Australian Open: 35-year-old quarter-finalist Su-Wei Hsieh makes tennis history!
The 35-year-oldSu-Wei Hsieh is in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open for the first time in her career - and is writing tennis history.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 15, 2021, 07:58 am
Su-Wei Hsieh is next to Aslan Karatsev the biggest surprise at the Australian Open! As world number 71. Having started in the first Grand Slam event of the year , the Taiwanese took former US Open winner Bianca Andreescu out of the tournament in the second round . As if that wasn't enough, the doubles specialist got her quarter-final ticket with a clear two-set success over Marketa Vondrousova on Sunday.
Thus, the 35-year-old set a new record: Su-Wei Hsieh is now the oldest tennis professional in the Open Era - both men and women - who celebrates his Grand Slam quarter-final premiere at this old age. To illustrate: The Taiwanese celebrated her debut on the WTA tour in 2001 - exactly 20 years ago.
Carefree as the key to success
Especially with her varied and unusual style of play, Hsieh has so far made her opponents in Melbourne desperate. "I don't really care if I win or lose. I just want to do my best and play tennis," she said of Vondrousova after the success.
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In the round of the last eight, the 35-year-old now faces Naomi Osaka. "She's a very good player. Anyone who plays against her will have problems. I'm not worried. She'll probably smash me on the pitch," said Hsieh in the role of outsider.
Osaka with a lot of respect for Hsieh
The starting position before the quarter-finals on Tuesday does not seem to be that clear. Although Osaka leads 3-1 in a direct duel at the highest tournament level, at the Australian Open 2019, which the Japanese then won, Hsieh took a set from her opponent, who was twelve years younger. The world number one in doubles celebrated their only victory over Osaka on hard court (Miami 2019).
But that's not the only reason why Osaka goes into the duel with the record woman from Taiwan with great respect. "If there was a computer game, I would choose them. Just to play like them." Because Su-Wei Hsieh - and this has been known since this year's Australian Open at the latest - is made of very special cloth. And possibly good for a surprise against Osaka.
Here the single tableau of women
laver arena