Women Tennis News Update – Australian Open (01-25-13)

Written by: Staff on 24th January 2013

Women Tennis News Update - Australian Open (01-25-13)

epa03552946 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a backhand during her semi final match against Sloane Stephens of the US at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 24 January 2013. EPA/Julian Finney Pool |

Australian Open

Singles – Semifinal: (1) Victoria Azarenka def. (29) Sloane Stephens 6-1 6-4

About the only interesting aspect of this came at the very end. Victoria Azarenka had blown five match points — and she took a medical timeout that lasted ten minutes. It seems to have been legitimate — she was having back problems — but it raised charges of gamesmanship. And, after the timeout, she did come back and win. It was a big win, because it assured her at least the #2 ranking, with the chance to maintain the #1 spot.

Sloane Stephens wasn’t much of a factor here, but she did make her first Slam semifinal. And a career high. We have her at #17, making her the #2 American. And the #1 American not named Serena Williams. Clearly the top American under twenty!

Singles – Semifinal: (6) Li Na def. (2) Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2

And so we have finally eliminated one of our contenders for #1! Maria Sharapova is out of it; she will fall from #2 to #3. The situation now is that Victoria Azarenka will be #1 if she wins the title, with Serena Williams #2; Serena will be #1 and Azarenka #2 if Li Na takes the title. Li, who has only one loss this year, will be #5 win or lose the title — but if she wins the title, Agnieszka Radwanska had better start worrying about her #4 ranking. Li seems to be playing some of the best tennis of her career, and she’ll be breathing down Radwanska’s throat….

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal: (3) Mirza/B Bryan def. Hradecka/Cermak 7-5 6-4

There was a time when Sania Mirza was perhaps the #1 female Mixed player in the world. That faded as her singles career has faded. But maybe she is getting it back.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal: Gajdosova/Ebden def. (5) Petrova/Bhupathi 6-3 3-6 13-11 (Match TB)

Australians aren’t doing anything in singles these days, but with Barty/Dellacqua in the women’s doubles final, and now this, their doubles seems to be in good shape! And this isn’t quite as big a surprise as it looks; mixed rankings would have dropped Petrova/Bhupathi to unseeded. Gajdosova/Ebden would have been even lower on the list, but stronger than their ordinary doubles rankings would imply. And clearly going higher.

Topics: Australian Open, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Sloane Stephens, Sports, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka