Serena Williams has been chasing her elusive 24th slam title since she was back from her complicated pregnancy. The American legend was the runner-up in 4 majors after her comeback. However, the last time that Serena reached a slam final was back in 2019 when she lost her in the memorable US Open final to Bianca Andreescu. Williams did not manage to go as deep in a slam since then also because she has been struggling with all sorts of injuries.
Unfortunately, according to top tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, Serena does not appear in a still-unofficial Australian Open entry list. At forty years of age, it would not be a surprise if she decides to retire after an incredible career.
Only three top-120 players do not appear on the initial (unofficial) version of the #AusOpen women’s singles entry list that I’ve seen:
#46 Bianca Andreescu (as she announced recently)
#109 Svetlana Kuznetsova (who hasn’t played since Wimbledon)
and…
#41 Serena Williams.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) December 8, 2021
Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, and Barty the favorites
Therefore, it is more and more plausible that Serena Williams will not challenge at this Australian Open edition Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, and Ashleigh Barty who are considered by top betting company Bet365 as top favorites.
Here are the latest odds
Ashleigh Barty 6.00
Naomi Osaka 6.50
Emma Raducanu 10.00
Aryna Sabalenka 13.00
Garbine Muguruza 13.00
Anett Kontaveit 13.00
Iga Swiatek 15.00
Bianca Andreescu 15.00
Simona Halep 17.00
Karolina Pliskova 17.00
Barbora Krejcikova 17.00
Serena Williams 19.00
Maria Sakkari 19.00
Elena Rybakina 19.00
Paula Badosa 21.00
Cori Gauff 23.00
Leyla Fernandez 23.00
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Serena Williams in 2021
Ranked world no.41, Serena Williams played her last match on the 29th of June when she had to retire when playing against world no.92 Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the 1st round and the scoreline was 3-3 .
During this season Serena owns an overall 12-5 record. Serena Williams’s most significant result of this year was reaching the semifinal in Melbourne and at the Australian Open.
Emma Raducanu in 2021
Currently ranked no.19 (career-high), Raducanu played her last match on the 9th of November when she capitulated to world no.102 Xin Yu Wang 6-1 6-7(0) 7-5 in the 2nd round in Linz (draw).
At the moment, during this season the Brit has achieved an overall 25-9 match record. The Brit clinched 1 title at the U.S. Open. The Brit got to the final in the Chicago.
Serena Williams and Emma Raducanu have never squared off.
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Now the world no.13, the Japanese played her last match on the 3rd of September when she surrendered to world no.24 Leylah Annie Fernandez 5-7 7-6(2) 6-4 in the 3rd round in U.S. Open (draw).
This season the Japanese has a 18-6 win-loss record. Osaka has won 1 title at the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty in 2021
Ranked world no.1, the Australian played her last match on the 4th of September when she lost to world no.40 Shelby Rogers 6-2 1-6 7-6(5) in the 3rd round in U.S. Open (draw).
Until now, during this year Ashleigh has a 42-8 win-loss record. Ashleigh conquered 5 titles in 2021 in Melbourne, in Miami, in Stuttgart, in Wimbledon and in Cincinnati. Barty was the runner-up in Madrid.
Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty played each other 4 times. The head to head is 2-2. The last time they played each other, Naomi Osaka won 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the final in Beijing (China Open) in October 2019.
You can see them in action in the following highlights.
Serena Williams, Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka and Ashleigh Barty |
| Embed from Getty Images |
