the AntiPusher
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2026 WTA News & Gossip
- Thread starter PhiEaglesfan712
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The US Open is Rybakina's last real chance to claim the #1 ranking. After the US Open, she has a boatload of points to defend. Conversely, Mirra Andreeva has almost nothing to defend post-US Open.
Rybakina gains the #1 ranking if she makes it to at least the semifinals or Sabalenka does not win the US Open.
Rybakina gains the #1 ranking if she makes it to at least the semifinals or Sabalenka does not win the US Open.
We know the talent is there. The bigger question is will Elena be in the right mood to snatch #1 even if it's only for a little while.
the AntiPusher
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Parks vs Cwhalinska Set 1 3-6 Parks 20 ufes Cwhalinska 0 UFEs ... Parks blew her off the court in set 2 and 3
I think she hit the wall. Several late 3 set matches probably gassed her. That's my argument for these events right before a major. Someone will be tuckered out before they have to play their first round, likely on Mon or Tues.
El Dude
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As Rybakina won and Sabalenka went Slamless for the first time since 2022, I was thinking about how no one has been able to take the crown as the top female player for more than a year or two since Serena. And I'm not talking about the #1 ranking, but true greatness. Consider that from 1960 to 2017, we didn't go a year without being within the Slam-winning years of five 18+ Slam winners:
Court: 1960-1973
Evert: 1974-1986
Navratilova: 1978-1990
Graf: 1987-1999
Serena: 1999-2017
Meaning, for 58 years, one of the five best players of the last 65 years was winning a Slam, or within their Slam winning days. But from 2018-26--almost a decade--no one emerged as that clear next true great. Maybe Iga wins another Slam or three, but I think the chances of her being a GOAT caliber player are long gone. Instead we've had a string of players who have had moments when they might be the "next thing," but none quite have it: Osaka, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff, etc. Maybe Andreeva can get there, but I think it is unlikely.
Any thoughts on this? Why haven't we seen the next GOAT player emerge? How is the last decade different than the previous six?
Court: 1960-1973
Evert: 1974-1986
Navratilova: 1978-1990
Graf: 1987-1999
Serena: 1999-2017
Meaning, for 58 years, one of the five best players of the last 65 years was winning a Slam, or within their Slam winning days. But from 2018-26--almost a decade--no one emerged as that clear next true great. Maybe Iga wins another Slam or three, but I think the chances of her being a GOAT caliber player are long gone. Instead we've had a string of players who have had moments when they might be the "next thing," but none quite have it: Osaka, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Gauff, etc. Maybe Andreeva can get there, but I think it is unlikely.
Any thoughts on this? Why haven't we seen the next GOAT player emerge? How is the last decade different than the previous six?
Fiero425
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IDK what to tell you! I thought the women w/b off and running w/ some very good players leading the way, but sustained greatness has been fleeting; even w/ Sabalenka as she goes slamless! I looked forward to either Osaka or Swiatek swapping #1 rankings w/ a touch of Andreescu pushing them w/ her aggressive game! It's really been "up for grabs" on the ladies' side for quite a few yrs. w/ no stable force taking over the tour! The men have had it "all good" for a while now w/ the "passing of the torch" from The Big 3 to Alcaraz & Sinner! They're above the rest, but aren't invulnerble as both have had health issues! Even if they didn't, the grind of the tour is showing on both at relatively young ages! We can forget about 20+ yr. careers for either of them! Getting back to the ladies, I was looking forward to Mirra Andreeva stepping up, but she choked away her chances w/ Coco trying to give her the match in their QF battle! Like the old Doc. in "Them" when asked about the distances of the Queen Ants' wedding flights, "I just don't know!"
