Well, 2019 was certainly an eye-opening year for some WTA players. Former number one Naomi Osaka captured the 2019 Australian Open title to take home her second grand slam, while 3-time grand slam finalist Simona Halep also captured her second grand slam title at Wimbledon. New faces were also successful in the slams. Ashleigh Barty defeated Markéta Vondroušová to capture her first grand slam, and newcomer Bianca Andreescu defeated Serena Williams, 23-time grand-slam winner, to take home the US Open trophy.
So, which WTA players will prevail in 2020? It’s a fresh start for some, but for others, 2020 has already started off the year with a boom!
Sofia Kenin & Coco Gauff
2019 was a life-changing year for this young star! After defeating her idol Venus Williams at the 2019 Wimbledon, Gauff has gained a huge fanbase. The 2020 Australian Open had also treated her extremely well! After a two-straight-set defeat by Naomi Osaka in the 2019 US Open, Gauff took revenge and defeated Osaka in the third round of this year’s Australian Open. (more about this match at https://tennislifemag.com/australian-open-coco-gauff-stuns-naomi-osaka-in-straight-sets-and-weve-got-the-highlights/) Although her run was cut short, Coco will not fail to impress for the rest of this year!
Awarded 2019’s “Most Improved Player of the Year,” Kenin will no doubt be a show-stopper in 2020! Already defeating the 15-year-old legend Coco Gauff, Kenin has started off this year amazingly by advancing to the semi-final of the Australian Open. Representing the United States, she is known as an extremely consistent player who is capable of hitting fluid winners from the baseline. Kenin is currently at a career-high rank of 15 in the world! Who knows what great accomplishments this 21-year-old will achieve in 2020?
These young American WTA players were unstoppable in 2019, and both of these great fighters are going to kill it in 2020!
Ashleigh Barty
2019 was so amazing for Barty! Reaching number 1 in the WTA and being awarded “Player of the Year” in 2019 certainly changed everybody’s perception of this 23-year-old. She already has one title in 2020, defeating Dayana Yastremska at the Adelaide Open.
The Australian Open is the grand slam for her to win; this Australian native has so many supporters cheering her on in the stands! Starting off as undefeated in 2020 foretells how great this year will be for her!
Which WTA players do you think will make the most of 2020? Let us know!
Great post, Chelsea!