2023 Australian Open - Women's Singles Discussion

Who will be the 2023 Australian Open champ?

  • Swiatek

  • Jabeur

  • Pegula

  • Garcia

  • Sabalenka

  • Sakkari

  • Gauff

  • Kasatkina

  • Collins

  • Other?

Results are only viewable after voting.
Rybakina will deservedly make her top 10 debut after this tournament thanks to her final run. With the title she'll be up to #8. Sabalenka back to #2 with her final spot. Shortening the long gap away from #1 Swiatek.
 
Apparently the semi was Ryb’s 1st night match so it took her a while to adjust in the 1st set. By the 2nd it was smooth sailing through.
 
Really hope Rybakina can back up her Wimbledon win from last year and take the title at the AO. I am curious to see whether she believes she can beat Sabalenka with a 0-3 H2H. I suppose what she can tell herself is they've not played since Rybakina has become a major champ. All 3 H2Hs have gone to 3 sets, with her winning the middle set - it's probably crucial for her to take the 1st set - that would immediately put an end to the patterns of their previous meetings.
 
Was out for most of the day. Saw the highlights. Good work from Sabalenka and Rybakina.
first set b/w Azarenka and Rybakina was a roller-coaster, but Rybakina prevailed.
 
Josh Lyman said:
Rybakina seems awkward in interviews.
Click to expand...

She is shy and introverted. It's different (I guess Osaka aside) and kind of endearing.

insideguy said:
Yea I think there is some rewriting of history here. Vika has not really been relevant for years. She won her grand slams 10 years ago now. Its not like she has been tearing up the tour. I dont really know if one can judge Ryba by a win like this. Her overall body of work sure. But beating ViKa isnt anything special. Many ladies have been doing it for a long time.
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Azarenka can no longer string enough good matches in a row to win a major, but she can still get hot enough to upset just about anyone in a given match. She still acts as kind of a gatekeeper who usually beats those ranked beneath her. Anyway, if you're going to judge Ryabkina by a win, it's that she straight-setted Swiatek. Collins, Ostapenko, and Azarenka are all pretty decent scalps though. Sabalenka's draw hasn't been nearly as tough with her only really notable win being against Bencic. It's probably been easier than Raducanu's U.S. Open draw through the semifinal.

I predicted Sabalenka to win it all before the tournament and stick by it. I'm rooting for Rybakina though, whom I'd give about a 1/3 shot to win the final. Rybakina may be this generation’s Lindsay Davenport in terms of play style. She is tall and lanky with powerful serves and groundstrokes. She still has some notable weaknesses. Her movement and anticipation are okay but not great, her forehand is very average for the tour (and below average when it comes to the top 10 players), and she doesn’t seem like much of a tactical thinker on the court. Her backhand though is solid, she can crush service returns, and she has good touch at the net. If she raises her average first serve percentage from where is was in 2022 at 56% to around 66% and if she improves her forehand (more accuracy and ability to hit down the line), then I think she can become an ATG. Sabalenka may just be on too much of a hot streak at the moment though. Rybakina is practically a lock if her first serve percentage is much higher in the final, but that's a big if, and the 58% against Azarenka is not going to cut it. Could be a great final.
 
zvelf said:
She is shy and introverted. It's different (I guess Osaka aside) and kind of endearing.



Azarenka can no longer string enough good matches in a row to win a major, but she can still get hot enough to upset just about anyone in a given match. She still acts as kind of a gatekeeper who usually beats those ranked beneath her. Anyway, if you're going to judge Ryabkina by a win, it's that she straight-setted Swiatek. Collins, Ostapenko, and Azarenka are all pretty decent scalps though. Sabalenka's draw hasn't been nearly as tough with her only really notable win being against Bencic. It's probably been easier than Raducanu's U.S. Open draw through the semifinal.

I predicted Sabalenka to win it all before the tournament and stick by it. I'm rooting for Rybakina though, whom I'd give about a 1/3 shot to win the final. Rybakina may be this generation’s Lindsay Davenport in terms of play style. She is tall and lanky with powerful serves and groundstrokes. She still has some notable weaknesses. Her movement and anticipation are okay but not great, her forehand is very average for the tour (and below average when it comes to the top 10 players), and she doesn’t seem like much of a tactical thinker on the court. Her backhand though is solid, she can crush service returns, and she has good touch at the net. If she raises her average first serve percentage from where is was in 2022 at 56% to around 66% and if she improves her forehand (more accuracy and ability to hit down the line), then I think she can become an ATG. Sabalenka may just be on too much of a hot streak at the moment though. Rybakina is practically a lock if her first serve percentage is much higher in the final, but that's a big if, and the 58% against Azarenka is not going to cut it. Could be a great final.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree. Ryabkina has easily had the tougher draw. She beat Swaitek and Collins. And that was a tough match, people forget how good Collins was at the open last year. She didn't straight set Collins however. She dropped a set. If I was to a betting man I would say Rybakina should win this match. Based on how tough her draw was, and she has won a slam.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Had a massive day and then slept through both matches.

How did Rybakina look?
What about Vika? Just outplayed?

And the big one for me, how was Sabalenka? Can she do it and defeat Rybakina?
Click to expand...
Sabalenka played out of her mind. Everything was going in. Look at the stats: aces vs DF, winners vs errors. Linette was not too bad at all. Just Sabalenka was simply too good. I do not know if she can play like that two matches in a row. (disclaimer: I have not watched Rybakina vs Azarenka so this is all based on Sabalenka looked only).
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Had a massive day and then slept through both matches.

How did Rybakina look?
What about Vika? Just outplayed?

And the big one for me, how was Sabalenka? Can she do it and defeat Rybakina?
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Rybakina's serve was on and off in the first set, which was a very fun watch with both players blasting highlight reel winners while dramatically changing momentum with service breaks 4 times total in the set. But in the second set, Rybakina's game and serve improved while Azarenka's dropped, although the two are probably interrelated. So basically, either player could have easily taken the first set (Azarenka was up 0-40 on Rybakina's serve at 5-5 when Rybakina could not find a first serve, but still lost it). Vika did just get flat-out outplayed in the second set. Sabalenka looked like the overall steadier player in the two matches with the match always being on her racquet against Linette. I give her the edge to beat Rybakina. I've never seen Sabalenka look more confident than in this tournament.
 
ktx said:
@spystud what did Rennae say about Vika's serve?
Click to expand...

Vika DF'd at an important point, Mary Joe said something along the lines of, "Vika's serve has always sort of let her down". Rennae piped in from courtside, "You're being too kind Mary Joe, I firmly believe she would have 6-7-8 Slams if she didn't collapse mentally on serve".

Those weren't the exact words, but you get the idea.
 
spystud said:
Vika DF'd at an important point, Mary Joe said something along the lines of, "Vika's serve has always sort of let her down". Rennae piped in from courtside, "You're being too kind Mary Joe, I firmly believe she would have 6-7-8 Slams if she didn't collapse mentally on serve".

Those weren't the exact words, but you get the idea.
Click to expand...

Openly trash-talking players is the reason she's not coaching anyone now.
 
Anyone have a clue what Azarenka meant when she said "we'll see where she's at in 5 years... that should be interesting" referring to Rybakina?
It seemed like she was throwing shade, but why would she have anything against Elena?
 
That was a moving farewell to Mirza Sania, the most successful Indian tennis player ever, as she winds up her professional career with a loss in the mixed doubles final. She's been a joy to watch over her 18-year run in singles and doubles.
 
I don't even know if espn was showing any of the women's sfs on tv. If they can't, just leave it to the tennis channel instead of buying the rights and then not showing the matches. So annoying.
 
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On the Tennis Channel Live show every day, the commentators predict a winner they think is a lock and today Lindsay Davenport picked Gauff/Pegula to win their doubles match. Aoyama/Shibahara are a good doubles team and won instead. You know who the real and obvious doubles lock is? Krejcikova/Siniakova and it's not even close.
 
zvelf said:
On the Tennis Channel Live show every day, the commentators predict a winner they think is a lock and today Lindsay Davenport picked Gauff/Pegula to win their doubles match. Aoyama/Shibahara are a good doubles team and won instead. You know who the real and obvious doubles lock is? Krejcikova/Siniakova and it's not even close.
Click to expand...
Said the same thing in another thread.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Looks like a 7th slam may be coming for #1 Krejcikova/Siniakova.

That would push them ahead of Mladenovic who has 6. The only other active player with more slams is Venus with 14.
Click to expand...

The pair would also share the most slams as a team since the Williams sisters who won 14. Next best in the last 2 decades was Mattek Sands/Safarova and Errani/Vinci who won 5 together.

Should also mention the pairing of Ruano Pascual & Suarez who won 8 slams together.
 
We’ve got a thread for the final so not much posting here but here’s hoping for a brilliant final. Happy with either player winning.
 
Big congrats to the 11 of us who voted for Sabalenka in the poll. Quite often the winner isn’t in the poll or not predicted but we did well this time round. Incredible tournament from Aryna.
 
I can't stand Jon Wertheim, but is predictions for this year's AUS open were spot on. He sad that Sabalenka will win it all and predicted Djokovic Tsitsipas final too.
 
Loved it! So did the commentators, maybe b/c, like Federer they play attacking tennis and win, despite tennis being a sport of errors?

Sabalenka hit too short in the first set, but afterwards deserved to win. Rybakina fizzled out a bit, but great match overall!

Sabalenka average FH speed during one game: 87mph!
Djoker and Tsitsi are at 81 mph.

Sabalenka also won the BHs( not only the FHs) duel and ended up with 51 winners.
 
Fintft said:
Loved it! So did the commentators, maybe b/c, like Federer they play attacking tennis and win, despite tennis being a sport of errors?

Sabalenka hit too short in the first set, but afterwards deserved to win. Rybakina fizzled out a bit, but great match overall!

Sabalenka average FH speed during one game: 87mph!
Djoker and Tsitsi are at 81 mph.

Sabalenka also won the BHs( not only the FHs) duel and ended up with 51 winners.
Click to expand...
Also no time wasting in between points. Loved it
 
In all-Russian junior girl's singles final Korneeva prevailed after more than 3 hours battle.
Russians are everywhere.
 
My choice / prediction has come to pass! Excellent performance by Sabalenka! Well deserved Her focus, obvious talent and steely determination paid off in every match of the 2023 Australian Open, while smacking down those with some inexplicable resentment of her (I will leave them nameless for now).

As always, here's the list of non-Serena WTA majors winners since 2010:

Schiavone: FO - 2010

Clijsters: USO 2010 & AO 2011

Li Na: FO 2011 & AO 2014

Kvitova: Wimbledon 2011 & 2014

Stosur: USO 2011

Sharapova: FO 2012 & FO 2014

Azarenka: AO 2012 & 2013

Bartoli: Wimbledon 2013

Pennetta: USO 2015

Kerber: AO 2016, USO 2016 & Wimbledon 2018

Muguruza: FO 2016 & Wimbledon 2017

Ostapenko: FO 2017

Stephens: USO 2017

Wozniacki: AO 2018

Osaka: USO 2018, 2020 & AO 2019 and 2021

Barty: FO 2019, Wimbledon 2021 & A0 2022

Halep: FO 2018 & Wimbledon 2019

Andreescu: 2019 USO

Kenin: AO 2020

Krejčíková: FO 2021

Raducanu: USO 2021

Świątek: FO 2020 & 2022 and USO 2022

Rybakina: Wimbledon 2022

Sabalenka: AO 2023

The WTA tour rolls on with strength; even as majors winners such as Osaka and Kerber are effectively on extended "leave" starting their families, there's a wealth of talent capable of doing their job on tour.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
My choice / prediction has come to pass! Excellent performance by Sabalenka! Well deserved Her focus, obvious talent and steely determination paid off in every match of the 2023 Australian Open, while smacking down those with some inexplicable resentment of her (I will leave them nameless for now).

As always, here's the list of non-Serena WTA majors winners since 2010:

Schiavone: FO - 2010

Clijsters: USO 2010 & AO 2011

Li Na: FO 2011 & AO 2014

Kvitova: Wimbledon 2011 & 2014

Stosur: USO 2011

Sharapova: FO 2012 & FO 2014

Azarenka: AO 2012 & 2013

Bartoli: Wimbledon 2013

Pennetta: USO 2015

Kerber: AO 2016, USO 2016 & Wimbledon 2018

Muguruza: FO 2016 & Wimbledon 2017

Ostapenko: FO 2017

Stephens: USO 2017

Wozniacki: AO 2018

Osaka: USO 2018, 2020 & AO 2019 and 2021

Barty: FO 2019, Wimbledon 2021 & A0 2022

Halep: FO 2018 & Wimbledon 2019

Andreescu: 2019 USO

Kenin: AO 2020

Krejčíková: FO 2021

Raducanu: USO 2021

Świątek: FO 2020 & 2022 and USO 2022

Rybakina: Wimbledon 2022

Sabalenka: AO 2023

The WTA tour rolls on with strength; even as majors winners such as Osaka and Kerber are effectively on extended "leave" starting their families, there's a wealth of talent capable of doing their job on tour.
Click to expand...
I mean someone has to win every tournament. ;)
 
The final was of great quality and fun & exciting to watch. (y) Fintft was definitely correct about Sabalenka being in great form throughout the tournament (Even if I skipped one match in disgust... :laughing: ). Unfortunately Rybakina was not quite as tough as she could have been in the final (so that at least my 'Other' in the poll would have been correct! :laughing: )

Fintft said:
Sabalenka also won the BHs( not only the FHs) duel and ended up with 51 winners.
Click to expand...
This was where Rybakina wasn't quite as good as earlier in the tournament and she seemed too cautious and unsure with her groundstrokes in general - especially in the 2nd and 3rd set. (And this was not ALL because of strong playing by Sabalenka)

Russians partied in the girls singles just because bunch of Czech girls have already left the juniors to make some money on pro tour! ;):cool:
 
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