After Aus at the Australian Open | January 21, 2024
Viktorija Golubic can look back on a good start to the season in Australia despite a clear elimination in the third round against a strong Jelina Switolina. But the hunger is far from satisfied.
The Australian Open ended in the third round for Viktorija Golubic. Photos: Keystone
Even at the more senior tennis age of 31, you still have dreams. “The goal is to make a big impact at the big tournaments this year,” says Viktorija Golubic, who is usually reserved and highly motivated. “Just walk through it for two weeks and you’re done.” These are high ambitions, because the Grand Slam tournaments have not yet been Golubic’s flagship discipline.
The Zurich native has never won a game in the main draw at the US Open, neither in Melbourne until this year and in Paris eight years ago in nine attempts so far. Only in Wimbledon is the record with the quarter-finals in 2021 and the third round in 2019 somewhat encouraging. In this respect, the start in Australia was a clear step forward.
Opportunities not taken advantage of
Immediately after the clear 3:6, 2:6 against number 19 seed Jelina Switolina in the Margaret Court Arena, Golubic’s anger prevailed. “I’m obviously a bit annoyed because I feel like I could have shown a better match,” she admits. She is convinced that she actually has the means to put pressure on a strong and solid opponent like Svitolina. “But today I just couldn’t find it and couldn’t take advantage of my chances.”
Nevertheless, the Swiss woman draws a positive conclusion.
Nevertheless, she also drew a positive conclusion from the start of the year. In Hobart she survived the strong qualification and in Melbourne she achieved her first victory ever and followed it up with a second one – both times against higher ranked opponents. “I can take a lot of good things with me from Australia,” said the 2022 team world champion.
Lean Swiss balance sheet
Golubic also saved a meager Swiss balance sheet, which is not surprising. Without the pregnant Belinda Bencic and the injured Dominic Stricker, there were just three Swiss Tennis professionals in the main field, Stan Wawrinka and Lulu Sun were eliminated in the starting round.
Golubic’s final stop was against the Ukrainian Jelina Switolina.
This means that the second week of the Australian Open will take place without Swiss participation for the third time in the last four years. This never happened before this century – thanks to Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder. Last year Bencic at least reached the round of 16, where she failed due to the overwhelming eventual winner Aryna Sabalenka. The fact that there is no Swiss at the start in the juniors fits in with the gloomy picture.
Olympics in sight
Viktorija Golubic doesn’t have to worry about this. In addition to a check for around 145,000 francs, she took home enough WTA points to move up from 85th place by almost fifteen places. Since she hardly has anything to defend in the coming half-year, she is already practically firmly in the main draw at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. “That gives some security,” says the Zurich native happily.
In addition, she is currently in 40th place in the Olympic rankings. To be sure of being in Paris, she needs at least position 56. The double silver medalist from Tokyo will continue in a week at the WTA tournament in Hua Hin, Thailand.
2024-01-21 15:11:03
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