In her newest Sky Sports activities column, Gigi Salmon discusses Madison Keys’ unbelievable run to Grand Slam glory, Jannik Sinner’s vice-like grip on males’s tennis and what could possibly be subsequent for Novak Djokovic after his work with Andy Murray on the Australian Open…
An eight hour flight delay on the finish of a Grand Slam is not preferrred, however it provides me an opportunity to take a seat down and assume again on the 2 weeks that we have now had at Melbourne Park. When it comes to leaving Australia we have now timed it properly, with the temperature hitting 42 levels as I left for the airport.
It is very simple to know the place to begin and that is with new Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who’s a participant many people have been waiting for years questioning if she would fulfil her potential.
“I felt like from a pretty young age, if I never won a Grand Slam, then I wouldn’t have lived up to what people thought I should have been,” Keys stated after her victory. “That was a pretty heavy burden to kind of carry around.”
At 29, newly married and with husband and coach Bjorn Fratangelo in her nook, she not solely did it however she did it in type!
Bruising run to Grand Slam glory for Keys
To grow to be a Grand Slam Champion you need to win seven matches, you’ll come throughout obstacles alongside the best way, however it’s exhausting to consider a harder attract current occasions than the one Key confronted.
It included former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins within the third spherical adopted by former Wimbledon Champion Elena Rybakina, then it was Elina Svitolina earlier than following these bruising encounters by taking out the world No 2 and world No 1 in successive rounds.
A spotlight of the second week was Key’s semi-final conflict with Iga Swiatek, the place she closed it out in a match tie-break within the third. Apparently, from talking to quite a lot of folks, they have been break up with what they manufactured from the ultimate by way of high quality of tennis.
For me personally, whereas I do not assume that by the top of the yr it will likely be in my high 5 WTA matches of the yr (the semi-final will), if I put collectively a ‘what it means’ or ‘how they closed it out’ high 5 then I am unsure it will likely be crushed!
Keys additionally spoke afterwards very truthfully about her journey to changing into a Grand Slam champion, which has been filled with accidents and expectation, the place she credited remedy with getting her to the place she is now.
“Just being really honest and actually getting help and actually talking to someone, and not just about tennis but about how I felt about myself,” Keys defined. “I honestly think that had I not done that, then I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Individuals have additionally been fairly vocal about Sabalenka’s response to dropping which noticed her smashing her racket on the bottom, whereas Keys was taking within the applause of the gang.
Now, whereas – in a great world – Sabalenka would not have accomplished that, none of us can put ourselves in her place. The emotion, the adrenalin – that is what she lives and breathes each single day, so I believe we are able to let her off this as soon as!
Sabalenka misplaced her cool after dropping the Australian Open last to Keys
So my tip for the ladies’s title fell on the last hurdle, however my tip for the lads’s sprinted to the end and barely broke sweat within the last!
Sinner performed with ‘clear thoughts’ forward of CAS listening to
Jannik Sinner celebrates with the Norman Brookes Problem Cup
Jannik Sinner did not face a single break level as he accomplished the profitable defence of his title in a straight units win over Alexander Zverev, who stated after he collected his runner-up plate: “I’m just not good enough.”
Sinner has now gained 37 of his final 38 matches, having dropped simply two units by way of seven rounds, leaving him in a cushty place on the high of the world rankings with a complete of 11830 factors – 3,695 away from second positioned Zverev.
It is a good lead for now however it’s one he may have, with the date set for WADAs (World Anti-Doping Company) enchantment in opposition to the choice to not ban Sinner for his failed drug exams in March. That can be heard at CAS (Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport) on April 16-17, behind closed doorways.
The Italian world No 1 could possibly be going through a prolonged ban
Sinner has stated that he has been in a position to play in addition to he has resulting from a ‘clear thoughts’ in regards to the occasions that led to the failed check. With the enchantment listening to going down round a month earlier than the French Open, a ban might rule him out of each the French and Wimbledon and that is if it is on the quick facet!
What subsequent for Djokovic and Murray?
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
A take a look at each Masters last on the ATP Tour between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic
There was no threepeat for Sabalenka as I assumed there can be and we’re nonetheless ready to see if the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray partnership will proceed, following Djokovic falling quick in his bid for a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam victory.
“Novak and I agreed that after the tournament we would speak – and we will do that,” Djokovic stated after his exit.
The sensation round Djokovic is that Wimbledon can be his subsequent greatest probability to win Grand Slam title quantity 25, offering his physique heals by then.
If you wish to see the injury that was accomplished in his quarter-final in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz, check out social media. You can find his scan and he felt the necessity to add it, with so many individuals doubting the severity of his damage or if he was injured in any respect!
He’s right down to play in Doha subsequent month, which you’ll watch dwell on Sky Sports activities Tennis, though that appears a bit quickly.
One factor is for sure is that if he’s to win one other title – at no matter stage – he might want to play matches, however it’s discovering that stability between enjoying matches and listening to your physique.
Djokovic could possibly be again in motion on Sky Sports activities Tennis
We have seen a few high-profile teaching modifications in current weeks, with Elena Rybakina splitting with Goran Ivanisevic. That is one thing that appeared inevitable as quickly as Rybakina posted on Instagram saying that she was welcoming again her former coach Stefano Vukov to the staff.
‘Three’s a crowd’ springs to thoughts, in what’s a messy state of affairs, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Ivanisevic stays on the WTA tour.
There can even be a brand new coach for Emma Raducanu, after Nick Cavaday stepped again to prioritise his well being.
British success in Melbourne
There was British success on the Australian Open for Henry Patten and his associate Harri Heliovaara, successful their second Grand Slam doubles title. Whereas Henry promised Tim Henman, Laura Robson and I he would work on his celebrations after they win, I can affirm that Harri continues to be the stand out within the division.
Andy Lapthorne gained an eighth quad wheelchair males’s doubles title, whereas Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett continued their domination within the males’s wheelchair doubles occasion with their sixth successive title.
Tears flowed for Alfie after he secured a straight units win over high seed and his on court docket nemesis, 18-year-old Tokito Oda, who gained Paralympic gold over the Brit final summer time and has gained their final three main finals.
“To try and beat this guy in a final is an impossible task it seems, so I am very happy and overwhelmed with emotion to get my hands on this trophy,” Hewett stated.
In order that’s now 10 Grand Slam singles titles to go together with his Paralympic silver, 22 doubles titles along with Paralympic gold and on the age of 27, nonetheless loads extra tennis to be performed!
Some excellent news is that I wasn’t fired as Daniela Hantuchova’s coach, and whereas almost falling into the river Yarra on one among my morning runs whereas nonetheless jet lagged and with out my contact lenses in I managed to remain on dry land!
There may be a lot to speak about with regards to tennis in the intervening time, however I’ll cease earlier than I’m going on for too lengthy!
I can be seeing Tim and Laura later this week which I am actually wanting ahead to. That is when Sky Sports activities Tennis actually comes into it is personal, following the tour from occasion to occasion and showcasing the gamers and the tales as they give the impression of being to construct on what occurred in Australia.
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, dwell on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this yr at no further price. Discover out extra right here.
