Rainfall was persistent over the course of the first week at this year’s Australian Open. With numerous matches being delayed or even outright suspended, the tennis moved along at an inchworm pace. And though it can be presumed that most players would have found this to be quite the ordeal, there seemed to be one group amongst the field that thrived despite the rainy conditions.
American tennis players on both the men’s and women’s side have put up tremendous, and even historic, results throughout the course of the opening week. So today let’s highlight the new and familiar faces who were able to soak it all in and find themselves competing in the second week of the years very first slam.
Big Names with Even Bigger Games
Expectations are always high for top American talent. With the country still in search for a set of stars who can return their tennis scenes to the successes it once had in the 90’s and early 2000’s, the pressure is definitely on for this generation’s cast of American stars. And though many have tried and failed, it looks like this group is closer than ever to righting the ship and this year’s Aussie Open.
Jessica Pegula
The No. 3 seed, is the highest ranked American player left in the draw, and so far, has definitely lived up to the hype. Soaring into the second week, Pegula would face only a slight challenge in the third round from Aliaksandra Sasnovich as the Belarusian player was able to push the American to a second set tiebreak. It would be Pegula’s grit and determination however, that would secure the match and see her make the Australian Open fourth round for the third year in a row.
Waiting for her in the next round was Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open Champion, whose game has been hot and cold since winning her maiden Slam title. Pegula’s steadiness provided to be too much for Krejcikova’s on again off again tennis, winning 7-5,6-2.
Coco Gauff
Just 18-years-old but somehow already a battle-tested tennis veteran, Gauff has always been destined for greatness. Coming off a tournament win in Adelaide, she attempted to carry the momentum into Melbourne. After playing what the tennis world hopes to be a future rival in Emma Raducanu, Gauff walked away with 6-3,7-6(7-4) victory. Breezing through the third round defeating fellow American Bernarda Pera in straights, she now faces Jelena Ostapenko for a spot in the quarterfinals. Up next, Coco faced Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open Champion, whose flat and somewhat inconsistent playing style would be a difficult task for the rising star. Ostapenko eventually was too much for the Young American beating her 7-5,6-3.
Sebastian Korda
This new face (to fans who haven’t been paying close attention the last 18 months) boasts a familiar last name, as his father, Petra Korda, was the 1998 Australian Open champion. Now more than 20 years later his son Sebastian seeks to match his success, and so far, he’s off to a great start. Finding himself in the fourth round of the Aussie Open for the first time, he accomplished this feat by upsetting seventh seed and potential title favorite Daniil Medvedev in the third round. A huge win for the budding star, he then faced Poland’s top talent Hubert Hurkacz for a spot in the quarterfinals – which he pulled off in extraordinary fashion 3-6,6-3,6-2,1-6,7-6(10-7) .
Tommy Paul
A junior tennis standout, Tommy Paul’s professional career has reach top 50 heights; but he has yet to make a deep run at a Slam. But the tides are seemingly turning for the New Jersey native. Finding himself in the fourth round of a Slam for the first time, Paul accomplished this feat by beating fellow American and rising star Jenson Brooksby. He now faces Roberto Bautista Agut, a Spanish player whose consistent game style will definitely pose a challenge to Paul. But if one thing has been learned from this first week of play, it is to never count Tommy Paul out.
From College Classes to Professional Matches
College tennis has always been a proven pathway to professional tennis. However, these two American collegiate standouts are proving that the margins between college and the highest levels of the tour aren’t too far off.
Ben Shelton
Playing in his first ever Australian Open, Ben Shelton has already proven that he has the game to compete against tennis’ top talent. The former Florida Gator entered this tournament having never traveled outside the United States (ever, for anything!). And though his result in his two warm up tournaments (Adelaide 1 and ASB Classic) weren’t extraordinary, the stars are aligning for him at this year’s Open. After playing a down-to-the-wire five-setter against China’s Zhang Zhizhen, Shelton would post back-to-back straight set victories in his second and third round matches. Hoping to keep this momentum going, he now faces fellow countryman and fellow former collegian JJ Wolf in the fourth round. This matchup will be eagerly anticipated by the global tennis and Cracked Racquets’ community alike.
JJ Wolf
Former Ohio State standout JJ Wolf is not new to pro level success. Opting out of his senior year to pursue his professional dreams, Wolf has already risen to No. 56 in the world. The rising star had failed to make it past the third round of any of the year’s four majors until now. Not only is Wolf into the second week of a Slam, but is also the on-paper favorite to win the upcoming match against former Gator Ben Shelton. Playing Shelton in the fourth round, Wolf has the edge in tour-level experience, which gives him a unique advantage over his American counterpart. We are expecting this one to go the distance in five. Hold onto your seats ladies and gentleman!
