The road to the Australian Open

flamingowings · All-time great

The road to the Australian Open

the addict · Tennis legend

AO have now officially confirmed that Zvonareva is out, with a left wrist injury.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Interesting that Zvonareva hasn't played a singles match since RG, and has only played one doubles match (Eastbourne) in the past 7 months, yet she was one of the 3 withdrawals after the Wimbledon qualifying draw, and one of the 6 to do the same after the US Open draw, to open up a number of LL spots, and presumably received half of the prize money on both occasions. She was using a PR of 79 to enter the AO, so I assume if you enter with a PR but withdraw after the Q draw then you wouldn't get your half prize money, hence her much earlier withdrawal here - does anyone know the actual status of that? I'm sure she'll be fine since she has played recently, but that may be of interest to Katie B.

There was also rumours on TF that Petkovic was withdrawing, but that's not been confirmed, so perhaps if true, she may be delaying her withdrawal.

You never want to wish injuries on anyone, but I do hope there is one more withdrawal between now and the start of qualifying so that Heather can sneak in. There obviously has to be someone playing quals who ends up being the first alt, but it'll be a huge difference to her if she avoids the quals, since she has been eliminated early in her last 2 slam qualifying attempts, despite being the highest seed in her section both times.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Tuesday 31st of December 2019 12:13:34 AM

Marvin · Newbie

Entering with a PR doesn't affect a players eligibility for the 50% prize money. The earlier withdrawal will be because of the additional criteria this year: Players who have not competed for more than 30 days must have played in a tournament in the 3 weeks prior to the GS tournament to be eligible for the on site withdrawal prize money

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

Thanks Marvin. I like that new rule.

emmsie69 · Top national player

Ace Ventura wrote:
Thanks Marvin. I like that new rule.

I do too up to a point but I think I would add a caveat so as not to disadvantage the players that are just edging into the main draw for the 1st time and potentially missing out on a decent payday after grinding it out in 25ks for years to get to that position.

emmsie69 · Top national player

and 30 days is a bit harsh, 3 months would probably solve the biggest issue of players making a 'comeback' from a longterm injury at a Slam.

-- Edited by emmsie69 on Tuesday 31st of December 2019 09:47:22 AM

Babfive · Satellite level

The 30 days rule seems to particularly disadvantage players where the Australian Open is concerned due to the lack of tournaments at this time of year.

Julia Carrot · All-time great

indiana wrote:
Jealous Have a great time.

I really like Melbourne and have done Melbourne / Australian F1 Grand Prix a good few years ago now. Maybe one day Melbourne / Australian Open.

Ah, well maybe with the fires and everything this isn't the best year to go - I'm travelling to Sydney also and had planned to do that by train.......... not good, or even possible, at the moment that journey for sure .

Great news that Heather has good chance of Main Draw now. Really, not trying to make you jealous

the addict · Tennis legend

I'm hearing that Petkovic has now withdrawn, meaning Heather has made the main draw.

flamingowings · All-time great

I believe Heather making the main draw also has a nice result for Harriet - she will now be seeded in qualies?

indiana · Tennis legend

flamingowings wrote:
I believe Heather making the main draw also has a nice result for Harriet - she will now be seeded in qualies?

With her dropping 80 points ( net 79 ) on Monday, Harriet is live ranked 171 on 353 points so well out of the qualifying seedings positions.

I am not sure if it is this coming Monday, 06/01, or the Monday 13/01 rankings that the Aus Open qualifying seedings will be based.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

All 8 MDWC's now confirmed:

USA - Vandeweghe
France - Parmentier
Asian / Pacific PO winner - Han
Aussie PO winner - Rodionova
Legendary former AO winner - Sharapova (Don't tell ROSAMUND)

Other discretionary picks:
Sharma
Hon
Cabrera

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Given we dont always give out all the WC options , we should aim at some reciprocal deals with other slams to get a brit into them.

Ace Ventura · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Given we dont always give out all the WC options , we should aim at some reciprocal deals with other slams to get a brit into them.

We'd benefit the most from the arrangement, but as it's down to the AELTC, rather than the LTA (unlike the 3 other slams), it'll never happen. It always annoys me when they hand WCs back - even if they didn't go to Brit's, I'd prefer them to use a bit imagination rather than simply going next in. As it turned out, only Dart, Swan and Niculescu were given them last year with 5 going in via their ranking.