MELBOURNE—It’s hard to find a better example of how quickly the conversation around tennis can change than what has happened in the women’s game over the first 12 days of January. When the year began, lo those many dozens of hours ago, most writers and observers—or at least this writer and observer—were looking forward to a Year of the New Big 3. Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Maria Sharapova had split the Slams and the Olympic medals between them in 2012, and formed their own little ruling class at the top of the WTA. Could they keep it up in 2013?
Then came week one in Brisbane. Sharapova hurt her collarbone and pulled out. Azarenka was on the wrong side of the most famous botched pedicure in tennis history and did the same before facing Serena in the semis. A sharp Serena took advantage by smacking away all of the opponents who did bother to show up and play her. Now, a week later, as Melbourne begins, there’s less talk of a Big 3, and more of the Big 4—as in the four Grand Slams, and whether Williams can win them all.
Have we moved on too fast? Is there any reason to think that Serena won’t start her season with her sixth Australian Open title? Let’s go to the draw.