The Australian Open has perpetuated the momentum of a burgeoning era in women’s sport.
As day six gets underway, the anticipated faces to make the final 16 have included world number one Iga Swiatek, number two (and Australian Open reigning champion) Aryna Sabalenka, US Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, each ranked fourth and eleventh respectively.
But, as always, the excitement of the first Grand Slam of the year in our own backyard is the emergence of shiny, new talent.
The upset of the Open so far has seen Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva shock world number six and Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in her first win over a top-10 player.
Aussie fan favourite Storm Hunter also made headlines as she prepares for her first appearance in the third-round of a Grand Slam at the time of writing.
Day five saw history made when Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and Russian Anna Blinkova played the longest tie-break in Grand Slam singles history, a forty-two point, 14 match points long epic of which Blinkova eventually prevailed.
Nestled amongst the excitement, increased exposure and perceived advancements, there have been some glaringly obvious nods to just how far there is to go.
Namely, that 2023 winner, Sabalenka, began her opening match at 11.41pm on Sunday, following a marathon four-set match between the male reigning champion, Novak Djokovic and young Croatian Dino Prizmic, which began at the dream slot of 7pm.
While the length of a previous match cannot be managed by the powers that be, the scheduling of the opening match of the champion of the grand slam can be.