Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus
I'm not sure that's really the way it goes anymore. Just look at Osaka, Raducanu and Andreescu who were winning majors at or before age 20 and all in fairly recent memory. Sport in general is shifting to a younger year of dominance and woman's tennis is no exception.
It isn't to say the players can't be largely effective into their late 20's, but there's no certainty that any of the above will reach these grand slam heights again or even be able to sustain the level of play they showed to get there for any length of time.
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Bianca - band aid curse
Raducanu - one slam wonder, hot streak, perfect draw
Osaka - issues outside of tennis
there's always exceptions, but I don't see Leylah fitting any of the above profiles. if she has a "normal" career, then 24-25 will be the sweet spot between peak athleticism and tactical experience. she may certainly have some big results in the next couple of years, but I am definitely not expecting her career best tennis to be produced at ages 19-21.
in fact this generation of athletes is going to benefit from sports science more than any before it, so the freak primes going into 30's and beyond will become more common, not less. one thing Serena is right about is that women can't have that and a family at the same time the way men can, which probably caps a lot of WTA players at their early 30's even if they're still capable.