Notes from the Tour: "28 is a pretty good age to be good"...

Thursday 6th February 2025

Every now and then, a certain comment will catch my attention. Stop me in my tracks. And make me head over to the notepad - and Oddschecker…

For example, back in 2020. During that strange ‘lockdown’ year. I spotted this since-proven-prophetic statement from Iga Swiatek’s then-coach, Piotr Sierzputowski:

“I’m not going to say that I’m dreaming—I know that Iga can win Grand Slams. I don’t know when. In my plan in two-three years she will achieve the top level of her abilities. I think she will be mature enough.”

Well, Piotr was right about that…

Swiatek went on to win her first Grand Slam that very year. And here at Ones to Watch, we were on the teenager - early doors.

Fast-forward to the new 2025 season. And hot on the heels of Madison Keys winning January’s Australian Open…

With Keys claiming her maiden Grand Slam title, at the age of 29 (having turned pro at just 14 years old). A bet that Ones to Watch members profited from last month, backed at anything from 100/1 and 80/1 to 50/1 and 33/1…

Another quote from a coach/ ex-player has caught my eye. With Pam Shriver commenting on a player she’s been working closely with, Donna Vekic…

Shriver’s point about Donna Vekic being 28 years old, published in an official WTA Tour website 2025 season preview - really stands out for me…

“...I think Donna has a chance. It’s interesting to me, this age of 28. Krejcikova was 28 when she won Wimbledon and Paolini who got to that final was the same. There is a maturity, a certain bit of intelligence there. You’re in the middle of your prime. I think 28 is a pretty good age to be good.”

Madison Keys has just made the big Grand Slam breakthrough, age 29…

As mentioned in that WTA piece, the likes of Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini were both 28 last season. With Krejcikova winning Wimbledon 2024 as a huge 225/1 outsider…

And Paolini a 66/1 Wimbledon runner-up - and before that, our 150/1 early-bird one-to-watch for last year’s French Open. Where the Italian finished runner-up for a big Each Way payout at half the odds.

All of which has got me thinking about other recent-ish instances of female players breaking through on the biggest stage, at or around the age-28 mark…

For example:

• Angelique Kerber was 28 in 2016… a year that the German late-bloomer went on to dominate. Reaching Grand Slam finals for the first time: winning two (Australian Open and US Open), and also finishing runner-up at Wimbledon. She finished the year as world no.1

• And in 2022, Danielle Collins was also 28 when she reached a maiden Major final. Finishing runner-up at the Australian Open having gone off as a 100/1 outsider

Let’s take a look at the potential ‘mature breakthrough’ candidates for this year…

Two current Top 20 women stand out as Ones to Watch names for 2025 (and beyond)...

• The aforementioned DONNA VEKIC (turns 29 on 28th June; currently ranked no.19). Vekic had her best-ever Grand Slam run last summer, reaching the Wimbledon semi finals - having started the SW19 fortnight priced at 200/1. The Croatian also had a surprise run to the Olympic Tennis Singles final on clay - having gone off in Paris at odds of 150/1…

• BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA (will turn 29 years of age on 30th May 2025; current ranking: no.16). The Brazilian didn’t win her first WTA Tour title until 2022. A feisty left-hander, known for showing her battling qualities and coming through long matches. Haddad Maia reached the French Open semi finals in 2023 - from a day-one tournament price of 100/1. The late-blossoming Beatriz also made it to the US Open quarter finals in 2024 - having started that New York fortnight priced at 200/1 in the Outright Winner market…

Keep an eye on those two this season. And I’ll report back with more player stats and pointers, very soon…

—--------------------------------------

P.S

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Enjoy the tennis…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Ones to Watch