Sep 28 (newsonjapan.com) - The four different Grand Slam winners in women’s tennis proved that the future of the sport is very strong.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka is one of those players as she began the year with victory in the Australian Open.
Osaka is now a four-time Grand Slam winner and is just one major win behind the likes of Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis. She is sure to have some of the greats on the champions list in her sights over the next few years.
The world number eight reached the top of the WTA rankings in 2019 and it is a position she could rise to again if she has a strong year in 2022. She is the 5/1 favourite in the latest tennis odds to defend her Australian Open crown at the start of next season.
Osaka, who lit the cauldron at the Olympics in Tokyo back in the summer, is the only Asian player in history to top the men’s or women’s world rankings. She is likely to keep improving so her best tennis may still be ahead of her.
Raducanu And Fernandes Prove the Depth on The Tour
The US Open at Flushing Meadows was another big tournament which saw two stars of the future shine. Britain’s Emma Raducanu lifted the trophy in what was an excellent run in New York. She had to qualify for the event and did not drop a set throughout the competition.
Raducanu became the first British female player to win a Grand Slam event since 1977. She should be challenging for more major titles in 2022 and will have her eyes on breaking into the world’s top 10.
US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez showed that she is capable of winning a Grand Slam over the next couple of years. She had wins over Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka before losing to the qualifier.
Fernandez won her first tournament in 2021 when she landed the Monterrey Open. She will take a lot of confidence out of the victories she had over top 10 players in the US Open.
Ashleigh Barty Set to End the Year Top of Rankings
Australian Ashleigh Barty currently leads the way on the WTA Tour rankings and that is a position she looks sure to end the year with as she is a long way ahead of her nearest rival.
Barty has been the most consistent player in the women’s game over the last three seasons. Not only did she win the WTA Finals in 2019, but she is also a two-time Grand Slam winner, with victories coming in the 2019 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon.
The world number one will be aware of the new challengers she will have to overcome in 2022. Iga Swiatek and Sofia Kenin are both under 25 and already inside the top 10 of the rankings and could be her biggest threats next year.
With so much depth now in the women’s game, and players delivering from all over the world, the women’s game is in a strong place heading into the new season.
