Have a Good One, Mates
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
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:20 PM
5 Comments:
I don't have an opinion about Rybakina's coach because I haven't seen enough. But Pam Shriver was also adamant about it.
I also wonder where Shriver and Stubbs were (and maybe I missed it or forgot it) when Tursunov was using his perceived power to publicly humiliate Aryna--who also defended him and minimized his behavior.
Again, I have no opinion, but when twp older women say something, I do tend to pay attention.
Remember the so-called "creepy" behavior of the father/coach and another staff member's grabbing Sara Bejlek in a very inappropriate ways? I was called every name in the book for calling that out. After all, "he's her father!"--which makes it okay, according to many. Which is scary as hell.
The good:Muguruza got a qualifier. The bad:It was Noskova, who is higher ranked than #8 seed Blinkova. Muguruza's losing streak now at 6.
Krejcikova drops to 30, which looks bad, but due to last year's injury, has almost nothing to defend for 4 months.
Krejcikova/Siniakova are going to get to double digits.
"Is she ill?" My thoughts when the first de Groot score I saw was 0-6.
This may have been one of the most enjoyable junior matches I have watched. I see the moonball as a tactical shot, so it doesn't bother me when they use it. Shows they have a plan B.
The one negative from this match isn't one. 100+ errors is bad, but in context of a 3 hour match in the heat, and the longest rallies that I have seen in a junior match, I can live with it.
Like Collins and Linda Fruhvirtova, Andreeva is vocally demonstrative. She has a temper, which makes her polarizing. Don't let that distract you from her talent. Probably a year closer to the tour than Korneeva, she has a good serve, even with a high number of double faults. Very crafty. Projects between 30-50.
It will be interesting to see how Korneeva's game evolves. The backhand is ahead of the forehand for now, as her forehand is a bit loopy. Her willingness to fight will serve her well. Projects between 40-60, which seems low, but that is where Linette has been most of her career.
Stat of the Week- 1- The number of non Australian women to win a junior doubles slam between 1930-1980.
Until 1981, the Australian Open was the only slam to hold junior doubles. With travel slow in the early days, not many bothered to make the trip.
Susan Armstrong was the one and only. UK born and raised, she started playing pro events in 1954, and won juniors in 1956.
1957 was her best year, reaching the 4th rd of Wimbledon while losing to US Open champ Althea Gibson in R16.
1960 was her busiest year, but she broke her thumb near the end of the season, never to return.
It was a short career, as was her life. She passed away in 1979 at the young age of 39.
Quiz Time!
Who is the highest ranked woman in Finland's history?
A.Birgitta Lindstrom
B.Emma Laine
C.Petra Thoren
D.Nanne Dahlman
Interlude- Ichiro Girl.
https://twitter.com/JomboyMedia/status/1563665035762753539
Answer!
Why would I even think of Finland?
(C)Thoren is wrong. She tops out at 73, with almost all of her Top 100 rank in 1992. In a career that spanned from 1986-95, her best career result(1992 Auckland) spurred her best season. Best win was in Fed Cup over #16 Barbara Paulus.
(D)Dahlman is also wrong, but closer. She reached 2 SF in her career. One being the Tier V event in Waregam. The other was 1991 Taranto, in which she made that run as LL, defeating Thoren in QF. Third highest win was #21 Naoko Sawamatsu. 59 was her highest ranking.
(A)Lindstrom is wrong, which is obvious if you know her history. 1966 junior Wimbledon champ is still the only Finn to have won singles or doubles. With her career running from 1965-74, she didn't have much success, only reaching the main draw of 4 slams.
She only "won" one slam match, a walkover given by Kazuko Sawamatsu, Naoko's aunt. This was also the only slam that her older sister Christina played.
(B)Laine is correct. She also had a sister who played, though it was mostly on the ITF circuit. The one event that they played adjacent was Helsinki in 2003, when sister Essi got QWC while Emma got MDWC.
Less than a year later,in only her 4th MD, Emma got her best win, over #25 Magdalena Maleeva. Note: Laine beat #17 Pennetta 2 years later, because of a retirement after 1 game.
The only Finnish player to be ranked consecutively in the Top 100 for more than a year, 2006 was the high water mark. In fact, even though she played 8 more seasons, she did not have a Top 100 win after 2007(ITF Tatjana Maria), or 2006 on the main tour.
She comes in at 50, based off her career best QF at Pattaya in 2006.
This wasn't the fist time that de Groot has struggled with her serve; it also happened in 2020, and it went on for a long time.
D-
Yeah, there is a lot of noise there, and from people who've been around a while. You want to take the player's word on it, since they're on the inside... but the sport *is* littered with situations where the player "in the bubble" maybe wasn't always the best source. The sport's bad history often comes back to bite it, whether it's warranted or not. It's not a great look that Tursunov came to the defense of Rybakina's coach, talking about how he was "solely responsible" for her success. :/
C-
Ah, but will they get to double digits *this* year. It's possible, considering they were undefeated in slam play in '22 (and so far in '23).
Quiz: went with Laine, since I'm not really familiar with the others. :)
Always liked Ichiro.
D-
Watching the match, I was trying to figure out what de Groot's issue was (as if I could tell). I *did* wonder if it was her toss.
When the player in the bubble is a young woman, it’s often the case that she’s learned, usually implicitly, that all kinds of abusive things aren’t abuse. She will often defend the abuser. This is probably even more prevalent in certain countries/cultures, though it’s bad enough in the U.S. Tursunov’s defense, imo, makes Rybakina’s coach seem even more suspicious, if you know what I mean.
A different trap exists for young men. If they complain about abuse, they’re called “sissies” and—the worst—“girls.”
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