Happy 2025 everyone, and after a brief tennis break, we return… (in 2024 actually with the United Cup). There are many intriguing storylines on the WTA.
Battle for the top spot
For the first time, Aryna Sabalenka ended the year as world number 1. Can Iga Swiatek regain the top spot or will Coco Gauff be pushing for that position for the first time? Coco had a Jekyll and Hyde 2024, with her form up to the US Open not terrible convincing. Technical issues with her forehand and serve were masked by her superb athletic ability and a fierce competitiveness that meant she won and awful lot of matches she should probably have lost. However, post US Open, a new coach, a change of grips and… wow! She started looking amazing. She narrowly lost to Sabalenka in Wuhan serving 21 double faults, won the WTA finals and this weekend, helped the USA win the United Cup with a close but comprehensive win over Iga Swiatek, who had long been her absolute nemesis. After years of being slightly overhyped as the next big thing, I believe it for the first time! Right now, the only one who can beat Coco is herself in my opinion. She has so much more confidence on her forehand, the serve is a weapon and her movement in defence is amazing. How do you get the ball past her? However, can she maintain that?
Meanwhile, Iga herself had looked pretty good beating Karolina Muchova and Elena Rybakina in straight sets. She was pushed to 3 sets by an inspired Katie Boulter and that match – along with the other intense battles in a short period of time did have her come up a tad short physically against Coco. With new coach Wim Fisette and the small scandal of a drugs offence hopefully behind her, the question is whether Swiatek can find success on fast hard courts. She did take a positive step in the right direction with the win over Rybakina – who has had her number on fast hard courts in the past.
While they were battling it out at the United Cup, Aryna Sabalenka won the Brisbane 500, but in a much less convincing manner, pushed to 3 sets by Polina Kudermetova – younger sister of Veronika. Sabalenka’s record in Australia is amazing but she was a bit untidy at times. I can see Iga and Coco pushing her. To be honest, since clinching the year end number 1 ranking in Riyadh, Sabalenka’s game has looked a bit messy. She has gone from big but wild hitter to being able to control and channel that power across all surfaces better than anyone else. She will need to clean up her game if she is to three-peat in Melbourne.
The Elena Rybakina situation has got incredibly messy with the apparent return of former coach, the much disliked Stefano Vukov and the new partnership with Goran Ivanisevic in doubt. What is not in doubt is that Rybakina looked great in her United Cup matches, but came up short against a determined Iga Swiatek. With a lot of key errors at the net, Ivanisevic’s work seemed clear, but there are definitely questions about what is going on with her right now. Most importantly, we want to see her fit and healthy after a torrid season last year.
Talking of fitness, Karolina Muchova had some good wins at the United Cup – most notably over Jasmine Paolini, but was beaten pretty much fair and square by Swiatek and Gauff. She definitely has a Coco problem, but it was good to see her play some nice tennis.
Rise of the Youngsters
Ask anyone who the best teenager on tour is right now and the answer is an unequivocal one – Mirra Andreeva. Just 17 years old, she is already in the top 20 and moving on up! I watched a bit of the exhibition World Tennis League at the end of December. Mirra was a real star and played well in her early matches this year, I think this could be her year to really break into the top 10. She has added a bit more strength – that serve has a bit of pace how – but the one area she is struggling a bit on is decision making in key moments. She memorable lost the Ningbo final to Daria Kasatkina at the end of 2024 and burst into tears – her shot selection through the end stages was very poor. She lost to Sabalenka in the Brisbane semifinals this week, not able to convert ANY of her 8 break point opportunities. However, experience is something she WILL gain. With Conchita Martinez on board, and great tennis instincts, this could be a year for further progress.
Her newly selected doubles partner, Diana Schnaider is another young player who could make waves in 2025. Just 20 years old, she did a lot of winning last year. I am not sure if she has that much more to improve or if she has maximised her talent, but I expect Schnaider and her headscarf/bandana to be around for a while!
Watch out for 6 foot 1, American Ashlyn Krueger. Also 20 years old, she has made steady progress, hits a clean ball and seems poised to rise up too. 18 year old Aussie Maya Joint is another who might make waves, but with her red hair and pale skin, I hope she slaps on the sun cream better than the noticeably sun burnt Karolina Muchova at the United Cup this week!
Returning players
A few old favourites to look out for. New mum Belinda Bencic is back, back, back! The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist returns from maternity leave. She was well beaten by Jasmine Paolini at the United Cup, but has looked pretty good on her comeback.
Marketa Vondrousova missed a lot of last year with a shoulder injury, but to be honest hadn’t played well all year. Maybe post-Wimbledon blues and a divorce? Her loss in the first round when defending her Wimbledon title was symptomatic, although she was carrying an injury. I watched some of her first match back – an impressive win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova yesterday. Not sure how long it will last but good to see that intelligent game again.
Naomi Osaka made her comeback last year but didn’t have the results she wanted – despite having match points against Iga at Roland Garros! She had the most bizarre moment of the year so far in the Auckland final this week. Osaka won the first set 6-4 over Clara Tauson then withdrew with an abdominal injury. Poor Tauson was bemused and befuddled, holding up a trophy when she didn’t win a set! This could be a big year for Osaka, as if she doesn’t go deep and push for big titles, I wonder how long she will hang around.
Can Ons Jabeur rediscover her slam finalist form? Will Maria Sakkari manage to get back to the top 10 after an unbelievable and unlikely time there? Will Emma Raducanu ever stay fit long enough to impress again?
Barbora Krejcikova!! The worst news for us Babs-fans was when she announced that the back injury that had been affecting her in Riyadh was not healed and she was out of the Australian Open. I guess if you are struggling, it makes sense to skip the Aussie summer and return for the Middle East swing, but after Krejcikova was one of the only players to have beaten Coco in the last few months and her good results in Melbourne, I was looking forward to watching her. With the injuries that blighted her 2024 season – despite that Wimbledon victory – I just hope Krejcikova can have a good run this year. Ah well, another return to look forward to. Maybe we might even get a Petra Kvitova comeback at some point in 2025?? (Miracles may happen…)