Women's tennis has been a complete contrast to men’s tennis for quite a few years now. While the Men’s game has been dominated by the Big3 for more than a decade and a half, the woman’s game after the slight decline of the Legendary Serena Williams(of course after winning mind-boggling 23 slams any decline is relative!! )has had many young players winning their first slams and 2020 was a continuation of this trend. This is why women's tennis is highly unpredictable and entertaining
In the last decade in the Men’s game has had only 7 grand slam winners, in contrast, the woman has had 18 different winners and having diverse geographic regions from Australia to Asia to Europe and the USA and except Serena, the others have won a maximum of 3 slams i.e. Osaka and Kerber
Osaka won her 3rd slam this year and she has also endeared herself to certain sections of society due to her open support of the Black Lives Matter movement
Like in the men’s game Due to Covid, certain players did not play certain slams which always raises a question mark on the value of the tournament but we should respect who played and won
Some people feel that there is no dominant player or dominant rivalry but having different players winning different slams has its own charm as well. It does add an element of surprise to the whole event.
One thing is the woman game has is huge unpredictability as was shown in the French open of 2017 and 2020 when rank outsiders in Jelena ostapenko and Iga Swiatek came and playing inspired tennis won the championship when they were Unseeded. It is such a heartwarming story that unseeded players who no one knows comes and wins the title
Li Na became the Pride of Asia winning a couple of slams proving that Asian players can be the best
Also, there were other winners like Caroline Wozniacki, Francesca Schiavone, Samantha Stosur, Marion Bartoli, Flavia Pennetta all of whom were hard-working players who achieved their career highlight
So What is the hierarchy in the women's game now? |
Currently, there is Serena who has been trying to equal Margaret court record of 24 slams after winning her 23rd grand slam at the Australian Open in 2017, but sadly for her, she has made 4 finals losing each of them to a more inspired and younger and fitter opponent. It might seem that she can't win her 24th slam as age is catching up with her.
Then there is Gabarine muguruza , Victoria Azarenka alongwith Petra Kvitova all of whom have won 2 grand slams each and recently reached another slam final are now somewhat Senior Pro’s on the tour fighting up the challenge from the younger lot. We can add Kerber to that list as well
Then it’s Simona Halep who finally broke her Grand slam jinx after losing a few finals and then added another Slam and she is now perhaps close to her peak and will be a force in the majors for some time.
Then there is the real elite of the women's game who can rule the game for a number of years perhaps this decade yet. They are Ashley Barty, Sofia Kenin Naomi Osaka,Slaome Stevens, and Bianca Andreseecu.All of them are young they have proved themselves at the highest level and this could be the rivalry that everyone is waiting for
So what is your opinion, do like the men’s game which is dominated by 2-3 players, or the highly unpredictable woman’s game