Australia’s former world No.1 called time on her stellar career in March 2022, opening the door for Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to battle for the top ranking.

It took her a while to figure it out. Anisimova would win their first four matches, before Sabalenka finally got on the board in 2022. Since then, the WTA’s No. 1 has fought their rivalry to a draw, ...

• Like many trends, it owes to a combination of factors. Some of it is simple probability. Tennis no longer has the outliers of Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (and Andy Murray).

Raducanu has enjoyed some positive results since linking up with the former British number one on an informal basis in March.