In pictures: Our top 10 women’s matches of 2020

From Serena-Azarenka to Kvitova-Rogers, we at Tennis Majors put together a photo compilation of the 10 best women's matches of the 2020 season.

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1/10

10 Australian Open - 3rd round: Gauff beats Osaka 6-3, 6-4

- Why the match is memorable: In tears after her loss to Naomi Osaka a few months earlier at the 2019 US Open, Cori Gauff gets her revenge on the Japanese. Almost quietly, in 1:07. The American, 15 at the time, tallies her first victory against a Top 5 player.
- Key moment: Gauff breaking at the start of the second set to keep Osaka, who was the defending champion, under pressure.
- The quote: "All these people who applaud me ... For me, it's new, I'm not used to it. But I'm sure that even the players who have won lots of Grand Slam titles each time feel incredible when they come off the court waving to the crowd.”- Cori Gauff
2/10

9 US Open - 4th round: Rogers beats Kvitova 7-6 3-6 7-6

- Why the match is memorable: After a battle of nearly three hours, Shelby Rogers, 27, saves four match points to beat Petra Kvitova and reach her first US Open quarter-final and second Slam quarter-final.
- Key moment: On her fourth match point at 6-5 in the third, Kvitova hits a double fault.
- The quote: "I was lucky that she hit this double fault (on the fourth match point). When I was broken in the third set, I didn't give up. I continued to fight.” - Shelby Rogers
3/10

8 Brisbane - Semi-final: Ka. Pliskova beats Osaka 6-7 7-6 6-2

- Why the match is memorable: The defending champion, Karolina Pliskova saved a match point to beat Naomi Osaka and reach another final in Brisbane.
- Key moment: Pliskova broke Osaka when the latter was serving for the match and held the match point at 6-5 in the second.
- The quote: I'm especially proud that I stayed in there because it could have gone a really bad way after the first set, which was huge and so close and so nervous." - Karolina Pliskova
4/10

7 US Open - Semi-final: Osaka beats Brady 7-6 3-6 6-3

- Why the match is memorable: Put in difficulty by a confident Jennifer Brady - who won in Lexington three weeks earlier - Naomi Osaka made the final of the US Open. This while taking a stand during the tournament in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. Under the intense spotlight, she came through.
- Key moment: At 2-1 in the final set, Osaka earned her first break of the match and held firm to make a third Grand Slam final.
- The quote: "I just wished to leave and to be here, not in quarantine. I am here as positive as possible, without really thinking of losing or winning. I’m concentrating all my efforts to give my maximum.” - Naomi Osaka
5/10

6 US Open - 4th Round: Serena Williams beats Sakkari 6-3, 6-7, 6-3

- Why the match is memorable: Beaten by Maria Sakkari the week leading into the US Open, Serena Williams overcame a second-set blip to beat Maria Sakkari in two hours, 28 minutes.
- Key moment: Hitting a passing shot winner to get the break back after Sakkari led 2-0 in the third. Williams raises her level and takes six of the final seven games.
- The quote: "I feel capable of playing for a long time. I was a little tired the last time I faced her. She is such a competitor! It was really a very, very intense match." - Serena Williams
6/10

5 Dubai - Final: Halep beats Rybakina 3-6 6-3 7-6

- Why the match is memorable: Simona Halep faced a rising star in Elena Rybakina in the final after surviving a pair of three-set battles. Rybakina, then 20, was contesting her fourth final in the last five tournaments.
- Key moment: Trailing by a mini-break at 4-3 in the tiebreak, service Elena Rybakina, Halep lifts her game to win four of the final five points.
- The quote: "She (Rybakina) is young, does not feel fear and does not think too much about the result. She's powerful, with a huge serve, she's tall ... I think she's strong enough to make the top 10 soon." - Simona Halep
7/10

4 US Open - Final: Osaka beats Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

- Why the match is memorable: Returning to the limelight after being affected by injuries and an off-court custody battle, Victoria Azarenka played her first Grand Slam final since 2013. Naomi Osaka meanwhile played in her third and has won all three after rallying against Azarenka.
- Key moment: It was all one-way traffic early as Azarenka took a 6-1, 2-0 lead in quick time. But Osaka responded in time and mostly cruised from that point onwards.
- The quote: "I thought it would be quite embarrassing to lose in less than an hour, so I had to really fight and stop having this bad behavior. I just told myself to be positive, not to lose 6-1, 6-0, and to compete at best. I ended up winning." - Naomi Osaka
8/10

3 Australian Open - Final - Kenin beats Muguruza 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

- Why the match is memorable: Not one of the big favourites entering Melbourne, Sofia Kenin nonetheless made the final against a resurgent Garbine Muguruza. Despite Muguruza holding two majors, it was Kenin who triumphed.
- Key moment: A 2-2, 0-40 on her serve in the third, Kenin played five amazing points to save the game and turn the match around. Muguruza couldn't recover.
- The quote: "The fifth game of the third set, in which I was down 0-40, I remember it very well. It was the game that changed everything. I had to play my best tennis and I did. After that, I was on fire, ready to go get this magnificent trophy." - Sofia Kenin
9/10

2 Australian Open - Semi-final: Muguruza beats Halep 7-6, 7-5

- Why the match is memorable: Unseeded at this year's Australian Open, Garbine Muguruza turned it all around in Melbourne after a two-hour, 6 minute battle against Simona Halep. Muguruza made a first Slam final since 2017.
- Key moment: Down 6-5, 15-40 on her serve in the first set, Muguruza responded with an ace and then played a good point at the net to escape. She then took the gripping tiebreak 10-8.
- The quote: "I didn't say to myself that it was over (on the two set points at 5-6). I was like, 'Don't give up, you won't end up having an opportunity.' Against Simona, it's always extremely hard. I have to fight with all the energy I have to give." - Garbiñe Muguruza
10/10

10. Australian Open - 3rd round: Q. Wang beats S. Williams 6-4 6-7 7-5

- Why the match is memorable: The former world No 1 - shocked. Two former great rivals, now friends, who have learned to appreciate each other. Especially because of previous hardships they went through. Back in the limelight, Victoria Azarenka digs in and earns her first ever Grand Slam win over Williams, ending the American's latest quest for a 24th major title. The Belarusian triumphs to make her fifth final in a major and a first since 2013.
- Key moment: Under pressure, facing a break point starting the third set, Serena Williams twists her ankle. Visibly diminished, she cannot recover in the face of her opponent's high level of play.
- The quote: "Instead of getting the ego damaged, I tried to remove that and learn from my mistakes of that ego, and realising that being a tennis player doesn’t make you better or worse than anybody else, that you’re still human, and all you can do is try to be the best version of yourself and keep improving.” - Victoria Azarenka

18 Dec 2020
By Mathieu Canac

In pictures: Our top 10 women’s matches of 2020