MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 23, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Thursday is Women and Girls Day at the Australian Open, a celebration of women and girls in tennis, headlined by the 9th AO Inspirational Series, featuring former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki. It culminates in the women’s singles semifinals on Rod Laver Arena in the evening featuring two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus facing No. 11 seed Paula Badosa of Spain, followed by No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek of Poland versus No. 19 seed Madison Keys of the United States.
“I’m thrilled to return to Melbourne and be part of the AO Inspirational Series,” Wozniacki said in a statement.
“As the tournament where I enjoyed my greatest success, the Australian Open holds a special place in my heart and I always love coming back here. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and connecting with others who are passionate about inspiring change and celebrating women.”
Among the featured guests at the event are: Australian tennis legend and trailblazer Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her second Australian Open crown in 1975; Judy Dalton, a member of the Original Nine who alongside Billie Jean King fought for equality and to professionalize the women’s tour in the 1970s; and former Australian players Sam Stosur and Alicia Molik.
The AO Inspirational Series is the brainchild of Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, a passionate advocate for equality. It has become a cornerstone of the Australian Open, showcasing diverse voices from the worlds of sport, arts, business, and philanthropy.
Past speakers have included icons of the sport Billie Jean King and Kim Clijsters, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, fashion and publishing maven Anna Wintour – introduced by acclaimed Australian producer Baz Luhrmann, actor and producer Rebel Wilson, renowned Hollywood film and TV producer Bruna Papandrea and supermodel Elle MacPherson.
“The AO Inspirational Series is a vital platform to celebrate equality and amplify the voices of remarkable women who continue to shape our world,” Tiley said in a statement.
“It’s an honor to welcome Caroline Wozniacki back to the AO. Her journey embodies resilience, empowerment, and excellence both on and off the court.”
Tennis Australia: Supporting more women and girls to play tennis
Tennis Australia, the governing body for tennis in Australia, has received almost $1 million dollars (AUS) to support more women and girls to play tennis and enjoy the mental and health benefits that sport provides.
The Albanese Government has provided $992,000 to deliver programs in up to 60 clubs throughout the country to improve the participation and retention of women and girls from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
The funding is provided under the participation and equipment stream of the government’s $200 million “Play Our Way Program” to remove barriers faced by women and girls in sport.
Daria Saville and Minister for Sport Hon. Anika Wells (photo: Tennis Australia/Fiona Hamilton)
Starting in July of this year, Tennis Australia will work with up to 60 tennis clubs across the country, supervising tailored measure in each club to assist an average of 30 CALD women and girls.
“Equality, inclusion and diversity – both on and off the court – are at the heart of everything we do,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said in a statement. “The additional funding from the Government will support our ongoing work with women and girls in tennis – now with a focus on culturally diverse communities.
“The funding will help break down barriers, create lasting opportunities and inspire the next generation of players from all the backgrounds to reach their full potential in tennis and beyond.”
Minister for Sport Anika Wells said that “despite Australia’s proud history in women’s tennis, too many women and girls are either not trying the sport or dropping out as they get into their late teens. We need more people from diverse backgrounds playing more sport. This investment could help us develop a Brisbane 2032 Olympian or Paralympic to challenge for a tennis medal.
“Playing tennis and other sports has great benefits for our health and mental health as individuals, and also brings people and communities together. This ‘Play Our Way’ program will make is safer and easier for women and girls from all backgrounds to get active with tennis.”
According to Tennis Australia, the program aims to support 1,800 CALD women and girls. From over 600 applications, Tennis Australia was one of 124 sporting organizations awarded funding under the “Play Our Way” participation and equipment stream.
The additional funding will support the work that’s already been done as part of Tennis Australia’s “Women & Girls Strategy,” which was developed three years ago with a vision that there are no limits for women and girls on and off the tennis court.
Around the Australian Open
• The men’s doubles semifinals took place on Rod Laver Arena Thursday afternoon. Of the four semifinal teams, three of them are seeded.
In the first semifinal, No. 3 seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy defeated unseeded Andre Goransson of Sweden and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands, 2-6, 6-3. 6-4, in an hour and 52 minutes, to advance to the AO final for the second straight year.
Bolelli and Vavassori, who came in having won all four of their earlier matches in Melbourne in straight sets after winning their first title of 2025 at Adelaide earlier in the month, won 78 percent of their first-serve points, hit 25 winners and converted both of their break points. They outpointed Goransson and Verbeek 79-77.
Earlier in the week, Goransson and Verbeek upset 2024 Year-End No. 1s and top-seeded Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia in the quarterfinal round.
And they’re back in the men’s doubles final at the #AusOpen!
Bolelli/Vavassori come back from a set down to defeat Goransson/Verbeek 6-2 3-6 6-4. What a win for the Italian’s #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/62WHOdy4NZ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
In the second semifinal, No. 6 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain edged past No. 4 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 in two hours and one minute.
Heliovaara and Patten came in 6-2 this season and lost the Adelaide semifinal to Krawietz and Puetz. The men’s doubles final will be held on Friday.
• Japan’s Tokito Oda advanced to the title match of the AO men’s wheelchair event for the second straight year after defeating No. 3 seed Martin de la Puente of Spain, 6-1, 6-1 in 66 minutes on Kia Arena. The No. 1-seed Oda will play No. 2 seeds Alfie Hewitt of Great Britain in the final. Hewitt advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 4 seed Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina in an hour and 19 minutes on Court 5.
Eyes on the PRIZE
Tokito Oda books himself to the #AO2025 final for the second consecutive year! pic.twitter.com/C8zvF3PIyD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
• No. 2 seed Aniek de Koot of the Netherlands advanced to women’s AO wheelchair finals with a 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over Wang Ziying of China in one hour and 56 minutes on Margaret Court Arena. She will face No. 1 seed Yui Kamiji of Japan, who defeated Li Xiaohui of China, 6-4, 6-1, in the title match.
Spirit of a fighter
Aniek Van Koot books her place in the finals after coming back from a set down!#AO2025 ⋅ @wwos ⋅ @espn ⋅ @eurosport ⋅ @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/kFK7Cexq5O
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
Thursday’s Australian Open results
Friday’s Australian Open order of play
By the numbers
• Going into Friday’s men’s singles semifinals, top seed Jannik Sinner is 4-1 lifetime versus No. 21 seed Ben Shelton, while No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev is 4-8 against 10-time AO champion and No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic.
• Novak Djokovic, 37, is the third oldest AO semifinalist in event history behind Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer.
“Quotable …”
“The positives … how I handled everything. “The fact that I came in this year [in the] Top 10, with a lot of expectation, a lot of pressure. Obviously, the whole country wanted me to do well. I wanted to do well here.
“I thought I handled it really well to put myself in this position. I would have loved to do more today, but this is what happens sometimes in tennis. Look, the negative is after playing some great tennis on home soil and gaining so much, you feel like you just have been slapped across the face, to be honest, to finish off like that.
“I still don’t think this is my ceiling. I still think I’ve got more in the tank. So I’ll be searching for that.”
– World No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia, the last Australian player eliminated from the men’s singles draw, during his post-match news conference Wednesday following his straight-set defeat to defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy.
Gave his all on Rod Laver Arena all the way to a career-best quarterfinal.
Proud pic.twitter.com/KrKITVQ7Lm
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 22, 2025
