Top of the class? Aussies’ report card for Q1
With the first three months of the season complete, we take a look at how the top Aussie players have fared in the first quarter, and what lies ahead for the claycourt season.
Melbourne VIC, Australia, 10 April 2018 | Matt Trollope
The conclusion of the recent Miami Open marked the first quarter of season 2018 complete.
Players are now into the full swing of competition as the hardcourt season gives way to clay and the build-up to Roland Garros.
How have Australia’s best fared in the first segment of the season?
We break it down in their quarterly report cards.
Ash Barty
| Highlights |
F Sydney, 4R Miami, 3R Australian Open, Charleston |
| Win-loss |
12-6 |
| Scalps |
Strycova, Gavrilova |
| Ranking |
No.18 (-1) |
| Schedule |
Fed Cup, Madrid, Rome, Strasbourg, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Flourished on Australian soil to open season, winning 8 of 11 matches in four events including Fed Cup. Strong showing in Miami, winning doubles title in addition to reaching singles fourth round. |
| Quote |
“We did a lot of hard work last year and the year before setting down a foundation and I feel like I haven’t got too many flaws now. We’re always wanting to get better, I’m very much a perfectionist.” |
Nick Kyrgios
| Highlights |
W Brisbane, 4R Australian Open, Miami |
| Win-loss |
10-3 |
| Scalps |
Dimitrov, Tsonga, Fognini |
| Ranking |
No.24 (-3) |
| Schedule |
Houston, Estoril, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Kyrgios has struggled with injury (elbow, back) in 2018 but when he’s played, he’s been impressive. Won his first title on Australian soil in Brisbane and has won 10 of 13 matches this season. |
| Quote |
“I don’t really care who I play. At the moment I’m not even thinking tactically or anything like that. I’m just trying to get through these matches without being in pain, pretty much, just going out there and competing and being healthy. That’s my main focus at the moment.” |
Daria Gavrilova
| Highlights |
SF Sydney, Acapulco, 3R Indian Wells, Miami |
| Win-loss |
9-8 |
| Scalps |
Stosur |
| Ranking |
No.24 (+1) |
| Schedule |
Fed Cup, Prague, Madrid, Rome, Strasbourg, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Solid start to the season featuring a stable WTA ranking and two semifinals. Heads into a portion of the season during which she often thrives. |
| Quote |
“I think I’m going a bit better than (this time) last year, if you want to compare it. Still not overly happy with my results, like at Australian Open I wished for a better result, and Indian Wells and Miami. But I’ve still made two semifinals this year which is pretty good. My game overall still needs improvement – I’m not gonna hide from it. But I’m happy about the clay season. It’s my favourite time of the year.” |
Sam Stosur
| Highlights |
2R Sydney, Doha, Indian Wells; qualified for Dubai |
| Win-loss |
6-9 |
| Scalps |
Witthoeft, Begu |
| Ranking |
No.58 (-17) |
| Schedule |
Fed Cup, Prague, Madrid, Rome, Strasbourg, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
It was a lean start to the year (1-4 in her first five matches) but Stosur has scored more wins as the season has progressed and has embarked on her beloved claycourt swing. |
| Quote |
“I think Dubai is where I probably played my best this year. That first match in quallies wasn’t my best tennis but I got through it and then each day was a little bit better. I felt really great. Especially since coming back from my injury, it’s been a little bit hesitant and little bit scared to really go after it. And I think that’s slowly creeping out of my game. I think that just takes time.” |
Matt Ebden
| Highlights |
2R Brisbane, Australian Open, Acapulco, Miami |
| Win-loss |
4-8 |
| Scalps |
Isner, Querrey, Tiafoe |
| Ranking |
No.77 (-1) |
| Schedule |
Taipei, Seoul, Gimcheon, Busan (all Challengers), Geneva, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Back in the top 100 and competing regularly at ATP level again, Ebden has scored four notable wins over quality opponents. Highlight was a first-round upset of 16th seed John Isner at the Australian Open. |
| Quote |
“Obviously you always want to win a few more matches, but I feel that I’ve been playing at a high level and have been able to match it with a lot of the top guys in the world. January was really good for me and I had a great 10 days at Davis Cup, I really enjoyed being back around the team environment. I’m pretty confident that I know what I have to do to keep improving.” |
John Millman
| Highlights |
W Kyoto Challenger; 2R Brisbane, Sydney, Australian Open, Montpellier, Miami |
| Win-loss |
13-6 |
| Scalps |
Coric, Sugita |
| Ranking |
No.89 (+39) |
| Schedule |
Barcelona, other events TBD, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Ultra consistent Queeslander is yet to lose a first-round match in 2018 and has shot up nearly 40 places in the rankings to return to top 100. |
Ajla Tomljanovic
| Highlights |
SF Newport Beach 125K, Indian Wells 125K; QF Monterrey |
| Win-loss |
11-7 |
| Scalps |
Tsurenko, Lepchenko |
| Ranking |
No.92 (+26) |
| Schedule |
Claycourt events TBD, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Steadily building ranking back up after returning to competition following shoulder surgery; back in top 100 after a two-year absence from elite bracket. After slogging it out mainly on the ITF circuit in 2017, appearing more regularly at WTA events. |
Jordan Thompson
| Highlights |
W Chennai Challenger; F Kyoto Challenger |
| Win-loss |
12-8 |
| Ranking |
No.99 (-5) |
| Schedule |
Houston, Nanchang Challenger, Anning Challenger, Lyon, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
After going 0-3 to begin season, Thompson found success dropping back to the Challenger circuit, building a 12-2 record across three events in February. |
Alex De Minaur
| Highlights |
F Sydney; SF Brisbane; 2R Indian Wells; F Alicante Challenger |
| Win-loss |
17-9 |
| Scalps |
Raonic, Verdasco, Lopez, Paire |
| Ranking |
No.114 (+94) |
| Schedule |
Marrakech, Monte Carlo, Estoril, Braga Challenger, Lisbon Challenger, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Teenager De Minaur was one of the stories of the Aussie summer thanks to his heroics in Brisbane and Sydney. Has continued to impress at ATP level, reaching second round of Indian Wells and qualifying in Miami. Closing in on top 100. |
| Quote |
“Brisbane and Sydney really kickstarted my year and gave me the confidence to mix it at the highest level. To then represent Australia in Davis Cup was a dream come true. I have enjoyed competing in mainstream ATP events. I’m looking to continue to improve my ranking with the goal of making main draw Wimbledon.” |
Arina Rodionova
| Highlights |
2R Acapulco; qualified for Budapest |
| Win-loss |
5-9 |
| Ranking |
No.131 (-10) |
| Schedule |
claycourt events TBD, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Playing a mixture of WTA main and qualifying draws in 2018, Rodionova remains close to a top-100 debut, having peaked at No.116 in October last year. |
Olivia Rogowska
| Highlights |
SF Burnie ITF; 2R Australian Open |
| Win-loss |
5-8 |
| Ranking |
No.146 (+16) |
| Schedule |
Charleston ITF, more TBD, Roland Garros WC Play-off, Roland Garros qualifying (if no WC) |
| Notes |
Strong season in Australia, almost beating Gavrilova in first round in Sydney before reaching second round at Melbourne Park and semis of the $60,000 Pro Tour event in Burnie. Back in top 150 for first time in more than three years. |
| Quote |
“I feel like I had a solid Australian summer and was playing some pretty good tennis. I’m really looking forward to getting on to the clay now. It’s a surface that suits my game and I will hopefully get a lot of matches over the next few months.” |
Thanasi Kokkinakis
| Highlights |
3R Miami; 2R Acapulco; SF Morelos Challenger |
| Win-loss |
8-4 |
| Scalps |
Federer |
| Ranking |
No.148 (+61) |
| Schedule |
Monte Carlo, Bordeaux Challenger, Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Back in the top 150 for the first time since May 2016, Kokkinakis’ undoubted highlight was a stunning victory over Federer in Miami, the biggest win of his career. Came close to the fourth round at that event and is finally healthy after countless injuries. |
| Quote |
“I played a lot of good players in practice and in matches. In practice, I feel really good with a lot of the players. Again, there’s obviously that difficulty trying to bring that to a match court. I know if I bring that level (like against Federer), I can beat a lot of good players.” |
Lizette Cabrera
| Highlights |
QF Canberra ITF; 2R Zhuhai ITF; qualified for WTA Taiwan, WTA Bogota |
| Win-loss |
7-9 |
| Ranking |
No.162 (-10) |
| Schedule |
Bogota, Dothan ITF, Charlottesville ITF, Rabat, Cagnes-Sur-Mer ITF, Roland Garros WC Playoff, Roland Garros qualifying (if no WC) |
| Notes |
Young Queenslander continues to solidify her position around the top 150, with a packed claycourt schedule coming up in preparation for the French Open. |
| Quote |
“This year has been more about trying to play steady tennis while making the difficult transition from ITF tournaments to WTA level on a consistent basis. I enjoyed being part of the Fed Cup squad in Canberra and I’m happy with my game, continuing to work on my level of consistency.” |
Akira Santillan
| Highlights |
Final round ATP Houston qualifying |
| Win-loss |
1-3 |
| Ranking |
No.170 (-24) |
| Schedule |
Sarasota, Savannah, Tallahassee (all Challengers) |
| Notes |
A back injury forced the 20-year-old out of the Australian summer and has restricted him to just three events in 2018. He retired from the second of those – the Guadeloupe Challenger – in the first round with the same injury. |
Jason Kubler
| Highlights |
W Playford Challenger; SF Burnie Challenger, Qujing Challenger |
| Win-loss |
22-7 |
| Scalps |
Jaziri |
| Ranking |
No.178 (+163) |
| Schedule |
Nanchang, Anning, Bordeaux (all Challengers), Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Playing more regularly on hardcourt, the oft-injured Aussie has surged in the rankings thanks to consistent success on the Challenger circuit. Nearing career-high of No.136 set back in November 2014. |
Alex Bolt
| Highlights |
W Zhuhai Challenger; SF Qujing Challenger; QF Playford Challenger |
| Win-loss |
12-7 |
| Scalps |
Jaziri |
| Ranking |
No.179 (+10) |
| Schedule |
Nanchang, Anning, Bordeaux (all Challengers), Roland Garros |
| Notes |
Since leaving Australia in February, Bolt has gone on a tear, winning 10 of 12 matches in a productive swing through the Chinese Challenger circuit. |
Bernard Tomic
| Highlights |
3R Australian Open qualifying |
| Win-loss |
2-2 |
| Ranking |
No.185 (-45) |
| Notes |
At his lowest ranking since March 2011, Tomic has played sparingly in 2018, reaching the final round of qualifying at Melbourne Park and falling in the first round of the Lille Challenger – his only other event. |
Priscilla Hon
| Highlights |
2R Launceston ITF, Canberra ITF |
| Win-loss |
11-9 |
| Scalps |
Wickmayer |
| Ranking |
No.190 (+31) |
| Schedule |
Dothan ITF, Charlottesville ITF, Cagnes-Sur-Mer ITF, Roland Garros WC Playoff, Roland Garros qualifying (if no WC |
| Notes |
Playing mostly qualifying draws and scoring several match wins, Hon is yet to drop her opening match in eight events in 2018. Has shaved more than 30 places from her ranking, peaking at No.189 in February. |
Marc Polmans
| Highlights |
W Launceston Challenger, Renmark ITF, Mildura ITF, Mornington ITF |
| Win-loss |
26-4 |
| Scalps |
Nishioka |
| Ranking |
No.207 (+116) |
| Schedule |
Sarasota, Tallahassee, Savannah (all Challengers), Roland Garros |
| Notes |
By far the most in-form player on the Aussie Pro Tour, Polmans won four straight tournaments and reached the final of a fifth before his 24-match streak was snapped by Purcell in Mornington. |
Destanee Aiava
| Highlights |
F Canberra ITF; SF Kashiwa ITF; QF Burnie ITF, Zhuhai ITF |
| Win-loss |
11-7 |
| Ranking |
No.226 (-73) |
| Schedule |
Osaka ITF; Roland Garros WC play-off, RG qualifying (if no WC) |
| Notes |
Still under tournament age restrictions, Aiava impressed in pushing world No.1 Simona Halep in the first round at the Australian Open and reaching the $60,000 ITF final in Canberra. |
| Quote |
“Highlights so far have been inclusion in the Fed Cup team as the fourth player, being able to represent my country and training among Australia’s best players, reaching my second 60k final in Canberra and also improving different aspects of my game. The first three months of the year have been pretty full on with AO being the opportunity to play the No.1 in the world and see where my level was at. I’m playing at a more consistent level against the top 250-120 players in the world and working hard on and off court getting ready for the clay season.” |
Jaimee Fourlis
| Highlights |
W Canberra ITF; SF Perth #2 ITF; 2R Hobart |
| Win-loss |
17-8 |
| Ranking |
No.270 (+55) |
| Schedule |
Santa Margherita Di Pula #4 & #5 (ITFs), Rabat, Cagnes-Sur-Mer ITF, Roland Garros WC Playoff, Roland Garros qualifying (if no WC) |
| Notes |
Fourlis has gathered steam as the season has progressed, winning 13 of her past 16 matches. Now 18 years old and free of competitive age restrictions, the Victorian is at a career-high ranking. |
| Quote |
“Winning the Canberra $25k tournament was a highlight and gives me confidence to head overseas to play more claycourt events. This is my first full season on tour so it’s about developing as a player and getting used to the week after week grind. Not being restricted with tournaments because of age and school work, I am enjoying venturing in the transition from junior to senior events.” |
All rankings, results and figures up to date as of Tuesday 10 April 2018.
