As one might expect, these home tournaments were / are important points earners for the Aussies in the field.
25th Aug 2025 - Gibson ranked 105 with 722 points - Aiava ranked 166 with 431 points - Cabrera ranked 208 with 343 points - Swan ranked 453 with 116 points
24th November 2025 - Gibson ranked 124 with 621 points (on the back of just winning Sydney W75) - Aiava ranked 238 with 308 points - Cabrera ranked 247 with 294 points - Swan ranked 276 with 252 points
Movement - Gibson ranking down 19 and net -101 points - Aiava ranking down 72 and net -123 points - Cabrera ranking down 39 and net -49 points - Swan ranking up 177 and net +136 points
Note: Cabrera defending big points this month too
-- Edited by foobarbaz on Tuesday 25th of November 2025 12:04:47 PM
This, and the last 2 weeks, are important for the Aussies because they form the AO wildcard race, currently led by Gibson on 75 pts slightly ahead of Jones on 69pts and then Preston, Birrell and Hunter on 29pts. Katie could play a deciding part in that race with Gibson in the quarter-final and Jones in the semi-final on her path should they all get that far.
Such a pity considering Katie's level in taking that W50 title. But it has the appearance of her not being close to being truly ready for here
Just hope / trust that it was a relatively low risk hit and she's not been damaging herself keeping on trying to play and presumably training these last couple of weeks.
Someone will say of course it was, as a player and her team wouldn't take such risks. But we are human beings with human emotions and ambitions. And I'm almost certain that an Aus Open Q spot was the immediate ambition.
I've just watched the replay and the moment at 40-30 she first feels something is obscured. But it looks like her left hip flexor. She perseveres though and plays another point and then touches her left oblique i.e. left side of her back and then stretches her left hamstring. She continues for another point but, off camera by her towel, she stops and eventually walks back to her chair. After consulting with the physio then retires, limping off.
