WTA 250 Auckland 12/30/24 - 1/5/2025

[JTContinental]

Kenin was up a set and two breaks and somehow lost in 3

[ti-amie]

Thursday Order of Play

Stadium Court
Starts at 5:30 PM

CAN R. Marino/GBR T. Moore vs USA S. Stephens/DEN C. Tauson
Followed By
USA M. Keys (1) vs ROU J. Cristian
Followed By
JPN N. Hibino vs USA R. Montgomery
Followed By
BEL G. Minnen vs USA A. Parks
Followed By
USA H. Baptiste vs GBR J. Burrage

Grand Stand
Starts at 7:00 PM

USA A. Li/USA K. Volynets vs JPN M. Ninomiya/HUN F. Stollar (3)
Followed By
SRB A. Krunic/USA S. Santamaria vs THA P. Plipuech/TPE C. Tsao

[ti-amie]

Friday Order of Play

Stadium Court
Starts at 5:30 PM

USA B. Pera vs USA R. Montgomery
Followed By
JPN N. Osaka (7) vs USA H. Baptiste
Followed By
JPN M. Ninomiya/HUN F. Stollar (3) vs CHN X. Jiang/TPE F. Wu (2)
Followed By
USA M. Keys (1) vs DEN C. Tauson (5)
Followed By
USA K. Volynets (8) vs USA A. Parks

[ashkor87]

Parks continues to progress. getting valuable experience, hope she can keep it up. She will get Keys if she can get past Volynets, that will be the first big test for her. Osaka should win this event, seems to be gearing up well..

[JTContinental]

It’s her first semi since 2022, so I wouldn’t hand her the trophy just yet.

[ashkor87]

It’s her first semi since 2022, so I wouldn’t hand her the trophy just yet.

she is a proven champion.. I dont think this is a big deal for her

[ponchi101]

She is a proven champion (I am assuming you are talking about Naomi) that has gone through a lot of changes in her life.
Not only she is not the same player. She is simply not the same person. The mental issues, motherhood, etc.
Hope she wins it because I like her, but yes, not yet.

[Suliso]

I wonder how long does it take to go from a proven champion to being washed up? In general not specifically for Osaka.

[ashkor87]

She is a proven champion (I am assuming you are talking about Naomi) that has gone through a lot of changes in her life.
Not only she is not the same player. She is simply not the same person. The mental issues, motherhood, etc.
Hope she wins it because I like her, but yes, not yet.

We can always hope...

[ponchi101]

I wonder how long does it take to go from a proven champion to being washed up? In general not specifically for Osaka.

Just snap your fingers.
Wilander had his annus mirabilis in 1988. A truly monumental year. Never again even reached another slam final, was gone within a year.
Mac had HIS annus mirabilis in 84. Reached one more slam final after that, losing it.
After 92, Edberg went downhill quickly.
If you just lose a tiny bit of mobility, or one component of your game goes missing, you go from champion to washed up. In the women, remember that Monica did come back and did well initially, but then she was not the same. Of course, extraordinary circumstances but after her return she won the Canadian masters, reached the USO finals and won the Aussie. And then, gone.
I like Naomi, but I really don't see her as being a factor anymore. Her game relied a lot on her good movement on hard courts. I say that part of her game has suffered the most.

[JTContinental]

I wonder how long does it take to go from a proven champion to being washed up? In general not specifically for Osaka.

Not much longer, according to her. I read an article a few weeks ago where she stated that if she didn't get to where she wanted to be competitively soon then she would rather spend the training/travel time with her daughter.

[ti-amie]

Saturday Order of Play

Stadium Court
Starts at 5:00 PM

Suspended
Quarter finals
USA M. Keys (1) vs DEN C. Tauson (5)
4 4 -
6 3 -
Followed by
Quarter finals
USA K. Volynets (8) vs USA A. Parks
Followed by
Semifinal
TBD vs USA R. Montgomery
Followed by
Semifinal
TBD vs JPN N. Osaka (7)
Followed by
Semifinal
USA S. Stephens/DEN C. Tauson vs SRB A. Krunic/USA S. Santamaria

[JTContinental]

Clara Tauson is my current frontrunner for the player half the SP will pick as their "safe bet" at the Australian Open, only to have her lose in the first round.

[ponchi101]

I am going with Emma in Day 1. She won't make it too far.
Just don't know which one.

[ashkor87]

Clara Tauson is my current frontrunner for the player half the SP will pick as their "safe bet" at the Australian Open, only to have her lose in the first round.

Shhh! Don't tell everyone...we need a few bandwagons to crash on day 1!!