WTA week of 1/1; Adelaide 1 500 & Auckland 250

[Aussie Darcy]

Sabalenka easily into the final defeating Begu 6-3 6-2.

Hope she faces Jabeur in the final.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also, what's the go with Halep's ban? Is it under appeal? How long is it for?

 

[slipgrip93]

Teen czech newgen Linda Noskova starting her SF match vs. Jabeur. Noskova back to her red shorts for this round haha.

1st rnd vs. Kasatkina 6-3, 6(2)-7, 6-3
2nd rnd vs. Liu 6-2, 6-2
3rd rnd vs. Azarenka 6-4, 6(3)-7, 7-6(6)

Good that she held her first service game of the match so far.
edit: she just broke Jabeur's serve for 2-0! now 0-30 3rd game.
edit: nice start (for Noskova), now 3-0 with an ace and bhdtl winner in the game.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Jabeur with a MTO.

Noskova up 5-2.

Not looking good for Ons.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Jabeur played a fantastic 2nd set and looked good to start the 3rd but now looking injured and down a break. Wish she would just retire and prepare for the Aus Open. I know she wants to get to the final but the AO is more important.

 

[slipgrip93]

yes, Jabeur even with the leg injury in the first set, not making it easy for Noskovoa in the 2nd with her experience and special talent.
Nice to see Noskova regaining her composure and I enjoy her nice serve, with a lot of promise of her young game, while still learning to compete with the top tier, and a ways to go with experience.
to be fair, sorry to see Jabeur struggling a bit with her injury on serve this last set.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The 18 year old knocks out #2 Jabeur!

Noskova's epic run continues and she wins in 3 sets to make her maiden tour final.

She'll play #2 seed Sabalenka for the title.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Noskova's run to the final ranked #102 in the world:

Q1: #58 Kalinskaya
Q2: #43 Potapova
R1: #8 Kasatkina
R2: #59 Liu
QF: #26 Azarenka
SF: #2 Jabeur

Now that is damn good.

 

[slipgrip93]

Congrats to Noskova! with a win over no. 2 Jabeur (albeit injured). I like Noskova's on court demeanor. no grunting, no overdone fist pumps, less shy than Rybakina, but maintains calm and determined. Kind of reminds me of a young Graf or other past newgen under pressure. good she goes deep at a minor tournament , less pressure than Raducanu's uso aftermath.
vs. Sabalenka for the final!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Oh yikes, Linda was quite rude in that on court interview... I'll give her the benefit of the doubt but geez that was really cringe.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Venus out of the Aus Open due to injury @MichaelNadal

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1611605113008947200

I really think it's about time she hangs up the boots...

 

[ScottleeSV]

Impressive from Noskova. I think Sabalenka will get this one though.

I remember watching Noskova against Raducanu at the French last year. Raducanu played possibly the best match she's ever played outside of Flushing Meadow just to get through.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Venus out of the Aus Open due to injury @MichaelNadal

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1611605113008947200

I really think it's about time she hangs up the boots...

 

[PDJ]

Venus out of the Aus Open due to injury @MichaelNadal

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1611605113008947200

I really think it's about time she hangs up the boots...

Plus side: when Venus does retire she won't have to share the limelight with her sister. Kinda fitting she started first and finished last. I hope she gets a great send off.
I get the impression she's well liked.

 

[spystud]

Both finals underway, brilliant planning.

Aryna v. Noskova in Adelaide.

Coco v. Masarova in Auckland.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Good aggression from Sabalenka early on and she gets the first break. Up 4-2 serving for 5-2.

Also already at 13 winners after just 6 games. Meanwhile Noskova's has just 2 winners.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Lot of people mad that Venus's wildcard wasn't then given to Noskova upon Vee's withdrawal. Instead given to Aussie Jaimee Fourlis.

Noskova has to back up this epic run in Adelaide and play qualies for the AO starting tomorrow

 

[spystud]

Ha, rain delay @ 5-1, set point for Coco.

Don't believe I've ever seen Masarova before.

Hopefully TC switches to Adelaide now.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sabalenka looking great and takes the first 6-3.

Showing herself as a threat to the AO title. Far and above where she was this time last year with those awful yips of 20+ double faults per matches in the AO lead up tournaments.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

With Osaka now withdrawing from the Aus Open along with the retirements last year of Barty, Serena and Clijsters. There's only 2 active players left in the entire draw who've actually won the title before:

2022: Barty (retired)
2021: Osaka (withdrawn)
2020: Kenin (active)
2019: Osaka (withdrawn)
2018: Wozniacki (retired)
2017: Serena (retired)
2016: Kerber (pregnant)
2015: Serena (retired)
2014: Li Na (retired)
2013: Azarenka (active)
2012: Azarenka (active)
2011: Clijsters (retired)
2010: Serena (retired)
2009: Serena (retired)
2008: Sharapova (retired)
2007: Serena (retired)

Kenin and Azarenka.

 

[Kralingen]

Noskova Sabalenka is like two carbon copies of players against each other. The fact that one of them is 18 and possesses this amount of poise and power is unbelievable. Saba has played well too.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Both players with a double fault each to start the tiebreak.

1-1.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Noskova collapsing a bit. Another double fault. Sabalenka now up 5-1 with another serve to come.

Her hands are almost on her 11th trophy.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Just too good from Sabalenka and she wins the Adelaide International title 6-3 7-6.

Fantastic week from Aryna and what a run from Czech qualifier Noskova who's going to have an amazing 2023.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Always love when the winner of the tournament says to the opponent "we'll play many more finals against eachother".

Come on, we know that isn't true.

 

[spystud]

Coco is back underway, this shouldn’t take long.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

it certainly didn't. An impressive run from Coco, but she didn't face any top opponent except Kenin (?).

 

[D-Lite]

it certainly didn't. An impressive run from Coco, but she didn't face any top opponent except Kenin (?).

I wouldn't call Kenin a top opponent - she's more like a shell of her former self which is unfortunate. Hopefully she returns to her best in the future but people stopped anticipating anything in the near future on these forums a long time ago.

Sloane was #2 seed and somehow lost to Masarova. I don't know what motivates SS and why she so often loses R1 but can get to QF in majors if she pulls the trigger on her motivation. Fernandez was #3 seed and it's unfortunate she lost in the QFs but just like Raducanu (aside from LF winning a title last year), she's not really done anything since the 2021 USO final. I do wonder just how much that court/ball combination and the underdog spirit played a factor in their results there. I want to see both in the top 10 and fighting for majors but I'm having to taper back my expectations.

 

[insideguy]

Man USA started the year with a bang.

 

[BenC]

Late to comment but just watched a replay of Fernandez/Mattek-Sands losing the doubles final after being up 6-1 5-1 to Kato/Sutjiadi, and having 2 match points at 5-3. Oof.