WTA Grand Slam conveyor belt continues to churn out different champions

The WTA Tour is flourishing and has become a hotbed for first-time Grand Slam winners.
Ignore anyone who says there needs to be one or two dominant figures for tennis to be in a healthy position as the women’s game is doing just fine with different players putting their hands up.
The last eight Grand Slam have produced eight different winners with Serena Williams (Australian Open), Jelena Ostapenko (French Open), Garbine Muguruza (Wimbledon) and Sloane Stephens (US Open) winning the four majors last year.
This year Caroline Wozniacki (Australian Open), Simona Halep (French Open), Angelique Kerber (Wimbledon) and Naomi Osaka (US Open) have joined the list.
Five of the eight were first time winners as Ostapenko, Stephens, Wozniacki, Halep and Osaka joined the elite list of major champions.
And the level of experience of the five is quite different as Wozniacki and Halep are considered veterans and their victories were not too unexpected.
Stephens’ success at Flushing Meadows last year was a surprise as she struggled in the months leading up to the tournament, but at the same time she was tipped to be a star at a very young age.
Then you have Ostapenko and Osaka whose Grand Slams wins came out of nowhere as both were just 20 when they won the titles, and in the case of the Latvian it was her maiden WTA Tour trophy while Osaka’s only other title was the Indian Wells Masters in March this year.
Over on the ATP Tour everyone is waiting for the #NextGen to take over the baton from the “dominant” Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but it is anyone’s game on the WTA Tour.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have won nine of the last nine Grand Slams. In fact, the Big Three have won 46 of a last 55 major and everyone is waiting for the likes of Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem or Grigor Dimitrov to take over the mantelpiece.
Osaka may well go on to be the dominant figure in years to come but for now, at least, no one is wondering when the WTA Tour’s #NextGen will step up.
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
Tennis News
Tennis legend makes big Ben Shelton prediction as American stars at Laver Cup
A tennis legend has hailed the game of rising star Ben Shelton and made a big prediction about the 20-year-old American.
-
Tennis News
Top coach suggests Rafael Nadal will ‘probably stop’ comeback bid if reality dawns
“There is no reason to think that he will not be the favourite for Roland Garros.”
-
Tennis News
Two huge names could be contenders to take over Laver Cup captaincy roles
Could new captain’s spice up the Laver Cup?
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray makes Novak Djokovic consistency claim in Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal comparison
Andy Murray has discussed the consistency of his ‘Big Four’ rivals.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz backed by esteemed coach in bold 2024 Grand Slam claim
A respected tennis coach believes losing in the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open will be “the best thing ever” for Carlos Alcaraz.
-
Tennis News
End of the road for the Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa love story?
Tsitsipas and Badosa became social media sensations when they confirmed their romance, but their love story may be over.
-
Tennis News
‘Novak Djokovic is the perfect athlete for tennis – his body was more ready to last than Rafael Nadal’
“I said that he will probably be the record holder of number of Grand Slams when he had 12 or 13.”
-
Tennis News
John McEnroe names player who could make next Laver Cup a ‘different story’
John McEnroe admits next year’s Laver Cup could be a “different story” after Team World’s crushing victory.
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer reveals his dream Laver Cup doubles pairing for 2024
Federer wants to see Djokovic and Alcaraz play on the same Team Europe in Berlin next year.
-
Tennis News
Muted end to a flat Laver Cup as next year’s host city is revealed
Team World beat Team Europe 13-2 to win a one-sided Laver Cup.