While men’s tennis enthralls with its quartet of superstars routinely battling it out for supremacy, the women’s game has got problems. BIG problems. LOUD problems ...
Where are the rivalries?
The most damning stat for women’s tennis emerged from the final between Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova at Indian Wells, California, last March. This was the first final showdown between the No.1 and No.2 women in four years. Between 2005 and 2011, the top two women faced off a grand total of three times. In seven years! A far cry from the Chrissie-Martina glory days. And inconceivable on the men’s tour.
Top rivalries are the lifeblood of the sport. Yet for whatever reason, the top women don’t clash often enough. Intriguing match-ups abound, but the output is anaemic, certainly compared with the meaty match-ups on the men’s tour.
The last Grand Slam final between the top two women? Rewind to the 2004 Australian Open between Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. Since then, the top two men have faced off in 13 Grand Slam finals ‒ seven of them Federer-Nadal blockbusters.
Victoria Azarenka
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