Is 2023 the 12 months america reasserts its dominance as a tennis nation? With a inhabitants of over 330 million, will it lastly give the world a No.1?
On January 30, there have been 10 Individuals within the ATP High 50 for the primary time since 1995 and 9 Individuals within the WTA High 50.
That’s 19 gamers from the US in complete.
Fairly spectacular.
Now, let’s double the sphere and try the High 100.
On January 30, there have been 15 Individuals in every High 100. That’s loads. And that’s promising for a nation from which so many huge names have steadily emerged over the previous 50 years.
Connors, McEnroe, Courier, Sampras, Agassi and Roddick every left their mark on the ATP, nevertheless it’s been lifeless calm ever since tennis’ A-Rod rose to No.1.
The ladies’s facet has fared higher, since Serena Williams nonetheless dominated the rankings in spring 2017. However just some a long time in the past, there have been extra Individuals within the attracts—gamers like Evert, Navratilova, Davenport, Capriati and Venus.
Is the drought about to finish? With so many athletes from the US within the High 100, issues could also be trying up.
Within the ladies’s recreation, the gamers probably to rise to No.1 are Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff: the indestructible veteran and the uber gifted 18-year-old. If not them, we might have to attend for Amanda Anisimova or Katie Volynets, who’re each 21.
Within the males’s recreation, Taylor Fritz appears poised to ascend. Anybody else? Frances Tiafoe? Sebastian Korda? Ben Shelton? We’ll see.
The competitors is fierce within the WTA and ATP however having so many Individuals within the High 100 is nice information.
In case you had been questioning, listed here are the nations that gave us essentially the most High 10 gamers on January 30.
Discover the sturdy Czech and Russian contingents within the WTA and the big Spanish, French and Argentinean delegations within the ATP.
Bianca (No.37), Leylah (No.39), Rebecca (No.74), Félix (No.7) and Denis (No.27) place Canada fifth within the WTA and tenth within the ATP together with a couple of different nations.
That stated, there aren’t any ensures an American hero will emerge to repeat what Serena and Andy had been the final to perform and dominate the tennis universe any given week, month or 12 months.
However with energy in numbers, the possibilities are loads higher.
Félix Auger-Aliassime at Laver Cup Vancouver
As a result of the situation of Laver Cup rotates between cities in Europe and the remainder of the world annually, the 2023 match is about to happen in Vancouver. Organizers couldn’t be happier to have Félix Auger-Aliassime on Crew World, since he had essentially the most spectacular 2022 season out of all his comply with non-European representatives.
Along with his 4 titles, he closed out the 12 months at No.7, the best rating of any potential member of the crimson group. And he certified for the ATP Finals in Turin.
In group tennis, he led Canada to victory on the first (ATP Cup) and final (Davis Cup) occasions of the 12 months. And wasn’t he in the end the driving pressure behind Crew World’s very first conquest in Laver Cup historical past?
Whereas Félix’s participation was a given, I’d wish to level out that Vancouver and Laver Cup are a pure match.
It’s a subject I mentioned final July with Grant Connell—one of the vital well-known British Columbians in Canadian tennis—and Vancouver sports activities character David Cox. In case you missed the interviews, you may catch up here.
Repentigny to Hua Hin
The primary raised the winner’s trophy in 2015. The second did the identical two years later, in 2017.
I’m speaking in regards to the Nationwide Financial institution Canadian Junior Open Championships within the Montréal suburb of Repentigny, which hosts one of the best U18 rivals and has seen its share of future tennis stars over the previous 35 years. The match has all the time been a lead-in occasion for the US Open junior championships and set many gifted children on their tennis profession paths.
You’ll simply acknowledge Bianca Andreescu on the left. On the suitable is Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.
I had the chance to cowl a number of semis and finals in Repentigny for TV, and it’s not possible to neglect the rivals who actually shone, together with Bianca and Marta again after they had been solely 15 years previous.
Relating to Bianca Andreescu, you’re acquainted with her emergence and unbelievable 2019 season.
For Marta Kostyuk, professional tennis has been extra of an uphill battle. After discovering her strategy to the High 100 three years after Repentigny, she’s spent the previous three years circling the High 50.
I used to be curious to see the primary head-to-head between the 2 junior champions, which came about on February 3 in Thailand.
Bianca, ranked No.42, acquired off to a terrific begin. She breezed by way of the primary set 6-0 earlier than Marta, ranked No.60, acquired her wits about her and compelled the Canadian to 7-6.
Throughout their respectful, even heat, handshake on the web, I doubt they thought of their junior wins in Repentigny. Nonetheless, for me, there was that small widespread denominator.
For Andreescu, the match gave the impression to be one other milestone in her quest to get again into the winner’s circle, particularly since she stated 2023 may lastly be her 12 months of redemption, offered she retains accidents at bay.
However she’d barely uttered the phrases earlier than unhealthy luck struck once more.
Within the subsequent spherical, she was compelled to retire in opposition to one other Ukrainian participant, Lesia Tsurenko. Bianca acquired forward 5-3 of their semifinal however then misplaced eight straight video games (7-5, 4-0) earlier than chucking up the sponge due to a proper shoulder pressure.
Fingers crossed that it’s solely a minor setback and Bianca will lastly be capable of attain her full potential.
==============================================================
E mail: privard@tenniscanada.com
Twitter: @paul6rivard
Comply with all our Canadians in motion here.
