There is a gap in the women’s singles draw where the defending champion will not beGadecki, ranked 200th, earned a wildcard entry
Wildcard’s win kicks off mixed opening day for local playersPhotograph: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty ImagesThe post-Ash Barty era has been a difficult one for Australians to contemplate, brought once again to the surface in the advent of the year’s opening major. There is a gap in the women’s singles draw where the defending champion will not be, and a space in the public consciousness into which somebody else must step.
Until two days ago that player was Ajla Tomljanović, the world No 35 who has made two grand slam quarter-finals in the past 12 months and ended the career of Serena Williams in the process. Then Tomljanović was out,For now, at least, they have Olivia Gadecki, who announced herself on Monday with a first-round win in her maiden match in the main draw of a slam.
Gadecki, ranked 200th, took the only break of the first set, then set about winning seven consecutive games en route to a 5-0 lead in the second. Once she had sealed the result, the media told her she had just made almost $160,000 in prize money. “Wow, OK,” she said, before gathering herself. “In a way, it doesn’t really change the way I go about my career. It just gives me a little bit of a safety net, which is really important when it comes to being an athlete. Just having that security and knowing you don’t have to rely on doing well each and every week to be able to fund yourself.”
Barty had been watching and continuing her mentoring role. “She sent me a text after my match, which really meant a lot,” Gadecki said. “But I’m sure everyone kind of knows she’s always been in my corner, and I’m so lucky to have her. Whenever I need advice or anything, I’m always able to contact her.”The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s actionNewsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties.
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