It’s that time of the year to look back at last year’s predictions. I’m going to take this year’s review with a pinch of salt after a wild tennis year that saw the world number one (and my number one!) retiring from tennis and no ranking points for Wimbledon. Before posting my predictions for 2023, let’s take a look back at what I said from last year’s post and how my predictions stacked up against reality.
I’ve been excited about Anisimova for many years, but did simmer those expectations in 2021… Just a feeling that things might fall into place in 2022.
I predicted Anisimova to crack the world’s top ten. Anisimova was some way off, finishing the year at number 23 in the rankings, but there was a clear upward trajectory having started the season at #78.
[For Tauson] I think there’s a big Slam result incoming somewhere in 2022…
Oh dear. Well this one looks very silly now! Tauson started the season well, beating Anett Kontaveit at the AO, but it all went downhill from there as injuries ravaged Tauson’s season as she barely played a match between March and August.
Will Sabalenka win a Slam in 2022? Right now, i’d say no.
Yep i’ll take that one 😂.
Surely there’s another RG trophy before Halep retires and I think ’22 could be the year.
I had Halep regaining her position in the top ten but it wasn’t to be at Rolly G where she lost in the second round to Zheng Qinwen.
I think Swiatek will be a mainstay in the world’s top ten for many years to come and will build on her consistent 2021 season with a more glittering series of results in 2022. I think there will be a couple of Slam semi-finals, perhaps another Slam final.
I had Swiatek going up in the rankings but obviously wayyy offf with what she achieved. “Perhaps another Slam final”… 😂
A slight sense of recency bias with how Muguruza ended 2021 by winning the Tour Finals but I tend to think she will have another strong season in 2022 and claim another Slam.
That’s a firm no.
I think Barty will win another Slam in 2022.
Nailed it! Let’s leave it at that for Ash 🙃.
My admiration for Collins has steadily grown over the past year or two and I think she’s got a game that can challenge anyone. Mentality is strong. I think this could be Collins’s best season yet. Top 15
This was a good one! Collins finished the year at world number 14 and reached her first Slam final.
I’m sold on Pegula’s game. I don’t think 2021 was a flash in the pan and I think she’s more likely to go up than down, knocking on the door of the world’s top ten throughout the course of the year. Top 20.
My sentiment on Pegula was right. Way too cautious though with top 20. Pegula finishes 2022 at #3.
I think 2022 will be more of an adjustment year for Raducanu. She hasn’t played a full year on tour and not played many of the tournaments. Talent undeniable but I think 2022 will be about building up experience. Top 25.
This was always going to be a hard one. I thought I was being over cautious at the time. Turns out way too optimistic! Raducanu finished the season at world number 75.
Australian Open: Muguruza
French Open: Halep
Wimbledon: Barty
US Open: Tauson (
)
Yikes! Let’s throw 2022 in the 🚮.