Australian Open 2013 Pre-Semifinal Update
As the Australian Open enter their hot phase, the two players with a shot at a Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) have thus far convinced with impressive displays of power and precision.
Ozeki (=Champion) Andy Murray earned the shot with his triumph at the 2012 U.S. Open. A back-to-back slam title in Melbourne would have the Scot advance to Yokozuna - he would be the 17th male player in the open era to do so. In the first five matches, Murray did not drop a set, although the luck of the draw spared Murray any current or former sanyaku (=champion) ranked player. This is going to change. To ascend to the highest rank, Murray will have to beat Dai-Yokozuna (=great Grand Champion) and living legend Roger Federer in the semis, and (probably) Yokozuna and world #1 Novak Djokovic in the final. It would be a worthy path to the pinnacle of the game indeed.
Also in with a shot is veteran female Ozeki Maria Sharapova. Sharapova is arguably already the most succesful female Ozeki of the open era, winning four grand slam titles since her first Ozeki promotion in 2004 (as a 17 year old) - although never back-to-back. A fifth title would elevate the charismatic Russian to Yokozuna regardless. Sharapova's chances look encouraging especially now that Dai-Yokozuna Serena Williams exited surprisingly in the quarterfinals - an opponent against who Sharapova had lost her last nine matches. Thus far Sharapova has blasted through her opponents, including (inactive) Yokozuna Venus Williams. The road to Yokozuna takes her next to former Ozeki Na Li, and then possibly to fellow Ozeki, defending champion and world #1 Viktoria Azarenka.
In other developments, Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) David Ferrer is one win away from a career-high Ozeki promotion. And even if Ferrer does not jump the "big hurdle" (this is what Ozeki means literally in Japanese) here - after all, Djokovic is waiting in the semifinals, against who Ferrer has a poor career record - chances are decent for the 2013 French Open, when a spot in the seminfinals would suffice. Quarterfinalist and ex-Ozeki Tomas Berdych returns to Sekiwake, while ex-Sekiwake Jo-Wilfried Tsonga holds Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) rank. Former Ozeki Juan Martin del Potro failed to qualify for the quarterfinals and drops out of the sanyaku ranks.
In the ladies' game, Sloane Stephens will earn a first-time sanyaku promotion for her quarter-final heroics against Serena Williams - at least to Komusubi, and possible to Sekiwake if Stephens beats Azarenka in the semis. Na Li also returns to sanyaku; she would even get her Ozeki rank back if she wins the tournament. Quarterfinalist Agnieszka Radwanska regains Sekiwake rank, where she will be joined by Petra Kvitova, who missed two grand slam quarterfinals in a row and hence gets demoted from Ozeki. Ozeki Samantha Stosur also lost early and thus goes kadoban, i.e. is at risk of losing Ozeki rank at the French open. Sara Errani recedes one rank to Komusbi, while ex-Sekiwake Angelique Kerber drops out of the sanyaku ranks altogether.
As the Australian Open enter their hot phase, the two players with a shot at a Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) have thus far convinced with impressive displays of power and precision.
Also in with a shot is veteran female Ozeki Maria Sharapova. Sharapova is arguably already the most succesful female Ozeki of the open era, winning four grand slam titles since her first Ozeki promotion in 2004 (as a 17 year old) - although never back-to-back. A fifth title would elevate the charismatic Russian to Yokozuna regardless. Sharapova's chances look encouraging especially now that Dai-Yokozuna Serena Williams exited surprisingly in the quarterfinals - an opponent against who Sharapova had lost her last nine matches. Thus far Sharapova has blasted through her opponents, including (inactive) Yokozuna Venus Williams. The road to Yokozuna takes her next to former Ozeki Na Li, and then possibly to fellow Ozeki, defending champion and world #1 Viktoria Azarenka.
In other developments, Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) David Ferrer is one win away from a career-high Ozeki promotion. And even if Ferrer does not jump the "big hurdle" (this is what Ozeki means literally in Japanese) here - after all, Djokovic is waiting in the semifinals, against who Ferrer has a poor career record - chances are decent for the 2013 French Open, when a spot in the seminfinals would suffice. Quarterfinalist and ex-Ozeki Tomas Berdych returns to Sekiwake, while ex-Sekiwake Jo-Wilfried Tsonga holds Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) rank. Former Ozeki Juan Martin del Potro failed to qualify for the quarterfinals and drops out of the sanyaku ranks.In the ladies' game, Sloane Stephens will earn a first-time sanyaku promotion for her quarter-final heroics against Serena Williams - at least to Komusubi, and possible to Sekiwake if Stephens beats Azarenka in the semis. Na Li also returns to sanyaku; she would even get her Ozeki rank back if she wins the tournament. Quarterfinalist Agnieszka Radwanska regains Sekiwake rank, where she will be joined by Petra Kvitova, who missed two grand slam quarterfinals in a row and hence gets demoted from Ozeki. Ozeki Samantha Stosur also lost early and thus goes kadoban, i.e. is at risk of losing Ozeki rank at the French open. Sara Errani recedes one rank to Komusbi, while ex-Sekiwake Angelique Kerber drops out of the sanyaku ranks altogether.
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