Gigi Salmon takes a glance again on her expertise on the Australian Open with Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence, Jannik Sinner’s crowning and her new position as ‘coach’ of Daniela Hantuchova…
I used to be interested by whether or not or to not reveal my pre-Australian Open picks.
I am notoriously unhealthy at making predictions however I believed I used to be in secure arms with former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who was coming in because the Brisbane winner, and world No 1, plus 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.
There was an early exit for Rybakina adopted by a semi-final defeat for Djokovic by the hands of Jannik Sinner.
However what a pleasure it was to witness the devastating defence of her title by Aryna Sabalenka. Pre-tournament the discuss was would she be prepared? Might she deal with the strain? The reply a convincing sure on each counts.
From first ball to final, she went about taking aside her opponents. She dropped no units and have become solely the second participant within the final 20 years to win the ladies’s singles title at Melbourne Park with no single recreation dropped on serve, the opposite being Serena Williams.
And to stipulate her type on the most important of levels, in her final six Grand Slam tournaments she has made three finals, profitable two titles with semi-final showings within the different three.
And whereas it wasn’t to be on Saturday night time in Melbourne, somebody I’ve little question we are going to see in lots of extra Grand Slam finals is Qinwen Zheng. The 21-year-old from China has made a giant impression on and off the courtroom, has made her means into the highest 10 along with her run to the ultimate and has the sport and the presence to go even additional.
Mature Sinner exhibits that is his time
Whereas there was a profitable defence within the ladies’s draw a brand new champion was topped within the males’s with Sinner coming from two units down in opposition to Daniil Medvedev to win in 5 after practically 4 hours of play.
The dialogue round Sinner and when he could be able to take it to the following stage has been happening for some time and within the remaining he confirmed that now could be his time to shine.
Minutes after he left the Rod Laver Area, Sinner was already talking to his coach Simone Vagnozzi about methods to enhance, it is easy to overlook he is solely 22 as he exhibits maturity past his years with a recreation to match and lots of extra Grand Slams you’ll suppose in his future.
However spare a thought for Medvedev who for a second time misplaced an Australian Open remaining when main by two units, having performed over 24 hours of tennis throughout the course of the 2 weeks, after which spoke so effectively regardless of the rawness of the consequence and with a contact of humour in his post-match press convention.
My new teaching job leaves meals for thought
I have been actually fortunate that I received to look at and work on these finals and lots of extra matches throughout the 2 weeks from our base which is a commentary field within the bowels of the Rod Laver Area with a window that appears out onto the courtroom placing you at hip stage with the gamers trying down the courtroom.
It is an unbelievable view and offers you a fair higher appreciation of the motion of the gamers as they slip and slide their means across the laborious courtroom. It was additionally totally stocked with protein balls which when Pat Money mentioned they have been good for us we purchased in hundreds to maintain us happening the lengthy days!
In amongst all of this I used to be assigned a brand new job as coach of former world No 5 Daniela Hantuchova, who was participating within the Legends occasion. I used to be assured there could be no unrealistic calls for or yelling on the field.
I used to be issued with a brand new move, stating my new job, and was in place for Dani’s first match alongside accomplice and former AO champion Li Na who was again at Melbourne Park 10 years after her win there.
A spotlight for me have been the teaching field snacks that got here spherical within the type of a laminated menu from which you made your alternative, I declined, considering I might save that for the second match. Sadly, there wasn’t to be a second match as I missed 7am observe the following day (after my very own 1am end) and I used to be relieved of my duties.
The excellent news is on my teaching CV I’ve a profitable document, our friendship remains to be firmly intact and I believe I used to be semi-rehired on the final day, however I do remorse not going for the snacks within the field.
Optimistic indicators for Raducanu and Norrie
Coaches, particularly new coaches are at all times a speaking level in Australia after low season modifications and for the Brits that included Nick Cavaday working alongside Emma Raducanu.
It was nice to see Raducanu again after three surgical procedures and eight months on the sidelines and it’ll take time, coaching and competing regularly to see the place she will be able to get her rating as much as, however there are constructive indicators and good to see her trying so relaxed in and round Melbourne Park.
British No 1 Cam Norrie has introduced within the former Wimbledon doubles champion Stephen Huss to his staff so as to add in Norrie’s phrases “a different eye”. He would lose a heartbreaker to Sacha Zverev however his constructive intentions, common forays to the online, drop photographs and recent forward-thinking intent appear to be right here to remain!
The tennis group comes collectively
Norrie and Raducanu have been additionally amongst these – and there have been many – who paid tribute to esteemed journalist and colleague Mike Dickson who tragically collapsed and died right here in Melbourne.
It was the beginning of a twenty fourth Australian Open for Mike and his sudden dying despatched shockwaves via the whole tennis group with the outpouring of affection and respect from gamers, tournaments and everybody concerned with tennis displaying how extremely regarded and revered Mike was and the way a lot he will likely be missed. Our ideas and condolences exit to all of his household and buddies.
A tennis group that got here collectively in Melbourne will now go their separate methods all over the world.
I am trying ahead to being with the Sky Sports activities staff in Doha from February 11 for the WTA 1000 occasion that features world No 1 Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka, US Open champion Coco Gauff and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in what’s a star-studded area.
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