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Huge Potential and Intrigue For WTA in 2024
By Scoop Malinowski
The WTA is under heavy criticism from fans, media and even it’s star players for not properly promoting the player’s personalities and stories.
But that could all change in 2024 because there are so many intriguing and fascinating players and stories to cover.
Naomi Osaka will make her long-awaited return to competition after over a year hiatus. I believe Osaka was actually a better athlete and mover than Serena Williams, at her best, but she wasn’t able to sustain her progression. The next chapter of Osaka will be fascinating to see.
Remember, Osaka is a perfect 4-0 in Grand Slam quarterfinals, 4-0 in Grand Slam semifinals and 4-0 in Grand Slam finals. When she’s on her A plus game, she’s literally unstoppable.
Emma Raducanu is making her comeback also after several months of rehab (or rest). Raducanu is as popular and marketable as any female tennis player in the world right now and the former US Open champion is determined to prove she is not a one-hit wonder Grand Slam champion.
There’s another former teen phenom who is making her comeback after almost a year off – the American Amanda Anisimova. Since she was 12, the New Jersey born Russian has been a tennis prodigy and a giant endorsement contract with Nike only increased the expectations. No longer a teen, Amanda is well rested and her batteries are recharged. The tennis world awaits to see if her best tennis will be played in 2024 and beyond.
Coco Gauff finally caught lightning in a bottle and won her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows. Now it remains to be seen if Coco has gained more desire and confidence to achieve more Grand Slam conquests. Or if the one US Open trophy has satisfied her appetite for major titles, a trend which has affected other Grand Slam champions like Krejcikova, Ostapenko, Kenin.
Angelique Kerber is returning to play. The former multiple Grand Slam title winner gave birth to a baby this year and has been training to play again, starting off in Australia.
Genie Bouchard is still out there training hard and trying to regain her lost status but like the recently retired Jack Sock, she’s been irrelevant outside the top 100 for about four years now. Bouchard was once 4 in the world and a Wimbledon finalist in 2014.
Leylah Fernandez hasn’t done much since her US Open final run three years ago but the tenacious and hard working Canadian is doing everything possible to regain her star status.
Qinwen Zheng of China has been groomed to be the next Li Na superstar franchise and she’s shown flashes of brilliance and top 5 or even no. 1 potential. Qinwen has been heavily promoted off the court in the media and fashion magazines but so far the results have been below expectations. Will she explode in 2024 and win one or two Grand Slams, or end up as another Shaui Peng and Qiang Wang, two great Chinese players who never made it big in singles.
How will the big three of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina perform in 2023? Will they maintain their status or will they fade? Or will one emerge as a dominant force?
And what will happen with Ons Jabeur who has fallen twice in Grand Slam finals? Has she learned what it takes to get over the hump?
There are so many interesting players to follow – Maria Sakkari, Paula Badosa, Jess Pegula, Beatriz Maia Haddad, Petra Kvitova, the rising Fruhvirtova sisters, Emma Navarro, Danielle Collins, Peyton Stearns, to name a few.
Yes, the WTA is in position to have a sensational, exciting and fantastic year in 2024.
Angelique Kerber · AO · Emma Raducanu · Leylah Fernandez · Naomi Osaka · WTA
