Ash Barty, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka & Co: Where is the early form correct?
The first events on the WTA tour are over. Time to make a first assessment of the early form of selected starters in the first week.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Jan 11, 2022, 12:57 pm
The first three events of the 2022 season on the WTA tour are therefore a thing of the past. With two favorite wins - and a big surprise. What can be said after week one in the new game year? Especially with regard to the Australian Open, which will start on January 17th.
Naomi Osaka
The Japanese made a very good impression again in Melbourne. But not without exception. There would be the opening duel with Alize Cornet from France, in which the Japanese tormented herself for a long time before she was supposed to get the upper hand in three sentences. And of course the fact that Osaka could no longer compete in the semifinals. An abdominal muscle injury, according to the 24-year-old via Twitter, would now require physical regeneration. In particular, the two appearances in between - against Andrea Petkovic and Maryna Zaneska - give confidence to the Australian Open. Where the Japanese goes to work as the defending champion.
Iga Swiatek
Mission to defend the title in Adelaide has failed for Iga Swiatek. World number one Ash Barty should prove to be too strong in the semifinals of the WTA 500 event, with the young Pole only having six game wins in the semifinals. Nonetheless, the 20-year-old is in good shape, with a clear win over US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and a remarkable fight against Victoria Azarenka. And was rewarded with an improvement to eighth place in the world rankings.
Aryna Sabelenka
The start of the season for number two in the WTA charts, Aryna Sabelnka, was less positive. The Belarusian was also at the start at the top-manned event in Adelaide, but surprisingly had to give up in the first round. This week in the same place it didn't go any better either - Sabalenka struggled with her serve as she had a few days ago and had to serve from below in part. With 39 double faults in only two games in 2022.
Maria Sakkari
The Greichin Maria Sakkari, one of the most formidable players towards the end of the game year 2021, would have hoped for the start of 2022 differently. Although the 26-year-old managed the turnaround in round one against Tamra Zidansek after setting the maximum penalty in round two with 0: 6, the Greek lost the next three-set fight in round two. The world number six was able to collect at least enough match practice in these two marathon matches.
Simona Halep & Amanda Anisimova
Two women who - albeit on the slightly less crowded tennis stage - started the tennis year in Melbourne with great success, are Simona Halep and Amanda Anisimova. The latter showed stamina in her triumph, won three times in the decisive set - and twice clearly - and thus won her second career title. And Simona Halep? She celebrated her first title on the tour since September 2020 at the WTA 250 event. And thus showed that she can also be expected again in the first major of the year.
Ash Barty
And then there is Ash Barty, the current number one in the women's tennis world. The lady who can now do everything at the Australian Open, especially since the Australian put on an impressive tournament in Adelaide after a shaky start. Since losing the opening game against Coco Gauff in round one, Barty has not had to give up a round - and on the way to the title at the WTA 500 event from Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, he handled three top players in an impressive manner.