halep wozniacki lead race to seize serenas aussie crown
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

by the withdrawal of the defending champion

Halep, Wozniacki lead race to seize Serena's Aussie crown

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Halep, Wozniacki lead race to seize Serena's Aussie crown

Simona Halep of Romania.
Melbourne - Arab Today

 Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki spearhead the charge to succeed Serena Williams at an Australian Open left wide open by the withdrawal of the defending champion and new mum.

A pregnant Williams sealed her 23rd Grand Slam singles title and seventh Melbourne Park crown a year ago, but last week announced she wouldn't defend her title, saying she was "super close" but not quite ready to compete after giving birth in September.

With the 36-year-old having to wait to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the tournament is there for the taking by a host of players, led by world number one Halep, second-ranked Wozniacki and fourth-ranked Elina Svitolina.

Last year there were two first-time major-winners while Serena was on maternity leave -- Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open and Sloane Stephens at the US Open.

But their chances in Melbourne look slim: Stephens hasn't won a match on tour since her Flushing Meadows triumph, and Ostapenko was far from her attacking best in her first-round defeats in Shenzhen and Sydney in the past week.

- Halep's chance -

Wimbledon champion and world number three Garbine Muguruza retired with severe cramps in Brisbane last week, in what could be a further boost to Halep's hopes of a maiden Grand Slam.

The 26-year-old Romanian is full of confidence after lifting the title at Shenzhen in dominant fashion, but will need to overcome her sorry record at Melbourne Park where she has lost in the first round in both of the past two years when seeded in the top four.

Wozniacki is riding high after her resurgence in 2017 when she reached eight finals, with victories in Tokyo in September and at the season-ending Tour Championship.

The Danish former world number one lost in the Auckland Classic final on Sunday to Germany's Julia Goerges, but said she felt great heading to Melbourne as she too looks to make her Slam breakthrough.

"I've got a lot of matches under my belt this week, it was the preparation I hoped for," said Wozniacki, who is back up to second in the world and, if results go her way, can return to the top spot after a gap of six years.

In-form Svitolina last week won the Brisbane International after picking up five WTA Tour titles last year, more than any other woman.

The Ukrainian believes hard work in the off-season is paying dividends. "I've started to play more consistently," she said. "I'm stronger physically. I have a different look to my game."

World number six Karolina Pliskova lost to Svitolina in the Brisbane semi-final but also will be a contender for a maiden Slam behind one of the biggest serves on tour.

- Evergreen Venus -

Britain's world number nine Johanna Konta could figure despite a slow start to the season. She reached the last eight in both of her Australian Open appearances to date, but slumped out of the Sydney International in the first round this week.

But the most dangerous floater is 2008 champion Maria Sharapova, who on Monday moved back into the world's top 50 for the first time since returning from a 15-month doping ban.

The controversial Russian, ranked 47, lost in the Shenzhen semi-final to Katerina Siniakova and admitted she had "a lot of things to improve on".

If it is not to be a new name on the trophy, it could well be the oldest player in the field -- evergreen 37-year-old Venus Williams.

Venus last won a Slam in 2008 but she enjoyed a renaissance last year, when she reached two Grand Slam finals and returned to the world top five.

Only sister Serena prevented Venus from winning an 11th Grand Slam singles title in last year's all-Williams Melbourne final. Victory would see her eclipse Ken Rosewall as the oldest player ever to win a major.

Source: AFP

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

halep wozniacki lead race to seize serenas aussie crown halep wozniacki lead race to seize serenas aussie crown

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

halep wozniacki lead race to seize serenas aussie crown halep wozniacki lead race to seize serenas aussie crown

 



GMT 03:06 2017 Thursday ,22 June

Book hand-written and illustrated by JK rowling up

GMT 22:16 2016 Tuesday ,29 March

Ireland and the UAE: a 'shared vision

GMT 14:08 2017 Thursday ,06 April

Actors back to Algerian TV during Ramadan

GMT 14:01 2017 Wednesday ,01 March

The Merchant of Venice unveils Liberty Eau de Parfum

GMT 02:02 2017 Thursday ,26 October

Sep24/Oct23

GMT 06:16 2018 Tuesday ,09 January

Sudan students, police clash on third day

GMT 02:07 2011 Tuesday ,06 December

Kirsten Dunst Sexy in Black Bikini

GMT 04:33 2017 Friday ,15 December

Chinese dissident's widow sends desperate letter

GMT 15:56 2017 Saturday ,12 August

Odebrecht scandal reaches Peru's Keiko Fujimori

GMT 12:56 2017 Thursday ,23 February

Second explosion in Lahore is tyre blowout

GMT 10:10 2011 Wednesday ,16 November

I need to serve Egypt

GMT 15:29 2017 Monday ,13 February

California train plunges into river after derailment

GMT 07:00 2017 Sunday ,19 March

King Mohammed VI Wants Continue Working With PJD

GMT 20:12 2017 Saturday ,22 April

Editorial: Turkey's Erdogan consolidates power

GMT 09:36 2014 Friday ,28 November

New island resort in Venice to boast largest spa

GMT 08:50 2017 Wednesday ,15 March

Germany's EON posts record 8.45 bln euro loss in 2016

GMT 05:10 2017 Saturday ,07 October

UAE condemns mass shooting in Las Vegas

GMT 15:30 2017 Wednesday ,01 November

Football: Briton gets jail in second FIFA sentencing

GMT 10:00 2017 Saturday ,01 July

Rouhani: Gaza events teach us to be united

GMT 11:46 2017 Wednesday ,17 May

Thailand has no immediate plan to suspend Facebook

GMT 06:04 2012 Tuesday ,10 January

FIFA world best XI
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday