The WTA in 2021: Depth Perception

By Blair Henley Dec 26, 2020
Nadal's farewell

Serena Williams lists the ways that Rafael Nadal inspired her in tribute to retiring Spaniard

By Baseline Staff Nov 19, 2024
Social

Jannik Sinner’s latest Gucci campaign earns Serena Williams’ seal of approval

By Baseline Staff Nov 16, 2024
Social

Taylor Swift snaps selfies with Frances Tiafoe, Ayan Broomfield at Chiefs game

By Baseline Staff Nov 11, 2024
Pop Culture

Serena the Swiftie! Williams attends Taylor Swift's Miami Eras Tour show

By Baseline Staff Oct 21, 2024
Style Points

Aryna Sabalenka inks "powerful new partnership" with Audemars Piguet

By Stephanie Livaudais Oct 18, 2024
Social

Serena Williams says she had a benign cyst removed from her neck and 'all is OK'

By Associated Press Oct 16, 2024
Pop Culture

Serena Williams joins Pamela Anderson as Glamour magazine's 2024 Global Women of the Year

By Baseline Staff Sep 30, 2024
Pop Culture

Serena Williams lets loose at Green Day's Los Angeles show

By Baseline Staff Sep 16, 2024
Social

WATCH: Serena Williams finally tries Honey Deuce, the US Open signature drink

By David Kane Sep 02, 2024

The WTA in 2021: Depth Perception

Now that Serena isn't winning the majority of the majors, the WTA boasts incredible depth and unpredictability in any given draw.

ByBlair Henley

Published Dec 26, 2020

Advertising

When Naomi Osaka hoisted the 2020 US Open trophy, she became the only repeat Grand Slam champion in the past two WTA seasons. Among the five other champions, only Simona Halep had previously won a Grand Slam title. In the past 15 major tournaments on the women's side, there have been twelve different champions.

Ashleigh Barty, Bianca Andreescu, Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek’s respective runs on the world’s largest stages underscored the current depth of the WTA tour and the delightful unpredictability in any given tournament draw.

The WTA in 2021: Depth Perception

The WTA in 2021: Depth Perception

© 2020 Getty Images

Advertising

Naomi Osaka has won three of the last 15 major tournaments. (Getty Images)

At Roland Garros, only six of the 32 seeded players managed to reach the fourth round—a stage where the No. 1 and No. 5 seeds then proceeded to fall.

It’s time for tennis fans accustomed to the dominance of the Williams sisters—and, on the ATP side of things, the Big Three—to embrace the fun and adventure of the unpredictable and unknown.