The Great Wide Open

The women's tennis game; already considered as the most open in history; reached epic proportions in the US Open; as no less than 5 favorites were dumped out in the first round: defending champion Emma Raducanu; Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina; former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka; in-form Simona Halep; and legend Venus Williams.

It seems that almost every Grand Slam these days is greeted by a new winner; with that person going on to have the inevitable decline and fading to nothingness; as best exemplified by recent examples Jelena Ostapenko; Bianca Andreescu; Sofia Kenin & now Raducanu in full glory. It seems they just cannot take the pressure & fame that winning the Grand Slam brings; and start a steep decline.

So why is the women's game so open as compared to the men? When the big four of Roger Federer; Rafael Nadal; Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray are so clearly dominant? I think it is probably the wide depth of talented women players that makes it such a level playing field; such that no one player can dominate ala Steffi Graf or Serena Williams. It all makes for a tantalizing prospect where literally everyone can; and often does; beat anyone else.