2019 Australian Open - WTA Thread

Who will win the AO?


  • Total voters
    49
  • Poll closed .

Enceladus

Legend
For a month, at this time, the women's final 2019 Australian Open will take place. That's why I start the thread today.
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Defending champion: Caroline Wozniacki (in 2018 final beat Simona Halep 7:6(2), 3:6, 6:4)
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Former AO champions, who will participating in the 2019 tournament: Serena Williams (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009-10, 2015, 2017), Maria Sharapova (2008), Victoria Azarenka (2012-13), Angelique Kerber (2016)

Official website: https://www.ausopen.com
Wiki-link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Australian_Open_–_Women's_Singles
Edition: 93th edition women's singles at AO (51st in Open era)
Date: 14 January - 26 January 2019 (women's main draw, qualifying runs from Tuesday 8 January – Friday 11 January)
TV: Eurosport (Europe), ESPN (USA) and other TV channels

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The time in Melbourne is in January 11 hours in advance of GMT (London) and 16 hours before EST (New York).

Entry list:
1. Simona Halep (ROU)
2. Angelique Kerber (GER)
3. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
4. Elina Svitolina (UKR)
5. Naomi Osaka (JPN)
6. Sloane Stephens (USA)
7. Petra Kvitova (CZE)
8. Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
9. Kiki Bertens (NED)
10. Daria Kasatkina (RUS)
11. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)
12. Elise Mertens (BEL)
13. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
14. Julia Georges (GER)
15. Ash Barty (AUS)
16. Serena Williams (USA)
17. Madison Keys (USA)
18. Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
19. Caroline Garcia (FRA)
20. Qiang Wang (CHN)
21. Anett Kontaveit (EST)
22. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
23. Carla Suarez-Navarro (ESP)
23. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) - PR
24. Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU)
25. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
26. Camila Giorgi (ITA)
27. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
28. Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
29. Maria Sharapova (RUS)
30. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
31. Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
32. Petra Martic (CRO)
32. Laura Siegemund (GER) - PR
33. Barbora Strycova (CZE)
34. Donna Vekic (CRO)
35. Daria Gavrilova (AUS)
36. Danielle Collins (USA)
37. Johanna Konta (GBR)
38. Venus Williams (USA)
39. Saisai Zheng (CHN)
40. Shuai Zheng (CHN)
41. Maria Sakkari (GRE)
42. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
43. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
44. Belinda Bencic (SUI)
45. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
46. Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)
47. Alize Cornet (FRA)
48. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)
49. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
50. Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL)
51. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
52. Sofia Kenin (USA)
53. Monica Puig (PUR)
54. Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK)
55. Aleksandra Krunic (SRB)
56. Pauline Parmentier (FRA)
57. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)
58. Dayana Yastremska (UKR)
59. Timea Babos (HUN)
60. Ons Jabeur (TUN)
61. Kaia Kanepi (EST)
62. Alison Riske (USA)
63. Rebecca Peterson (SWE)
64. Andrea Petkovic (GER)
65. Vera Lapko (BLR)
66. Luksika Kumkhum (THA)
67. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)
68. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
69. Bernarda Pera (USA)
70. Yafan Wang (CHN)
71. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)
72. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
73. Tatjana Maria (GER)
74. Johanna Larsson (SWE)
75. Ana Bogdan (ROU)
76. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS)
77. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
78. Mona Barthel (GER)
79. Dalila Jakupovic (SLO)
80. Magda Linette (POL)
81. Lara Arruabarrena (ESP)
82. Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
83. Polona Hercog (SLO)
84. Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
85. Tamara Zidansek (SLO)
86. Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP)
87. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)
88. Madison Brengle (USA)
89. Zarina Diyas (KAZ)
90. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) - PR
90. Taylor Townsend (USA)
91. Margarita Gasparyan (RUS)
92. Heather Watson (GBR)
93. Anastasia Potopova (RUS)
94. Kristyna Pliskova (CZE)
95. Anna Blinkova (RUS)
96. Kateryna Kozlova (UKR)
97. Amanda Anisimova (USA)
98. Katie Boulter (GBR)
99. Monica Niculescu (ROU)
100. Fiona Ferro (FRA)
101. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA)

Wild cards:
They have so far been awarded to these female tennis players -
Kimberly Birrell (AUS)
Clara Burel (FRA)
Priscilla Hon (AUS)
Whitney Osuigwe (USA)
Peng Shuai (CHN)
 
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Atennisone

Hall of Fame
So special for me was this last AO, Wozniacki won't defend her title, so I guess I hope for Osaka to win, but I think it is up to S. Williams, Kerber, Halep
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
So special for me was this last AO, Wozniacki won't defend her title, so I guess I hope for Osaka to win, but I think it is up to S. Williams, Kerber, Halep
I am picking Svitolina to win her 1st major right here. she's been partying enough over winter and working out
 

Enceladus

Legend
At AO 2019, Lucie Safarova will end her professional career, in women's doubles won 5 GS tournaments and was No. 1, in women's singles achieved one GS final (FO 2015, lost with Serena) and No. 5 position.
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In the women's doubles she will play with Barbora Strycova, the participation in the singles is not sure, because Lucie didn't log into qualifying draw and she waits if the organizers give her WC.
 
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PDJ

G.O.A.T.
I'm picking Serena Williams. Lazy choice.
Sabalenka (sp?) to go deep in the draw.
 

Enceladus

Legend
Article from WTA: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/australian-open-2019-when-final-what-prize-money

The Australian Open has increased prize money to an historic high of $62.5 million Australian dollars for 2019, up 14 per cent on 2018.

The singles champion will pick up $4.1million, with the runner-up taking home half that.

Players who make it past the first round will make $75,000, with second-round winners receiving $105,000.

Third-round winners get $155,000, fourth-round winners $260,000, and quarterfinalists $460,000, with twice that going to the semifinalists.

The prize money pot has increased by more than 351 per cent or $48.6m in the 20 years since 2001, when it was $13.9m.
 

Enceladus

Legend
Australian Open: 4 longest women's singles matches

Author: Arjun
Link to article: https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/australian-open-4-longest-women-s-singles-matches

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Australian Open was the last of the four Grand Slams to conduct the Women's Singles competition. The competition was established in 1922, when the playing surface was grass. The tournament was then called 'The Australasian Tennis Championships'.

Ever since 1932, the winner of the Australian Open Women's Singles competition gets to keep a replica of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy - named to honor the legacy of the late Australian great of the same name, who won the title for a then record five times.

Margaret Court Smith has won the trophy a record 11 times while Serena Williams has lifted the trophy 7 times till date. This Grand Slam is without a doubt Serena's favorite as the American has won here on 4 occasions without dropping a set and won 7 of the 8 finals that she has played.

Exponents of those who support equal pay for women and men professional tennis athletes have been on the rise over the years. With women's matches too stretching beyond 4 hours at times, their viewpoints are well justified.

Playing such long matches at the Australian Open is even more difficult as the players are subject to extreme temperatures which can frequently cross 40 degree Celsius. Sometimes, even a 10-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd set may not be sufficient and this is evident with the likes of great champions like Viktoria Azarenka experiencing the effects of the heat.

Our focus today is on four of the longest women's singles matches at the Australian Open (two of which have crossed the 4 hour mark) :


#4 Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Jelena Jankovic, 3rd Round, 2017
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Former World Number 1 Jelena Jankovic was up against the 8th seed and 2-time Grand Slam champion, Svetlana Kuznestova in the 3rd round of the 2017 Australian Open. Having beaten the big-serving German Julia Goerges in the 2rd round in straight sets, Jankovic was confident of pulling off the upset in her encounter with the Russian.

Kuznetsova was a set up and a double break but despite leading by 4-1, she was frustrated by Jankovic, as the Serb showed glimpses of her old self and reeled off won 4 games in a row to take the second set 7-5.

Momentum had turned in Jankovic's favor and the Serb was up 3-0 in the third set with a quick break, but the 31-year-old Russian wasn't done yet. Kuznetsova then broke Jankovic's serve in 2 successive games to claw herself back into the match.

Then, at 5-4, Kuznetsova broke for the third time and was all set to serve for the match, but Jankovic had other ideas as she hit a remarkable forehand winner to break the Russian's serve and leveled the match at 5-5. Then a pivotal break at 7-7 gave Kuznetsova the chance to serve it out and she did exactly that to win the match 6-4, 5-7, 9-7 in 3 hours and 36 minutes.

#3 Simona Halep vs Lauren Davis, 3rd Round, 2018
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One of the most compelling women's singles matches in recent times was the 2018 3rd round encounter between world number 1Simona Halep and world number 76, America's Lauren Davis.

After taking the first set 6-4, Lauren Davis was staring at the prospect of lodging the biggest win of her career and producing the shock of the tournament as Halep looked tired and was occasionally cramping. The court conditions weren't too hospitable either with Davis too suffering from a bloodied toe. But the second set saw Halep draw level after capturing an early break.

The third set was when the drama went to another level. Davis needed two medical time-outs to cater both her feet while Halep kept getting cramps and the look on both their faces signaled exasperation.

The third set itself lasted a massive 2 hours and 22 minutes. Serving for the match at 5-4, Halep couldn't capitalize and then at 11-10, Davis had three match points but the Romanian saved them all and Halep eventually won the set 15-13.

The final score read 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 and the match lasted a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes. The match contained 48 games andequaled the most number of games in a women's singles match in Australian Open history, tying with the match between Chanda Rubin and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the 1996 Australian Open. "It made me feel tired all over again," said Rubin, who called the match for Australian Open Radio.

#2 Barbora Strycova vs Regina Kulikova, 1st Round, 2010
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The 1st round match at the Australian Open 2010 between Barbora Strycova and Russian qualifier Regina Kulikova was a history making match. Things started to get interesting in the very beginning itself with both the players quickly trading breaks of serve.
That wasn't all, as both women went at saving break point opportunities too. Both Strycova and Kulikova had to save two of them in the first set. The set then went to a tiebreak where Strycova got the crucial mini-break and took it 7-6(7-5).

The second set was an exact repeat of the first set as again both women battled it out for every single point. Although both players weren't serving really great, their tenacity to win and save break point opportunities made this match a classic. The second set tiebreak saw Kulikova grab the initiative with two mini-breaks and took it 10-8.

The third set was somewhat mellowed down as Strycova upped her first serve percentage and didn't provide her opponent with any opportunity to break . A single break of Kulikova's serve was enough as the Czech took the set, and the match, 7-6(7-5), 6-7(8-10), 6-3 in 4 hours and 19 minutes.

#1 Francesca Schiavone vs Svetlana Kuznetsova, 4th Round, 2011
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The longest ever Grand Slam women's singles match took place in the 4th round encounter between 23rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and 6th seed, and reigning French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone. Hisense Arena was the place to witness one of the most compelling and nail biting matches of all-time.

With a single break, Schiavone raced ahead to take the opening set 6-4. However, the 30-year-old, started to make a lot of unforced errors on her serve in the second set, handing Kuznetsova the initiative to level the match by giving it way, 6-1.

The third set was when all the drama unfolded. Leading by a score of 8-7 in the deciding set and having 3 match point opportunities at 0-40 on the Schiavone serve, Kuznetsova made a couple of costly unforced errors and the the tenacious Italian held on to level the match.

Then at 10-9 and 11-10, it was Schiavone's turn to serve for the match but both times, it was Kuznetsova who refused to back away and broke the Italian's serve, and after a pulsating 4 hours and 44 minutes, Schiavone finally won the match 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 and both players received an extended standing ovation as they shook hands at the net.
 
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Enceladus

Legend
At AO 2019, Lucie Safarova will end his professional career, in women's doubles won 5 GS tournaments and was No. 1, in women's singles achieved one GS final (FO 2015, lost with Serena) and No. 5 position.
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In the women's doubles she will play with Barbora Strycova, the participation in the singles is not sure, because Lucie didn't log into qualifying draw and she waits if the organizers give her WC.
Updates: Lucie didn't get wild card into main draw. :( Edit - I later learned that Lucie will not play AO due to an infection, so the end of her career is postponed. :(

Full list of wild card holders for women's singles event:
Destanee Aiava (AUS)
Kimberly Birrell (AUS)
Clara Burel (FRA)
Zoe Hives (AUS)
Priscilla Hon (AUS)
Whitney Osuigwe (USA)
Ellen Perez (AUS)
Peng Shuai (CHN)
 
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Day 1 Q

2 players that almost knocked out last year finalists, Janna Fett and Lauren Davis are knocked out in 1R Q today.
Olga Danilovic, last year youngest WTA title winner and 3 Doubles GS Champ, has to wait again for her main debut in Grandslam. She was beaten by another youngster, Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon Girls '18 Champ.
Kostyuk, AO Girls '17 Champ move on to 2R Quallies.
US Open Girls '18 Champ, Wang Xiyu move on to 2R.
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
So many players in qualifying round. It’s a major within a major to get into the major! I just never realize the extend of the different qualifying that goes on previously just to get into this qualifying tournament.
 

boredone3456

G.O.A.T.
At AO 2019, Lucie Safarova will end her professional career, in women's doubles won 5 GS tournaments and was No. 1, in women's singles achieved one GS final (FO 2015, lost with Serena) and No. 5 position.
gettyimages-800131038.jpg


In the women's doubles she will play with Barbora Strycova, the participation in the singles is not sure, because Lucie didn't log into qualifying draw and she waits if the organizers give her WC.

Bad choice to hope for a wildcard. I'll be surprised if she gets one seeing as historically they overwhelmingly go to locals
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Bad day for Germany in qualifying Liscki and Witthoeft out.

Bad? They have a true majors champion on tour, while Lisicki is long past whatever best form she had (which was reserved for one major, not the AO, where her best result was a 2012 4R finish), and Witthoeft is--as of this date--not really a contender to take majors.
 

boredone3456

G.O.A.T.
Zvonareva got knocked out in the Qualies....I had some hopes for her to at least get through them. Seems she still has a lot to do.
 

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
Zvonareva got knocked out in the Qualies....I had some hopes for her to at least get through them. Seems she still has a lot to do.
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Zvonareva look terrible in her 1st round match and was seeded #1 in AO Qualifying tournament. Her opponent took it to her after the 1st set! Zvonareva timing and tennis sense was off against the young Australia Astra Sharma. 6-3, 6-2!
 
Halep vs Kanepi again in 1R!

I don't think Halep is gonna last long folks.
Vs Kenin in 2R
Vs Venus/Cornet in 3R
Vs Serena/Bouchard in 4R (Don't know, Bouchard is playing really well lately)

Kerber has a very good draw unless Stephens is on fire which almost certainly will destroy Kerber.
 
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helixx

Hall of Fame
I vote for Kerber. My ither picks are Osaka and Sabalenka. I hope for Masha to doing good. Serena cake draw again. Whatever. Wont help.
 

I Am Finnish

Bionic Poster
Some epic first match



Halep vs Kanepi
Venus vs Buzarnescu
Kasatkina vs Bacsinsky
Konta vs Tomljanovic
Bencic vs Siniakova
Sakkari vs Ostapenko
Vekic vs Mladenovic
Puig vs Pavlyuchenkova
Riske vs Bertens
 
I predict a Serena vs Osaka/Sevastova and Kvitova vs Kerber semi-final

Really hard to pick

Halep/Serena on Q1
Osaka/Azarenka on Q2
Kvitova/Sabalenka on Q3
Stephens/Kerber on Q4

Stephens got easier draw. The hardest is probably Townsend S&V for her. On paper she should beat everyone but being Stephens is Stephens she could lost easily.
Kvitova is playing good atm which indicates she will perform badly next week like Connecticut Open and her USO run.
 

ausfrewimuso

Semi-Pro
Really hard to pick

Halep/Serena on Q1
Osaka/Azarenka on Q2
Kvitova/Sabalenka on Q3
Stephens/Kerber on Q4

Stephens got easier draw. The hardest is probably Townsend S&V for her. On paper she should beat everyone but being Stephens is Stephens she could lost easily.
Kvitova is playing good atm which indicates she will perform badly next week like Connecticut Open and her USO run.

1-->That's if Halep makes it past Kanepi, I'm not so sure how her form is now. Also Serena seems to do well at the AO directly following a USO meltdown:), but I just want to see #24 sooner rather than later.
2-->I think Osaka should deal with Azarenka easily.
3-->Looking at Kvitova now in Sydney she seems to be on top of everyone, she also beat Sabalenka recently.
Not so sure about Kerber and Stephens.
 

Falkenauge

New User
Aryna Sabalenka should have been mentioned in the poll.

My top favorites for the Australian Open title are Osaka, Sabalenka and Kerber. In the end, I believe Naomi is going to win her second slam.
 

SeeingDusk

Hall of Fame
Shame on OP for not including Barty in the poll!! Barty is hands down the best player on tour right now. She's unstoppable.
 

fundrazer

G.O.A.T.
Dunno what to expect from Garbine, but her draw doesn't look fun. Gut for me says Kerber right now, although I'm a bit confused about her serve. Hopman Cup she seemed to be hitting bigger serves, but since then I've seen mostly powder puff serves.

Looking forward to some good matches though.
 

ausfrewimuso

Semi-Pro
Look at her results in Melbourne. A QF and a SF in 2011 and 2012, hasn't been past the third round since then. Her results at the US Open aren't great either.

Hard courts and hot weather aren't a great mix for her.
If she does reach the SF she could possibly face Kerber, that could go either way. But she may tire from Sydney.
 
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