Izuchukwu OkosiThe big names are falling by the wayside and new tennis sensations are geared to rule the courts.
There has been shocking results thus far in the women’s version of the Open in Melbourne.
Some of the biggest names in women’s tennis of this generation are understandably not at this year’s Australian Open.
But ae& bunch more went out early in Melbourne, including the top four seeds before the semifinals.
This was already the first major field without any woman with four or more Slam titles since the 2003 U.S. Open.
That is due to Serena Williams‘ retirement after the U.S. Open, Naomi Osaka‘s pregnancy break and Venus Williams‘ withdrawal due to injury.
Other multiple major winners are also absent: Simona Halep due to a provisional doping ban and Angelique Kerber due to pregnancy.
Not to mention reigning champion Ash Barty‘s retirement last March.
Once play began, high seeds started falling.
READ ALSO: Barty Beats Collins, Lifts Women’s Australian Open Title
No. 2 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, the pride of Africa and Wimbledon and U.S. Open runner-up, was eliminated in the second round.
Then top-ranked Iga Swiatek‘s defeat in the fourth round blew open the bracket.
American Jessica Pegula, the No. 3 seed, lost in the last eight, moving to 0-5 in her career in major quarterfinals.
Still, two major champions will face off in the semifinals: Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, whose two Slams came Down Under in 2012 and 2013.
The other half of the draw features two of the most accomplished players yet to win a major: No. 5 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and 30th seed Karolina Pliskova, a former world No. 1.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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