Australian Misses Serena

It's obvious, isn't it? None of the women's players are up to the level of Serena Williams and this year's tournament sorely misses her.

I find myself watching women's matches looking at open down-the-line shots that aren't taken advantage of wondering why didn't the player go for that? Or opportunities to come to the net that aren't taken. Sometimes the players whip one down the line or come to the net, but often their shots go wide or are out. More often, they don't  try at all, going for the safer shot. I've been accustomed to unbelievable shot-making by years of watching Serena on the court. Without her, the game just isn't as exciting.

Granted, there is suspense in wondering who will take advantage of Serena's absence. Will Halep or Wozniacki finally win a Grand Slam? Halep certainly didn't look like a Grand Slam winner in her match-up against Lauren Davis, losing service game after service game. At least she showed some grit in pulling the match out. But she's better at defending and returning serve than she is at serving and attacking. Serena is all about the serve and forward motion.

Wozniacki looked better than Halep did in her most recent match against Rybarikova, a decisive victory. I've become accustomed though to domination on the tour by one player and I just don't see a dominant player on the women's side yet. Svitolina may battle through her nerves and take the tournament but she doesn't own the court like Serena does. But Serena has set the bar so high, that tennis absent her was bound to be anticlimactic.

When Serena returns, count on her to be the favorite again. This field of players hasn't advanced the game above Serena's level during her absence, IMHO. And while there have been signs of some great players possibly to come, like 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk, who made it to the third round, the current crop seems to be in a lull, waiting for the next great champ to come along.