The current Hologic WTA Tour season is proving to be full of surprises.
Contrary to expectations, Aryna Sabalenka, the world`s No. 1, did not secure her third consecutive Australian Open title. Instead, Madison Keys claimed her first Grand Slam singles title.
Similarly, Iga Swiatek, ranked No. 2, missed out on her fourth straight Doha victory, with Amanda Anisimova capturing her first WTA 1000 title.
Elise Mertens, starting the season ranked No. 32, triumphed in Singapore, marking her first title in two years. Just a week later, Anastasia Potapova, also ranked No. 32, won the Transylvania Open, her first victory in two years. In a more unexpected turn, McCartney Kessler, ranked No. 67, won the Hobart title. Adding to the surprises, Belinda Bencic became the Abu Dhabi champion less than ten months after giving birth.
Surprise indeed!
With Camila Osorio`s Bogota win, she became the 14th different winner in 18 events this year. Only Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Keys, and Jessica Pegula have secured multiple titles.
Teenage Sensation Takes Center Stage
The most significant story in terms of impact is undoubtedly Mirra Andreeva. The 17-year-old dominated the Dubai field, defeating Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, to become the youngest WTA 1000 champion ever. She is also the youngest player to break into the Top 10 since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007, the year Andreeva was born.
Echoing Snoop Dogg`s acceptance speech at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony, Andreeva thanked herself, stating, “I would again like to thank myself for fighting until the end, and for always believing in me and for never quitting.”
Less than a month later, Andreeva continued her winning streak at Indian Wells, overcoming Sabalenka in a three-set final. This signals a shift in the tennis landscape, with more young talents emerging. Consider this a warning to the established players.
The Race to Riyadh Heats Up
The current top 10 in the Race to Riyadh standings are: Aryna Sabalenka (3,580), Madison Keys (3,069), Mirra Andreeva (2,565), Iga Swiatek (2,315), Jessica Pegula (2,310), Amanda Anisimova (1,460), Clara Tauson (1,365), Emma Navarro (1,352), Elena Rybakina (1,320), and Paula Badosa (1,255).
Notably, Keys (No. 21), Andreeva (No. 16), Anisimova (No. 36), Tauson (No. 52), and Badosa (No. 12) were all ranked outside the Top 10 at the start of the season.
Extreme Tennis Stats
The longest match of the year was between Arantxa Rus and Viktorija Golubic at Cluj-Napoca, lasting 3 hours and 30 minutes. Golubic saved two match points in this epic victory. The shortest completed match was Daria Kasatkina’s dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Polina Kudermetova in Doha, which lasted only 42 minutes.
Naomi Osaka`s Optimistic Return
After taking a break in 2023 to become a mother, Naomi Osaka is showing signs of returning to her top form. The four-time Grand Slam champion has won 9 out of 13 matches this year. Her insightful quotes remain as sharp as ever.
Reflecting on her tennis after a loss to Jasmine Paolini in Miami, she said, “Honestly, I feel pretty optimistic about it. Overall, I kind of told myself, `I like my life a lot.` So there’s not really much to be negative on.”
She added, “Other than that, I can only keep fighting and keep trying my best on the tennis court. And off of it, life is pretty fun.”
Top Performers and Biggest Upsets
Jessica Pegula leads the WTA Tour with the most wins this season.
One of the biggest surprises was Alexandra Eala. The 19-year-old from the Philippines entered the Miami Open with only two WTA main-draw wins. She then achieved victories against Katie Volynets, Jelena Ostapenko, Australian Open champion Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek, before losing to Pegula in the semifinals. Eala`s ranking soared from No. 140 to No. 75 after this impressive run.
Break Points and Aces Leaders
The Australian Open match between Harriet Dart and Jana Fett saw a year-high of 19 break points converted.
In terms of aces, Clara Tauson leads with 151, followed by Elena Rybakina with 120, and Madison Keys with 116.
However, aces-per-match provides a different perspective: 1. Naomi Osaka (7.08), 2. Alycia Parks (7.07), 3. Clara Tauson (6.57), 4. Linda Noskova (6.41), 5. Zheng Qinwen (5.6).
Emerging Teenager in Bogota
Julieta Pareja, a 16-year-old American, also made a notable impact. She qualified for the Copa Colsanitas main draw and won three more matches, becoming the first player born in 2009 to play in a WTA main draw and the youngest semifinalist since 2019.
Match and Shot of the Year Contenders
Elena Rybakina`s victory against Paula Badosa in Dubai, where she saved six match points, is a strong contender for Match of the Year.
In that Auckland match, Clara Tauson and Sofia Kenin together hit 107 winners, marking the highest combined total this season.
Madison Keys hit an impressive 224 winners at the Australian Open, the most in a single tournament this year.
And finally, for Shot of the Year – it speaks for itself!
Rupert Caldwell