September 9, 2023,
When will it be your turn? Our turn?
When will we have our place in the sun?
The legendary Stevie Wonder sang it best.
Like a long lonely stream
I keep runnin’ towards a dream
Movin’ on, movin’ on
Like a branch on a tree
I keep reachin’ to be free
Movin’ on, movin’ on
‘Cause there’s a place in the sun
Where there’s hope for everyone
Where my poor restless heart’s gotta run
There’s a place in the sun
And before my life is done
Gotta find me a place in the sun
Why do you want your place in the sun? Even for the moment?
Because you don’t know how long the bright lights of the sun will shine upon you.
We’re going to take a look at some dynamic female tennis players who had their place in the sun.
For a moment.
The question we have is, will they have their place in the sun again, on the world’s greatest stage, under tennis brightest lights?
Sloane Stephens is an American professional tennis player who achieved a career-best ranking of world No. 3 after Wimbledon in 2018.
Major drum roll please.
Sloane was the 2017 US Open champion, and has won seven WTA Tour singles titles in total.
That is incredibly impressive.
While 19 years old, Sloane rose to prominence at the 2013 Australian Open with a semifinal run beating world No. 3, Serena Williams.
She was simply amazing.
Although she reached No. 11 towards the end of 2013, she regressed and stayed outside the top 25 to the end of 2015. She switched to a new coach, Kamau Murray, under whom she returned to elite level and won three WTA titles in the first half of 2016.
Sometimes change is painful, but necessary.
Then more pain came.
Her successful year was cut short by a foot injury that kept her out for months. Did it permanently deter her? Absolutely not. Sloane is a fighter.
She returned from injury in the middle of 2017 and won the US Open singles title in her fifth tournament back.
She was also awarded WTA Comeback Player of the Year for her successful season.
In 2018, she continued her success by winning her first Premier Mandatory title at the Miami Open, reaching a second Grand Slam singles final at the French Open, entering the top 10 for the first time, and finishing runner-up at the WTA Finals.
Amazing accomplishments. Agree?
Then her slide from the top began.
Our American luminary struggled throughout the 2019 season. Although she remained in the top 10 for the majority of the year in large part due to ranking points she was defending from the previous year’s WTA Finals, she could not match her best performances at the Grand Slam tournaments or other higher-level events.
She eventually fell out of the top 20 upon losing her 2018 WTA Finals rankings points near the end of the season.
So, what has happened to our once reigning US Open Champion lately?
An unfortunate pattern began.
It is now 2023.
Sloane started her season at the Auckland Open. Seeded second, she lost in the first round to qualifier and eventual finalist, Rebeka Masarova.
Seeded fourth at the Hobart International, she was defeated in the first round by qualifier, compatriot, and eventual champion, Lauren Davis.
At the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to Anastasia Potapova.
Here, at the 2023 mighty US Open, her home territory where she once hoisted the championship trophy, she lost to Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round.
According to the WTA website, Sloane is currently ranked number 42.
After watching Sloane soar to the top and have her place in the sun in 2017, winning the US Open, we are hoping that Sloane has her place in the sun again.
Which brings us to another star who had her place in the sun.
Amanda Anisimova is an American inactive professional tennis player who reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 21 in the world, and has been ranked in the top 100 since shortly after turning 17 years old.
Amanda has won two WTA Tour titles and reached three WTA finals in total.
After that incredible start, at only 17, we had such high expectations for Amanda. It is so wonderful to have your place in the sun at only 17.
Amanda won the 2017 US Open girls’ singles title, as well as two other Grade-A titles.
She also became the first American finalist at the French Open girls’ singles event in 14 years.
On the WTA Tour, Amanda rose to prominence at the 2018 Indian Wells Open, where she scored her first top-10 victory at age 16 against Petra Kvitová.
If Petra’s name sounds familiar, she recently lost to Danish super star Caroline Wozniacki, on her comeback tour, at the 2023 US Open.
Now, for Amanda’s breakthroughs at the Grand Slams.
Her first two breakthroughs at Grand Slam events came in 2019. At the Australian Open, she defeated No. 11 Aryna Sabalenka, one of the leading contenders for the title, to reach the fourth round.
Where is Aryna soon to be ranked?
Number one in the world.
You can see what Amanda is capable of.
At the French Open, she upset Simona Halep, the defending champion and world No. 3, to become the youngest semifinalist at the tournament in over a decade.
The next time she reached the fourth round of a major was at the 2022 Australian Open where she won a match against defending champion Naomi Osaka.
Now on to 2023.
Amanda started her season in Adelaide. At the first tournament, she lost in the first round to Veronika Kudermetova.
At the second tournament, she fell in the final round of qualifying to Jil Teichmann. However, due to Jessica Pegula withdrawing from the tournament due to change of schedule, she entered the main draw as a lucky loser.
There was hope.
She beat Liudmila Samsonova, in the first round. She was defeated in the second round by Beatriz Haddad Maia. Seeded 28th at the Australian Open, she lost in round one to Marta Kostyuk in straight sets.
Then came to sad news on May 6, 2023.
The WTA reported, “American Amanda Anisimova announced Friday that she’ll be taking an indefinite break from tennis, citing burnout and concerns for her mental health.”
Amanda verified that on her Instagram, posting, “Hey guys. I thought I’d make a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans. I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments. At this point my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support.”
Our thoughts on that?
We miss you and wish you the best Amanda. You were such a joy to watch. Like Caroline, we look forward to your comeback.
Currently, Amanda is ranked 145.
Sloane and Amanda had their day in the sun where they shined highly ranked and bright.
In life, we all should have a day in the sun. A place in the sun. At least once.
When you work hard and get yours, greatly appreciate it.
Before the sun sets.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO Shutterstock-Jimmie48-Photography-photo-credit-Editorial-use fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com, femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com fcielitecompetitor.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloane_Stephens
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Anisimova
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3322468/anisimova-announces-indefinite-break-from-tennis
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
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