PETE ZIEBRON
Three WTA players that will be watched closely for the first few months of 2020 include Karolina Pliskova, Dayana Yastremska and Venus Williams, pictured below. Pete Ziebron Images
Karolina Pliskova, who had reached world #1 and usually leads the WTA in aces at the conclusion of the year still has not yet broken through at the majors, the grandest stages in tennis. The Czech, who reached the semifinals at the Australian Open last year, was defeated in the 3rd round this year in straight sets by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia. Despite saving 13 of 15 break points against, Pliskova managed to break only twice in the ten break opportunities she had on Pavlyuchenkova's serve.
A few weeks before the start of the Australian Open, Pliskova won the title in Brisbane, defeating two-time major Champion Naomi Osaka in the semifinals and 2017 US Open Finalist Madison Keys in the final. Pliskova herself reached the US Open Final in 2016, losing to Angelique Kerber of Germany. Despite holding the world number 1 ranking for 8 weeks Pliskova has not yet won a major. The current world #2 has 16 career titles.
Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska first caught my eye in the 2016 Wimbledon Junior Girls Final, a match she lost to Russian Anastasia Potapova. In the off-season, Yastremska started to work with new coach Sascha Bajin, a move expected to pay quick dividends.
This year at the Australian Open, Yastremska took on 2018 Australian Open Champion Caroline Wozniacki, who was appearing in her final professional tournament. Despite being up breaks in each set, the 19 year-old Ukrainian was unable to prevail and lost 7-5 7-5. Yastremska won two titles in 2019 is currently ranked 22nd inthe world.
Venus Williams matched up with American upstart Coco Gauff in the first round of the Australian Open. It would be the second time in three majors that the two would play in the opening round, having met last year at Wimbledon with Gauff prevailing in straight sets. This match was more of the same as the 15 year-old Gauff won again in straight sets.
Williams has 4 Australian Open Doubles titles and 2 Singles Finals appearances in her career.
Going forward, Tennis Acumen will continue to monitor the progress and results of Pliskova, Yastremska and Williams for the initial months of 2020.