🎾 A Numbers Game
It took world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka just one week to remind everyone that it’s going to take one hell of an effort to unseat her from the top. The 27-year-old, four-time Grand Slam champion romped through the Brisbane draw, with no player pushing her past 6-4 in any set.
Sabalenka wasn’t the only highly ranked player in action on week one—all of the WTA's Top 24 competed in a tournament. Compare that to the ATP side, where four of the tour’s Top 8 opted to skip opening week.
Brad Gilbert, alongside two women making their in-studio debuts on The Big T, Coco Vandeweghe and Danielle Collins, made a salient point on why that is: “Most of the top women are much more active to start the year because you guys have 500 [level] tournaments.”
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In January, Brisbane and Adelaide are WTA 500 tournaments, but the simultaneous ATP events are at the 250 level. Move ahead to February, and you'll note that Doha and Dubai are 1000 level for the women, and 500 for the men.
It’s one of tennis’ many, many quirks, but it undoubtedly gives the WTA more time to shine sooner. Good on Aryna for taking advantage.
