Countdown to 2021 Season: 5 players to look forward to on the WTA Tour in the coming year
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Women’s tennis has become unpredictable in the past few years with a new youngster announcing her on the big stages at constant intervals. Last year, it was Bianca Andreescu, this year we witnessed 2 new Grandslams winners. Sofia Kenin won the Australian Open 2020, almost out of nowhere and Iga Swiatek took the tennis community by storm after her dominant display at the French Open 2020.
With Bianca Andreescu, Ashleigh Barty returning to action in 2021, the year promises to be an action-packed year. Naomi Osaka will also return after her US Open title, Victoria Azarenka has rediscovered her best form and Serena Williams will be hungry for more majors, come 2021.
In this article, we will have a look at 5 players to look out for in the 2021 season on the WTA Tour.
Bianca Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu, won the US Open 2019 title by defeating Serena Williams in the finals. The Canadian has been out of action ever since the WTA Finals, where she had to withdraw owing to a knee injury. She did not compete at all in the 2020 season. Ranked 7th in the world, she would be looking forward for a strong start to the 2021 season, beginning on her preferred hard court surface at the Australian Open.
Iga Świątek
Iga Swiatek, was surely one of the finds in the 2020 season. She ran over her opponents in some style as she lifted her maiden Grandslam title in Paris in October. The Polish teenager defeated Sofia Kenin in straight sets in the final of the French Open. On course to the title, she defeated Simona Halep in the 4th round.
The Pole did not drop more than 5 games in any of her matches at the French Open, and created history by becoming the first Polish woman to win a French Open title in the open era. French Open was the last tournament she played in 2020, and she will be well rested for the 2021 season. Swiatek will be hoping to raise her hard court game, in the coming years as she aims to win many more majors.
Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka ended the year in the best possible style by claiming back to back titles in Ostrava and Linz. The Belarusian did not have a great year on tour up until October, where she was struggling to find form. However, she did manage to win the Qatar Open earlier in the year, defeating Kvitova in the finals. Ranked 10 in the world, the 22 year old from Minsk is one of the most promising players going forward.
Sabalenka will be hoping to do well at Grandslams in the coming year. Inspite of winning 3 titles in 2020, she failed to do well at none of the majors. She faced first, second, third round losses in Australia, New York and Paris respectively.
Sofia Kenin
Sofia Kenin had a breakthrough year on tour, although they were not without a few disappointing performances. The American started off the year winning the Australian Open, defeating Muguruza in the final. The 22 year old also won the Lyon Open title before the lockdown. However when the season resumed in July, she was all out of sorts. She lost in the 1st rounds at Cincinnati and Italian Open.
Kenin made an incredible comeback at the French Open where she reached the finals yet again, but this time lost to the Polish teenager, Iga Swiatek in straight sets. French Open was the last tournament she participated in. She will be looking forward to have a better 2021 season, performing consistently on all surfaces.
Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka had a great performance in second half of the tennis season. Entering the Cincinnati Masters unseeded, she went on to win the title, and backed that up with another strong performance at the US Open where she lost in the finals to Naomi Osaka. The Belarusian defeated Serena Williams at the Flushing Meadows in the semifinals.
She did not have a good clay court season, losing in the second round of the French Open. However, she ended the year well, being the runner-up to Belarusian compatriot, Aryna Sabalenka at the Ostrava Open. She is currently ranked 13th in the world and a lot is expected from her, going into the 2021 season.
Also Read: Countdown to 2021 Season: 5 players to look forward to on the ATP Tour in the coming year
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Nirmit Mehta
(2425 Articles Published)