Nobody knew where Coco played after US Open win

Maria Sharapova, now 36, retired from professional tennis four years ago due to her recurring injuries.

The Russian tennis player, who has resided in the United States since childhood, closely follows the women’s tour.

Sharapova attended the recent edition of the US Open and expressed her disappointment with the lack of tennis culture in the United States. This issue becomes particularly apparent during the two weeks of the US Open, where fans divide their attention between the matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium and events like Fashion Week and Broadway shows…

“Coco [Gauff] won the U.S. Open. How many people knew that three weeks later she was playing in Beijing? She reached the semifinals and despite losing, I’m sure 99 percent of the US Open audience had no clue about her next tournament,” Maria says.

Maria also highlights the significant disparity in prize money between ATP and WTA tournaments: “This week, there’s a men’s event in China offering 1.2 million dollars to the winner. In the women’s event, they only receive 100,000 dollars. While equality is evident in the ‘Grand Slams,’ there are nine more months of competition.”

Insights from Tommy Paul

Tommy Paul, the second highest-ranked American tennis player, recently remarked that “tennis in the United States does not capture public interest. I would place it as the 20th most significant sport in the country.”

Upcoming Tennis Slam

The first tennis slam of 2024 will be held at Melbourne Park in Australia, its home since 1988. Scheduled from January 14-28, the Australian Open features a hard court surface and marks the 112th edition of the tournament.

Novak Djokovic currently holds the men’s title, clinching his 10th victory at the event in 2023. In the women’s division, Aryna Sabalenka emerged as the champion by defeating Elena Rybakina with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, securing her first major slam.