{"id":31338,"date":"2021-02-04T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T13:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=31338"},"modified":"2021-02-02T12:06:21","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T17:06:21","slug":"venus-williams-sanchez-vicario-women-never-win-australian-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2021\/02\/04\/venus-williams-sanchez-vicario-women-never-win-australian-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Venus Williams and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario The Best Women to Never Win the Australian Open"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Winning a Grand Slam title is the ultimate goal for all professional tennis players. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/category\/australian-open\/\" target=\"_self\">Australian Open<\/a> has, though, eluded even some of the game&#8217;s all-time greats. The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is missing from the trophy haul of some of women&#8217;s tennis&#8217; finest players.<\/p>\n<p>With the 2021 Australian Open set to begin, here is a look at the two best players to never win the women&#8217;s singles event in the Open Era:<\/p>\n<h2>Venus Williams<\/h2>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1083020310\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 66.66667% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/1083020310?et=wVKqYFPdSgZvI_rSrOkznQ&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=nmgwXbVgAbP4RpFobzGETrX0GkjmnlSjuGXSjRFXBZQ=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Seven-time major champion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtatennis.com\/players\/230220\/venus-williams\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Venus Williams<\/a> has been unable to add the Australian Open to her illustrious body of work. In 20 appearances at the event to date &#8211; she has lost in the final twice, the semifinals once, and the quarterfinals six times. The American first featured at the 1998 edition &#8211; as an unseeded 18-year-old. Williams was defeated by second seed Lindsay Davenport in three sets in the last eight. A year later, Davenport beat Williams at the same stage in straight sets.<\/p>\n<p>In 2001, Williams saw off future champion Amelie Mauresmo in three sets in the fourth round, before edging past Amanda Coetzer 8-6 in the third set in the quarterfinals. The third seed was then dismantled 6-1, 6-1 by top seed Martina Hingis in the semifinals. The following year, second-seeded Williams lost to eighth seed Monica Seles in a three-set quarterfinal.<\/p>\n<p>Seeded second again in 2003, the American made it to her first Australian Open final &#8211; without dropping a set. Williams defeated seventh seed Daniela Hantuchova in the last eight, and fifth seed Justine Henin in the last four. She fell to the top seed &#8211; her sister Serena Williams &#8211; in a tight three-set championship match.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"S. Williams v V. Williams: 2003 Australian Open Women&#039;s Final Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/k_spd0eabwA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Williams reached the quarterfinals in 2008 and 2010 &#8211; where she lost to Ana Ivanovic and Li Na respectively. The American, seeded 18th, then made the last eight again in 2015 &#8211; where she was beaten by Madison Keys in three sets.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, Williams &#8211; aged 37 and seeded 13th &#8211; memorably made it to her second Australian Open final. After reaching the semifinals without losing a set, she came from a set down to beat CoCo Vandeweghe and set up a rematch of the 2003 title match. History repeated itself as the American was defeated again by second seed Serena Williams &#8211; this time 6-4, 6-4.<\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;4647&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario<\/h2>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/605344799\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 79.46127% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/605344799?et=JUCiwhKkSch39gjsURACXw&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=h_xmYOk_Kn6hsOWSmRU9hL65evVgw52k6uJ9EVLC-5I=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"472\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a style=\"font-size: 16px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wtatennis.com\/players\/190008\/arantxa-sanchez-vicario\/bio\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> won four major titles but was unable to secure the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific during her distinguished career. In 11 Australian Open appearances &#8211; the Spaniard lost in the final twice, the semifinals three times, and the quarterfinals three times. Despite turning professional in 1986, Sanchez-Vicario first entered the event in 1991. Seeded sixth, she defeated fourth seed Gabriela Sabatini 6-1, 6-3 to reach the last four. There, the Spaniard was beaten by 10th seed Jana Novotna in straight sets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In 1992, Sanchez-Vicario progressed to the semifinals for the loss of one set &#8211; and after receiving a walkover from ninth seed and quarterfinal opponent Manuela Maleeva. The fourth seed fell 2-6, 2-6 to top seed and eventual champion Seles. She then reached the last four again the following year &#8211; without dropping a set. Sanchez-Vicario, seeded fourth again, lost 5-7, 4-6 to second seed Steffi Graf.<\/p>\n<p>The Spaniard went a step further by reaching the final in 1994 &#8211; only losing a set to Magdalena Maleeva in the fourth round en route. The second seed then beat Maleeva&#8217;s older sister Manuela Maleeva in the quarterfinals, and Sabatini in the semifinals. In the championship match, Sanchez-Vicario was hammered 6-0, 6-2 by the top seed Graf.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rubin v Sanchez Vicario: 1996 Australian Open Women&#039;s Quater Final Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D5txdeKZj7Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>She then made the final again in 1995 &#8211; dropping no sets and just 23 games on the way. After seeing off Naoko Sawamatsu in the quarterfinals, and Marianne Werdel-Witmeyer in the semifinals, the top seed fell 3-6, 2-6 to fourth seed Mary Pierce. Sanchez-Vicario reached the quarterfinals the following year &#8211; where she was defeated 16-14 by Chanda Rubin in an epic third set. The Spaniard made the quarterfinals again in 1998 and 2000 &#8211; losing to Anke Huber and Hingis respectively.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<\/p>\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color: #fff; display: inline-block; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 11px; width: 100%; max-width: 594px;\">\n<div style=\"padding: 0; margin: 0; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1200653347\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"overflow: hidden; position: relative; height: 0; padding: 66.66667% 0 0 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; margin: 0;\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/1200653347?et=0kVgz-LcSeFjbfauWQKodg&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=YK3H6Bo3HiUKKy-Dymcay41lng48oY1RWYn4tV8zEqw=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winning a Grand Slam title is the ultimate goal for all professional tennis players. The Australian Open has, though, eluded even some of the game&#8217;s all-time greats. The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is missing from the trophy haul of some of women&#8217;s tennis&#8217; finest players. With the 2021 Australian Open set to begin, here is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3530,"featured_media":31579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,1735,2,11519,4],"tags":[11471,205,13594,11164,1620,281,25,163,799,70,13604,15,6563],"class_list":["post-31338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-open","category-all-time-best","category-featured","category-tennis","category-wta","tag-arantxa-sanchez-vicario","tag-australian-open","tag-australian-open-history","tag-justine-henin","tag-martina-hingis","tag-monica-seles","tag-serena-williams","tag-steffi-graf","tag-tennis-history","tag-venus-williams","tag-venus-williams-vs-serena-williams","tag-wta","tag-wta-tennis"],"modified_by":"Yesh Ginsburg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3530"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}