Aryna Sabalenka’s long-awaited confirmation of her Grand Slam title and Australian Open final is a welcome addition to the WTA as the women’s tour looks to bounce back from a severe lack of star power.
But challenges lie ahead as the district navigates a difficult geopolitical landscape and scheduling problems with the lucrative Chinese market.
After years of struggling with nerves on the big stage, 24-year-old Sabalenka defeated Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the final at Melbourne Park to give the great Belarusian her first Grand Slam title.
Now ranked second in the world and boasting one of the most powerful games in women’s tennis, she looks to be a major threat to top-ranked WTA finalist Polta Iga Switek. Creating a real rivalry between the pair would be a tonic for the WTA, which has produced few notes in recent years and recently lost Serena Williams to retirement.
Sabalenka’s hopes of shaking up the women’s game could be dashed at Wimbledon, however, if the Russian and Belarusian players are banned from grass-court Grand Slams.
Sabalenka, along with all the Russian and Belarusian players, missed last year’s Wimbledon because of what organizers controversially called a “special operation” over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the conflict in Ukraine shows no sign of ending, decisions about Russian and Belarusian players competing for every English club are pressing.
The ban had other consequences that are still evident today, with players competing at Wimbledon being unable to earn ranking points from the tournament on both the WTA and men’s ATP tours. The loss of points was a hindrance for some players, not least the reigning champion Rybakina, who had a higher seed than 22 at the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old had to hold off Swiatek and two other Grand Slam champions in a tough draw to reach the final at Melbourne Park.
Her ranking has now climbed 15 places to 10th in that run, which should help the Russian-born Kazakhstani’s bid to add to her Wimbledon title for a second Grand Slam title.
China has stopped
The Australian Open provided another reminder of the strength of Chinese women’s tennis as Zhang Shuai and Zhu Lin reached the last 16 of the women’s singles tournament.
The Chinese men’s game, which has long been overshadowed by the success of the country’s women, also showed promise in his professional career, with teenager Shang Juncheng becoming the first Chinese man to win the Australian Open in a major draw.
China’s abandonment of its zero-Covid policy is expected to pave the way for the return of international tennis after a three-year hiatus, with the ATP having three events listed in the country’s 2023 calendar.
The WTA schedule will remain empty after the US Open, but there is no clarity on the tournaments in China until the Peng Shui case is resolved.
Former world number one doubles player Peng In 2021, a high-ranking Chinese government official was removed from the country’s internet shortly after a sexual assault posted on social media.
She later denied that she had filed the charges. The WTA has requested a formal investigation into Peng’s allegations and wants to meet with her privately to discuss her situation, a spokeswoman told Reuters this month.
With China hosting nine WTA events in 2019, including the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen, the women’s circuit has suffered in recent years without the Asian powerhouse and has much to lose if the hiatus continues.