It wasn’t an insult to Svitolina and Bondrosova, but players sometimes use the most harmless disdain to fuel their motives for anger. Former British player-turned-coach and caster Joe Dury says Martina Navratilova once dared to publicly declare in 1983, at the height of her career, that she had a chance to beat a great champion. Told.
Dury made comments after the Australian Open quarterfinals were stopped one set at a time due to rain.
“Martina was furious,” Dury said Wednesday. “The next day, she said to the press, ‘Why would JoJo say that?’ Everyone has an ego in this sport and one day you have to use it.”
Ms Dury said her words were slightly distorted in the next day’s reports. But sometimes the little things can be used to your advantage, and if she faces Jabour, Svitolina or Bondrosova could try to defend the honor of the draw before Saturday’s final.
As popular as Svitolina has become, Dury warned that Fondrosova, the least known player still alive in the draw, cannot be overlooked.
After becoming a French Open finalist in 2019, Vondrusova’s career was hampered by injuries. But as her well-rounded left-handed player, she can confuse her opponents with her serve and shots that range from soft and dangerous to overwhelming.
“Wow, she has talent,” Dury said.
So, will this be the stage that puts an end to Svitolina’s mesmerizing run? Or, if she wins, will she face Sabalenka, a Belarusian powerhouse whose nationality makes Svitolina something of an enemy?
