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Showing posts from November, 2019

Barty, Osaka, and Andreescu: WTA 2019 Summary and 2020 Preview

Barty, Osaka, and Andreescu: WTA 2019 Summary and 2020 Preview In 2019, women’s tennis fans saw the blossoming of three young stars:   Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka, and Bianca Andreescu.   Osaka burst onto the radar last year by winning Indian Wells and the US Open.   But it was her victory at the Australian Open and her ascension to the #1 ranking for 25 weeks that ensured 2018 was not just a flash in the pan.   There was some predictable mid-season cooling, but after the US Open she did not lose, claiming two titles before withdrawing after one match at the Tour Finals.   Osaka appeared to mature as the year progressed and seems to have settled into a comfort zone at or near the top of the game.   When she’s on she seems unstoppable, sweeping all before her, including Serena Williams and the sensation of the year, Andreescu.   Osaka was the one to finally prove Andreescu was fallible, stopping Bianca’s win streak in completed matches at 27.   Osaka is a candidate to be the new