I know that the entire tennis world has been caught up in Sinneraz hysteria these past few years. And rightly so.
The pair have rubbished fears of a post-Big three recession, elevating the power and athleticism of the game to new heights. But the dominance of that duopoly is threatening to make things a tad predictable. I don’t think it’s healthy for the long-term prognosis of the game that 38-year-old Novak Djokovic appears to be the only man who can challenge their dominance. Fortunately, we have the women’s game to keep us tennis scribes on our collective toes. Czech powerhouse Karolina Muchova created a bit of history last weekend, winning in Doha to become the oldest first-time winner in the history of the event (29). It was a long overdue victory for the Czech, reaffirming the WTA Tour as the place to be if you want some Agatha Christie-type suspense.
Muchova realizing awesome potential
I have said it before, and I will say it again; Karolina Muchova, when 100% fit, is a top five player. She has struggled with Dimitrov-level injury issues over her career, requiring wrist surgery back in 2024 (just when she appeared to be riding the crest of a wave). A four-time Grand Slam semifinalist, Muchova has the type of well-rounded all-court game that coaches salivate over. But for me, her individual victory is less impactful than what it says about the schizophrenic state of the women’s game as a whole. Of the four semifinalists in Doha, beaten finalist Victoria Mboko was the highest seed at 10. 10! Can you imagine four players ranked ten and below fighting it out for a Masters 1000 title? It would be borderline unfathomable.
Variety is the spice of life
But that is why- for me- the women’s tour is where you can find true entertainment these days. Sure, Alcaraz and Sinner are creating a rivalry that will enter the pantheon of great sporting rivalries. It doesn’t mean it makes for remarkably compelling box office. Alex de Minaur’s victory in Rotterdam last week gave us a glimpse into how you can beat the top-2: make sure they aren’t in action. De Minaur reached the Rotterdam final in 2024, going down to Jannik Sinner in the final. He reached the final last year only to be defeated by World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz. But he got over the line this year after both players decided to skip the event. In fact, the last person to win a tournament where Sinneraz both played was Rublev at the 2024 Madrid Open. And the last person to win a tournament beating Sinner and Alcaraz back-to-back was Djokovic back in 2023. They have shared the last nine Grand Slam titles, competing in three of last year’s four Grand Slam finals.
Predictability borne out in numbers
Let’s contrast the predictability of the men’s game with the helter-skelter nature of the current women’s game. I feel there certainly is an established ‘Big Four’, with Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff and Rybakina your ostensible favourites going into most tournaments. But is it headline-grabbing news when one of those woman falters? Hardly. There have been 11 different Grand Slam, WTA 1000 and WTA Finals champions since the beginning of last year. By contrast, only seven men have claimed slams, Masters 1000 titles and ATP Finals crowns during that same span. And Sinner missed three months of last year due to that doping ban, meaning he missed Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Madrid. Are you telling me that Sinner wouldn’t have won a few of those tournaments? Perhaps more frighteningly, there have only been two male Grand Slam winners since the start of 2024. Six different women to have captured Grand Slam titles during that period.
Endless possibilities going forward
I just think that the women’s game feels more exciting right now. Every major male tournament boils down to two chief narratives: is it going to be Sinner or Alcaraz, and is it possible for Djokovic to beat both in succession? Alex Zverev is turning into a Greg Norman-level choke artist while the likes of Draper and Shelton can only marvel at Sinneraz’s sheer breath of shot-making. There are upwards of ten or more women who stand a realistic chance of winning any major event. Can Muchova use her Doha triumph as a springboard for some Grand Slam success? Anisimova was able to make that leap, winning in Doha last season before picking up runner-up finishes at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. Right now, anything is possible. And there’s something refreshing about that.
