WTA week of 1/8; Adelaide 500 & Hobart 250

[Aussie Darcy]

Ostapenko gets it done in straight sets over Kasatkina.

Welcome back to the top 10 Jelena.

 

[D-Lite]

SO glad JO won the final after Kasatkina (through no fault of her own) got 2 walkovers in the QF and SF.
This is a big statement from JO returning to the top 10. She has been labelled as erratic and a 1 slam wonder since her 2017 RG win but she really is pretty consistent even if she still has erratic performances here and there. 2023 saw 2 career best performances at majors - QFs at the AO and USO - so she will be defending some hefty points at the AO and may drop out of the top 10 in a few weeks. Next step I think she needs to make another major SF. She has what it takes to win another majors, especially with the right draw but this isn't the first time she's gone into a major red hot - I recall she won Eastbourne before Wimbledon a few years ago and slumped out early. She's definitely one to watch for this AO. I hope we get to see her play Iga in R4.

 

[Winners or Errors]

SO glad JO won the final after Kasatkina (through no fault of her own) got 2 walkovers in the QF and SF.
This is a big statement from JO returning to the top 10. She has been labelled as erratic and a 1 slam wonder since her 2017 RG win but she really is pretty consistent even if she still has erratic performances here and there. 2023 saw 2 career best performances at majors - QFs at the AO and USO - so she will be defending some hefty points at the AO and may drop out of the top 10 in a few weeks. Next step I think she needs to make another major SF. She has what it takes to win another majors, especially with the right draw but this isn't the first time she's gone into a major red hot - I recall she won Eastbourne before Wimbledon a few years ago and slumped out early. She's definitely one to watch for this AO. I hope we get to see her play Iga in R4.

Looks like she has a better physio and I'm seeing more variety in her game than was there in the "dark times." Eager to see her climb a little more. Love her ball striking. Glad the outfits are no longer so hideous as well. ;-)

 

[coolcamden]

I actually like JO a lot. Like her game, like her spunk, like her nastiness. It’s a business, not a sorority. She took out IS at the last USO, cleared the way for 1-9 to win the tournament, as she was burned out in the next match. She always gives all, which is saying a lot.

 

[D-Lite]

I actually like JO a lot. Like her game, like her spunk, like her nastiness. It’s a business, not a sorority. She took out IS at the last USO, cleared the way for 1-9 to win the tournament, as she was burned out in the next match. She always gives all, which is saying a lot.

That's what happens when you play four 3 setters in a row. But even so, at majors players get an off day so JO really needs to work harder on her fitness if she's to have the endurance to take another major. Often the match is on her racket but I guess that means she doesn't have the most grinding of matches that hone her ability to go the distance again and again.
Gauff won't play Iga every major she enters especially if IS runs into the likes of JO or Rybakina.
Most players have a kryptonite opponent even legends often have a player for whatever reason they struggle against. For IS it appears it is the heaviest hitters who play freely as the underdog against her.
Gauff is in the opposite half of the draw to IS this tournament whereas JO could be IS' QF opponent if she can potentially get past Azarenka/Vondrousova and a few other potential difficult players in that eighth of the draw. I'd like to see Iga play against Svitolina again in a repeat of their Wimbledon matchup from last season. If she gets through, JO would be the most exciting encounter unless Vondrousova can work her way into some form but I wouldn't bet on that happening.

Hopefully with the return of so many well known names we have an exciting tournament on our hands. Going off on a tangent now, but even moreso if everyone stays free of major injuries it should be even more exciting once the likes of Andreescu, Brady and Muchova return. Alongside the likes of Anisimova and Raducanu, I am excited to see what these types of players can achieve with fully uninterrupted seasons as there are just so many what ifs in the women's game now.

 

[coolcamden]

That's what happens when you play four 3 setters in a row. But even so, at majors players get an off day so JO really needs to work harder on her fitness if she's to have the endurance to take another major. Often the match is on her racket but I guess that means she doesn't have the most grinding of matches that hone her ability to go the distance again and again.
Gauff won't play Iga every major she enters especially if IS runs into the likes of JO or Rybakina.
Most players have a kryptonite opponent even legends often have a player for whatever reason they struggle against. For IS it appears it is the heaviest hitters who play freely as the underdog against her.
Gauff is in the opposite half of the draw to IS this tournament whereas JO could be IS' QF opponent if she can potentially get past Azarenka/Vondrousova and a few other potential difficult players in that eighth of the draw. I'd like to see Iga play against Svitolina again in a repeat of their Wimbledon matchup from last season. If she gets through, JO would be the most exciting encounter unless Vondrousova can work her way into some form but I wouldn't bet on that happening.

Hopefully with the return of so many well known names we have an exciting tournament on our hands. Going off on a tangent now, but even moreso if everyone stays free of major injuries it should be even more exciting once the likes of Andreescu, Brady and Muchova return. Alongside the likes of Anisimova and Raducanu, I am excited to see what these types of players can achieve with fully uninterrupted seasons as there are just so many what ifs in the women's game now.

Agreed with everything you said. Especially the kryptonite part. IS assessment is right… and she is for sure CG’s. Hence 1-9

I was just thinking about JBrad. What happened to her? She tried in 2023 then got hurt again.