - DE GROOT 7-5/6-4
2017 Open d'Amiens Hauts de France Final - DE GROOT 1-6/7-5/6-3
2017 US Open Final - KAMIJI 7-5/6-2
2017 US Open USTA WC Chsps Final - KAMIJI 5-7/6-3/7-6(12)
2017 British Open WC Tennis Chsps Final - KAMIJI 6-4/6-3
2017 BNP Paribas Open de France SF - KAMIJI 6-4/6-3
2017 Japan Open Final - KAMIJI 6-2/6-2
2017 Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Open SF - KAMIJI 6-3/6-4
2017 Apia Int'l Sydney WC Tennis Open SF - DE GROOT 7-5/7-6(5)
---------------------------------------------------
2016 Paralympic Games Bronze - KAMIJI 6-3/6-3
2016 BNP Paribas Open de France Final - KAMIJI 6-3/7-6(4)
2016 Toyota Open Int'l de L'ile de Re SF - DE GROOT 4-6/7-5/1-0 ret.
---------------------------------------------------
2015 Sardinia Open QF - KAMIJI 6-1/6-1
2015 BNP Paribas Open de France QF - KAMIJI 6-2/6-4
2014 Swiss Open Starling Hotel Geneva 1st Rd. - KAMIJI 6-1/6-2
--
de Groot leads 19-15 (17-4 last 21); 16-8 in singles F (16-3 last 19)

"Im tired of talking about Donald Trump." -- Joe Biden#BidenTownhall

— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) February 17, 2021

Rescue dog stalks his dad every day — then starts bringing him "gifts" from outside ?? pic.twitter.com/2EAREamrrB

— The Dodo (@dodo) February 16, 2021

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TOP QUALIFIER: Francesca Jones/GBR
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): #3 Naomi Osaka/JPN
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #10 Serena Williams/USA
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Whitney Osuigwe/USA def. #22 Mihaela Buzarnescu/ROU 2-6/7-6(1)/6-2 (trailed 6-2/5-2)
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #2 Simona Halep/ROU def. Ajla Tomljanovic/AUS 4-6/6-4/7-5; 2:34; trailed 5-2 in 3rd, Tomlj. for match; won last 5 games
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #3 Naomi Osaka/JPN def. #14 Garbine Muguruza/ESP 4-6/6-4/7-5
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Naomi Osaka/JPN (def. Pavlyuchenkova/RUS)
FIRST SEED OUT: #23 Angelique Kerber/GER (1st Rd.-Pera/USA)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Olga Danilovic/SRB, Mayar Sherif/EGY, Liudmila Samsonova/RUS, Nina Stojanovic/SRB
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: Estonia
NATION OF POOR SOULS: China (1-5, 2 seeds out 1r & all 3 Top 50; Wang Xiyu w/d with COVID)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Sara Errani/ITA, Kaja Juvan/SLO (both 3rd Rd.) + (LL: Schmiedlova-2r)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Dasha Gavrilova/AUS, Samantha Stosur/AUS (both 2nd Rd.)
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: Ash Barty (in QF)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: Karolina Muchova/CZE
IT (Egyptian): Mayar Sherif/EGY (1st Eqyptian slam MD win)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Rebecca Marino/CAN (first GS win in 10 yrs.; battled depression)
CRASH & BURN: Sofia Kenin/USA (2nd Rd. to Kanepi; earliest AO DC exit since 2003)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Simona Halep/ROU (2nd Rd.- down 5-2 in 3rd vs. Tomljanovic, sweeps final 5 games)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: Hsieh Su-wei/TPE (first career WS slam QF at age 35) (Nominee: S.Williams)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Simona Halep/ROU
"G'DAY/GOOD ON YA, MATE" AWARD: nominees: Osaka & the butterfly; Day 7 bottom half Rd. of 16: combined 51 slam titles (7 players), 460 weeks at #1 (5 players), 70 slam finals (all 8 players), 183 combined WTA s/d titles (all 8)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominee: Krejcikova
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: [jr. event to be held later in '21]





All for Day 10. More tomorrow.