Opinion
I recently opined that seven Aussie men should make the main draw of 128 at the French Open in May. While the quantity in the ladies’ will be much leaner, the quality will not, led by the world’s number-one player, Ashleigh Barty.
The 2022 Australian Open champion is a previous winner of this tournament, beating Marketa Vondrousova in the 2019 final.
In doing so, Barty became the first Australian women to win the French Open since Margaret Court in 1973 and the first Australian women to win a Grand Slam event since Sam Stosur’s US Open title in 2011.
With her 2021 Wimbledon title, Barty has now won Grand Slams on three different surfaces and would be a warm favorite to collect her fourth title in Paris in May.
Ashleigh Barty kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy after winning the Australian Open. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
Ajila Tomlijanovic – who this week reached her highest WTA ranking of 37 – is the second highest ranked Australian. Her best performance on the clay courts was fourth-round effort in 2014, but Tomlijanovic, who will turn 29 before the Paris tournament, reached the quarter finals at Wimbledon – the best Grand Slam performance of the Crotian born, but naturalised Australian’s career.
The third Australian, Astra Sharma, also reached a career-high ranking in the latest WTA rankings of 83 and would also appear to be certain of direct entry into the main draw. Although aged 26, Sharma has only played in 12 Grand Slams, achieving her best results of Round 2 in the last two French Opens.
Of the other Aussie players, up to six would have their sights set on qualifying for one of the 16 main draw positions, as the ranking points achieved (not to mention the prize money) would greatly help in advancing their careers.
We could hope to see Madison Inglis as a seeded player, giving her a chance to reach Round 3, where a win would see her through to the main event.
Storm Sanders, although her recent ranking has dropped, should also be in the mix. Lizette Cabrera and Arina Rodionova are currently well below the 200-ranking mark and both have marginally improved their rankings on the current list so should be gaining valuable clay-court experience in the forerunner to the main event.
Ellen Perez, whose latest ranking slipped, and Seone Mendez, whose latest ranking improved, are both on the cusp of entry to the qualifying tournament, so will be anxiously awaiting the impact that injury or other circumstances will have on those ranked above them.
Priscella Hon, whose ranking improved a remarkable 25 places this week, will need to keep the momentum going to be a chance but may end up among the many Australian hopefuls who need to find a comfy chair in front of the TV and dream of a brighter future.
Under the current convention, one hopeful will be granted a direct passage to the main draw courtesy of a ‘wild card’ and no doubt the success, dedication and age of the recipient will be a pointer to the future of Australian tennis.
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