Thursday, January 15, 2026

AO26 Q-Rounds: Familiar Faces in Familiar Places


A look back at the Australian Open qualifying rounds...












AO Q1 - Sloane Stephens def. Barbora Palicova 6-1/7-5
AO Q2 - Sloane Stephens def. Olivia Gadecki 3-6/6-3/6-3
AO Q3 - Sloane Stephens def. Lucia Bronzetti 6-1/7-5
...Stephens' Q1 victory over Czech youngster Palicova was her first singles victory on any level since the 1st Round of Wimbledon in 2024, ending a 13-match losing streak.

Ranked #897 and in qualifying using her protected ranking, Stephens followed up with wins over Gadecki (the AO25 MX champ) and #2 seed Bronzetti. An AO semifinalist thirteen years ago in Melbourne, she'll next play in a "throwback" 1st Round contest vs. Karolina Pliskova. Their first match-up came fourteen years ago in the 1st Round of Wimbledon (Stephens won in straights).


===============================================
AO Q1 - Lilli Tagger def. Gao Hanyu 3-6/7-5/6-3
AO Q2 - Lilli Tagger def. Elena Pridankina 6-7(5)/7-6(5)/6-1
AO Q3 - Lanlana Tararudee def. Lilli Tagger 6-3/6-0
...late last year, Austrian teen Tagger reached the final in her tour-level MD debut in Jiujiang, surging in the eleventh hour vs. Viktorija Golubic after being down triple MP at 5-4, 40/love in the 3rd. From MP down forward, Tagger won thirteen straight points to close out the victory.

While her first qualifying attempt in a major ultimately fell short in the Q3, Tagger continued to flash the sort of clutch persona down the stretch that makes her a name to watch very closely going forward. The 17-year old won from 6-3/4-2 down vs. Gao, then staged another comeback against Pridankina.

Tagger trailed 7-6/5-3, then won seven straight points to force a 3rd after falling behind 5-0 in the 2nd set TB. She dropped just one game in the 3rd.



Despite the wave of momentum behind her, Tagger notched just three games vs. Tararudee, who handily won the battle for a maiden slam 1st Round spot, giving Thailand *two* woman (w/ first-timer Mananchaya Sawangkaew, in using her protected ranking) in the MD.


===============================================
AO Q2 - Guiomar Maristany def. Tatiana Prozorova 6-2/2-6/7-6(10-7)
AO Q3 - Guiomar Maristany def. Elvina Kalieva 7-5/4-6/6-4
...it's always nice to see a player prove that paths to success on the tennis tour can play out on a very different schedule, such as that of Maristany, whose road in Melbourne to her slam MD debut comes at age 26 after her fifth qualifying attempt at a major.

After an opening win over #3-seed Mayar Sherif, the Spaniard saved four MP (at 6-5 in the 3rd) in the Q2 against Prozorova before winning a 10-7 MTB to advance. It took her three sets to finally take out Kalieva, but the win sets up the biggest match of her career to date (vs. Polina Kudermetova in the AO 1r).


===============================================
AO Q1 - Mary Stoiana def. Nuria Brancaccio 7-5/4-6/7-5
...the former NCAA #1 (at Texas A&M), Stoiana gets the win after trailing 5-2 in the 3rd, saving two MP in game 8, then three more in game 9 before sweeping the final five games.

She fell to #2 seed Bronzetti in three sets in the next round.
===============================================



AO Q1 - Maddison Inglis def. Leyre Romero Gormaz 4-6/7-6(4)/6-2
AO Q3 - Maddison Inglis def. Tamara Korpatsch 6-4/6-4
AO Q3 - Storm Hunter def. Taylor Townsend 7-6(6)/6-2
...Australia's two successful qualifiers.

Inglis' path to the MD needed an opening round escape, as the Aussie trailed Romero Gormaz 5-3 in the 2nd, saving a pair of MP at 6-5.

Meanwhile, after reaching the #1 doubles ranking in '23, Hunter ruptured an Achilles early in the following season. She returned last year, reaching a pair of tour doubles finals (winning the Wuhan 1000 w/ Siniakova). Now she's back in a slam singles draw for the first time in two years (since her career-best 3rd slam run in Melbourne in '24) after stringing together three straight wins as a qualifying wild card.


===============================================





*RECENT AO "Q-PLAYER OF THE WEEK" WINNERS*
2016 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2017 Elizaveta Kulichkova, RUS
2018 Marta Kostyuk, UKR
2019 Astra Sharma, AUS
2020 Ann Li, USA
2021 Francesca Jones, GBR
2022 Hailey Baptiste, USA
2023 Katherine Sebov, CAN
2024 Alina Korneeva, RUS
2025 Maja Chwalinska, POL
2026 Guiomar Maristany, ESP







*AO26 MAIN DRAW*
=by nation (of 40 in original MD)=
18 - USA
11 - CZE
10 - AUS
9 - RUS
6 - UKR
4 - CHN,ESP,FRA,GBR,GER,POL
3 - CAN,CRO,JPN,KAZ,ROU,SUI
2 - AUT,BLR,COL,HUN,ITA,LAT,SLO,THA,UZB
1 - ARG,BEL,BRA,DEN,GRE,HUN,INA
1 - MEX,NED,NZL,PHI,SRB,SVK,TUR
[age groups]
8 - age 19 and under
98 - age 20-29
17 - age 30-34
5 - age 35-45

*AO26 MD...*
=youngest=
17 - Emerson Jones, AUS (WC) - DOB: July 7, 2008
18 - Iva Jovic, USA - DOB: December 6, 2007
18 - Mirra Andreeva, RUS - DOB: April 29, 2007
18 - Tereza Valentova, CZE - DOB: February 20, 2007
19 - Victoria Mboko, CAN - DOB: August 26, 2006
19 - Maya Joint, AUS - DOB: April 16, 2006
19 - Nikola Bartunkova, CZE (Q) - DOB: February 25, 2006
19 - Sara Bejlek, CZE - DOB: January 31, 2006
=oldest=
45 - Venus Williams, USA (WC): DOB: June 17, 1980
38 - Tatjana Maria, GER - DOB: August 8, 1987
37 - Laura Siegemund, GER - DOB: March 4, 1988
36 - Zhang Shuai, CHN - DOB: January 21, 1989
35 - Sorana Cirstea, ROU - DOB: April 7, 1990

=AO26 QUALIFIERS=
Bai Zhuoxuan, CHN
Nikola Bartunkova, CZE
Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE
Storm Hunter, AUS
Maddison Inglis, AUS
Anhelina Kalinina, UKR
Linda Klimovicova, POL
Guiomar Maristany, ESP
Himeno Sakatsume, JPN
Aliaksandra Sasnovich, BLR
Zeynep Sonmez, TUR
Marina Stakusic, CAN
Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR
Sloane Stephens, USA
Lanlana Tararudee, THA
Yuan Yue, CHN

=LOW-RANKED 2026 SLAM QUALIFIERS=
#897 - Sloane Stephens, USA (AO)
#697 - Bai Zhuoxuan, CHN (AO)
#363 - Storm Hunter, AUS (AO)
#184 - Guiomar Maristany, ESP (AO)
#178 - Anhelina Kalinina, UKR (AO)

=AO26 WILD CARDS=
Zarina Diyas, KAZ
Talia Gibson, AUS
Priscilla Hon, AUS
Emerson Jones, AUS
Elli Mandlik, USA
Taylah Preston, AUS
Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah, FRA
Venus Williams, USA

=AO26 PROTECTED RANKINGS=
Karolina Pliskova, CZE
Mananchaya Sawangkaew, THA

=MAKING SLAM MD DEBUTS=
=AUTOMATIC ENTRY MD=
Petra Marcinko, CRO
Oleksandra Oliynykova, UKR

=WC=
none

=Q=
Nikola Bartunkova, CZE
Linda Klimovicova, POL
Guiomar Maristany, ESP
Himeno Sakatsume, JPN
Lanlana Tararudee, THA

=PR=
Mananchaya Sawangkaew, THA









AO26 "PROP PICK" PREDICTIONS
1. The AO26 champion will come from the list of players who reached the final of one of the North American hard court 1000+ events last summer That would make this the target group: Sabalenka/Anisimova (U.S. Open), Mboko/Osaka (Montreal) and Swiatek/Paolini (Cincinnati). I considered adding on the two spring 1000 events -- which would add Andreeva and Pegula from Indian Wells and Miami (both faced Sabalenka) -- but it felt like it'd be casting a slightly *too* large net, so I'll leave them out.
2. The AO26 runner-up will be a first-time Australian Open finalist Previous AO finalists in the MD: Sabalenka, Keys, Rybakina, Osaka, Kenin and V.Williams.
3. After four Top 8 seeds reached the AO QF in '25, just two will do so this year (as was the case in both 2023 and '24)
4. Multiple teenagers will reach the singles 4th Round, with at least one making the QF
5. In her first Australian Open as an Aussie, Dasha Kasatkina will the Last Aussie Standing in the women's draw. Still representing Russia, she reached the Round of 16 in 2025, which would have made her last year's L.O.S. had she had "AUS" next to her name at the time.
HM- Dark Horses (4r/QF??): I could pull out Marta Kostyuk (Brisbane finalist) or Karolina Muchova (Brisbane SF), but they don't feel like "dark horses." So how about one of the young Czechs, specifically someone like 18-year old Tereza Valentova (1r vs. #30 Joint, possible 3r vs. #5 Rybakina and 4r vs. #10 Bencic), though this AO might be a slam or two too early for her, or Linda Noskova. Noskova is the #13 seed and a former AO quarterfinalist (2024), but if she were to get past someone like #4 Amanda Anisimova (a possible 4r opponent) she'd certainly be considered a "surprise" contender in the second week.







**AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS**
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
19 = Coco Gauff, USA (2023 US)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
21 = Coco Gauff, USA (2025 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 US)
22 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2023 RG)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2024 RG)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 = Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
24 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2023 AO)
24 = Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE (2023 WI)
24 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2025 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)
25 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 AO)
26 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2024 US)
27 = Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2025 US)
28 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2024 WI)
29 = Madison Keys, USA (2025 AO)

**RECENT AUSTRALIAN OPEN SINGLES CHAMPIONS**
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Serena Williams, USA
2018 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2019 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2020 Sofia Kenin, USA
2021 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2022 Ash Barty, AUS
2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2025 Madison Keys, USA

**AUSTRALIAN OPEN TOP SEEDS - since 2011 (w/ result)**
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (SF)
2012 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (QF)
2013 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (W)
2014 Serena Williams, USA (4th)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2016 Serena Williams, USA (RU)
2017 Angelique Kerber, GER (1st)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (RU)
2019 Simona Halep, ROU (4th)
2020 Ash Barty, AUS (SF)
2021 Ash Barty, AUS (QF)
2022 Ash Barty, AUS (W)
2023 Iga Swiatek, POL (4th)
2024 Iga Swiatek, POL (3rd)
2025 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (RU)
2026 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR

**FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN - OPEN ERA**
1977 Kerry Melville-Reid, AUS
1978 Chris O'Neil, AUS
1979 Barbara Jordan, USA
1980 Hana Mandlikova, TCH
1995 Mary Pierce, FRA
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI
2001 Jennifer Capriati, USA
2006 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2018 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2020 Sofia Kenin, USA
2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2025 Madison Keys, USA

**AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINALS - ACTIVE**
3...Aryna Sabalenka (2-1)
2...Victoria Azarenka (2-0)
2...Naomi Osaka (2-0)
2...Venus Williams (0-2)
1...Sofia Kenin (1-0)
1...Madison Keys (1-0)
1...Caroline Wozniacki (1-0)
1...Jennifer Brady (0-1)
1...Danielle Collins (0-1)
1...Elena Rybakina (0-1)
1...Zheng Qinwen (0-1)

**AO DEFENDING CHAMP RESULTS - OPEN ERA**
1969 Margaret Smith Court (W)
1970 Margaret Smith Court (W)
1971 Margaret Smith Court (DNP; W in '73)
1972 Virginia Wade (QF)
1973 Margaret Smith Court (DNP)
1974 Evonne Goolagong (W)
1975 Evonne Goolagong (W)
1976 Evonne Goolagong-Cawley (DNP)
1977 Kerry Melville Reid (SF)
1977 Evonne Goolagong-Cawley (DNP)
1978 Chris O'Neil (DNP)
1979 Barbara Jordan (DNP)
1980 Hana Mandlikova (QF)
1981 Martina Navratilova (RU)
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd (DNP)
1983 Martina Navratilova (SF)
1984 Chris Evert-Lloyd (RU)
1985 Martina Navratilova (RU in '87)
1986 - NOT HELD
1987 Hana Mandlikova (QF)
1988 Steffi Graf (W)
1989 Steffi Graf (W)
1990 Steffi Graf (QF)
1991 Monica Seles (W)
1992 Monica Seles (W)
1993 Monica Seles (DNP)
1994 Steffi Graf (DNP)
1995 Mary Pierce (2nd Rd.)
1996 Monica Seles (DNP)
1997 Martina Hingis (W)
1998 Martina Hingis (W)
1999 Martina Hingis (RU)
2000 Lindsay Davenport (SF)
2001 Jennifer Capriati (W)
2002 Jennifer Capriati (1st Rd.)
2003 Serena Williams (DNP)
2004 Justine Henin-Hardenne (DNP)
2005 Serena Williams (3rd Rd.)
2006 Amelie Mauresmo (4th Rd.)
2007 Serena Williams (QF)
2008 Maria Sharapova (DNP)
2009 Serena Williams (W)
2010 Serena Williams (DNP)
2011 Kim Clijsters (SF)
2012 Victoria Azarenka (W)
2013 Victoria Azarenka (QF)
2014 Li Na (DNP, retired)
2015 Serena Williams (RU)
2016 Angelique Kerber (4th Rd.)
2017 Serena Williams (DNP)
2018 Caroline Wozniacki (3rd Rd.)
2019 Naomi Osaka (4th Rd.)
2020 Sofia Kenin (2nd Rd.)
2021 Naomi Osaka (3rd Rd.)
2022 Ash Barty (DNP, retired)
2023 Aryna Sabalenka (W)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka (RU)
2025 Madison Keys

**RECENT AUSTRALIAN OPEN SEMIFINALISTS**
2018: Wozniacki (W), Halep (RU); Mertens/Kerber
2019: Osaka (W), Kvitova (RU); Collins/Ka.Pliskova
2020: Kenin (W), Muguruza (RU); Barty/Halep
2021: Osaka (W), Brady (RU); S.Williams/Muchova
2022: Barty (W), Collins (RU); Keys/Swiatek
2023: Sabalenka (W), Rybakina (RU); Azarenka/Linette
2024: Sabalenka (W), Zheng (RU); Gauff/Yastremska
2025: Keys (W), Sabalenka (RU); Swiatek/Badosa

**LOW-SEEDED AO CHAMPIONS - OPEN ERA**
Unseeded - 1978 Chris O'Neil, AUS
Unseeded - 2007 Serena Williams, USA
#19 - 2025 Madison Keys, USA
#14 - 2020 Sofia Kenin, USA
#12 - 2001 Jennifer Capriati, USA
#7 - 2005 Serena Williams, USA
#7 - 2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
#5 - 1979 Barbara Jordan, USA
#5 - 2008 Maria Sharapova, RUS
#5 - 2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
#4 - 1995 Mary Pierce. FRA
#4 - 1997 Martina Hingis, SUI
#4 - 2014 Li Na, CHN
#4 - 2019 Naomi Osaka, JPN

**BACK-to-BACK US/AO TITLES OVER TWO SEASONS - Open era**
1969-70 Margaret Court, AUS
1970-71 Margaret Court, AUS
1988-89 Steffi Graf, FRG
1989-90 Steffi Graf, FRG
1991-92 Monica Seles, YUG
1992-93 Monica Seles, YUG
1993-94 Steffi Graf, GER
1997-98 Martina Hingis, SUI
2002-03 Serena Williams, USA
2003-04 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL
2008-09 Serena Williams, USA
2010-11 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2014-15 Serena Williams, USA
2018-19 Naomi Osaka, JPN
--
1982 - Chris Evert, US Sept./AO Dec.
1983 - Martina Navratilova - US Sept/AO Dec.
2020-21 - Naomi Osaka - RG Oct.'20 held between '20 US/'21 AO
--
NOTE: Sabalenka won '25 U.S. Open, won the AO in 2023-24, and is #1 seed at AO26

**CAREER SLAM #1 SEEDS - active**
11..Iga Swiatek
6...Caroline Wozniacki
5...ARYNA SABALENKA
3...Victoria Azarenka
2...Naomi Osaka
2...Karolina Pliskova
1...Venus Williams
--
NOTE: Barty-7

**CAREER SLAM MD APPEARANCES - WOMEN**
95 - Venus Williams* (w/ AO26)
81 - Serena Williams
72 - Alize Cornet
71 - Svetlana Kuznetsova
71 - Amy Frazier
70 - Francesca Schiavone
69 - Samantha Stosur
68 - Victoria Azarenka*
67 - Martina Navratilova




via GIPHY

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 10:26 PM 

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