MELBOURNE: It may not have been an 'advantage tennis history' moment but given that the women's game stands on the rock-solid shoulders of Billie Jean King's Original Nine, it is game, set and match. No question needs to be asked.
With seven of the Original Nine — Valerie Ziegenfuss (73), Peaches Bartkowicz (73), Kristy Pigeon (72), Rosie Casals (74), Kerry Melville Reid (75) Judy Dalton (85) and Billie Jean King (79) — present at a panel discussion in the sprawling precincts of Melbourne Park, to celebrate their initiative some 53 summers ago, they were asked if the modern crop of players, who are reaping the rewards, were aware of the history out of which the WTA was born.
The answer was not a salty nay, it was a spirited negative that echoed across the sport's landscape. The ball was taken on the rise.
"I don't think they are aware," the Melbourne-born Dalton said. "They haven't a clue!" Julie Heldman (77) and Nancy Richey (80), who were not physically present, perhaps seconded it. "It's horrible to say that, isn't it?" Casals asked. "For instance," Dalton pursued, "(If) Jessica Pegula walked past the girls, she wouldn't have a clue. She might know who Billie Jean was, but she wouldn't know any of us from Adam. Sorry, Eve!"
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who sealed the last of the Australian Open women's singles semifinal berths on Wednesday, was kept waiting as the grand ladies of the game held court in the interview room. Just before the 24-year-old world No. 5 took questions from the media, she exchanged greetings with the pathbreakers.
Sabalenka, who has made the semifinals here for the first time, edged out Donna Veckic 6-3, 6-2. The heavy-striking 5'11'' pro goes up against the tournament's surprise element, 30-year-old Magda Linette, who is in her first major semifinals. Linette, the world No. 45, put out the former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 7-5.
QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
Men: 4-Novak Djokovic (Srb) bt 5-Andrey Rublev (Rus) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4; Tommy Paul (US) bt Ben Shelton (US) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
Women: Magda Linette (Pol) bt 30-Karolina Pliskova (Cze) 6-3, 7-5; 5-Aryna Sabalenka (Blr) bt Donna Vekic (Cro) 6-3, 6-2
