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The pressure and excitement of a major tournament are unmatched in the professional golf world, and Australian golfer Hannah Green faces a tough battle in the US Open this coming weekend.

Green is full of confidence after a great year in which he won two titles and moved up to the No. 5 spot in the world.

But the focus is undoubtedly on world No. 1 Nelly Korda, whose incredible form has set a high bar for her rivals.

With six wins in her past seven events, Korda’s domination in 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable. She is now the player to beat at Lancaster Country Club after her incredible run has given her an almost unbeatable reputation.

Green acknowledges the threat posed by Korda, especially after their recent encounter at the final round of an LPGA event where Green lost by a single shot following an errant drive on the 18th hole.

If not for Nelly, the talk of women’s golf would be Hannah Green.

Two wins and a runner-up (to Nelly) already this year. Second in the Race to CME standings.

Watch out for the Aussie this week in Lancaster👀 pic.twitter.com/Ju6itQGvqO
— Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) May 29, 2024

When Green considers Korda’s performance, she observes that she succeeds in winning even when she is not performing at her peak.

Her ability to excel in less-than-ideal circumstances highlights her talent and poses a “scary” challenge to anyone hoping to take first place.

Green remembers playing with Korda at Palos Verdes and noting that even when she wasn’t playing perfectly, Korda’s game appeared nearly effortless.

Green said, “Yeah, she’s making the game look very easy.” “I didn’t make the (cut) weekend that week, but I didn’t really realize she was in competition all that much.

I played with her at Palos Verdes. Although she didn’t even play that well, I believe she worked very hard throughout the weekend.

She didn’t make it look like she was a robot. She was hitting some shots that we all hit every once in a while, but she was just making up-and-downs and not making too big a numbers.”

Green’s remarks draw attention to Korda’s dual threat: her ability to dominate at her best and her consistency.

Given Korda’s present trend, Green and her colleagues have an enormous burden of matching and surpassing Korda’s accomplishments.

Even though taking on Korda seems intimidating, Green is determined and unfazed. She credits her recent marriage and the balance she has achieved in her personal life for her improved perspective as she approaches the US Open with composure and confidence.

As she gets ready for one of the biggest events of the year, this sense of steadiness and focus is essential.

“I believe that going into this major has given me the most confidence of all. It’s wonderful that I don’t feel like I have to work on a lot when I enter a major,” she remarked.

“It’s kind of hard for me especially with my inconsistencies when it comes to winning a golf tournament, but I’m feeling really good, and I’m actually really excited this week.”

In addition to being personal, Green’s upbeat attitude shows that she is willing to take on the challenge. She describes herself as “really settled” and “relaxed,” two qualities that are crucial for a successful performance under the great pressure of a big championship.

This mindset could be the key to her success as she competes for the record prize money of $18 million, with $3.6 million awarded to the winner.

Australian golfers Minjee Lee, Gabi Ruffels, Steph Kyriacou, Sarah Kemp, and major debutante Keely Marx will be among the many players competing at the US Open.

The breadth of talent in Australian women’s golf and their shared desire to succeed internationally are highlighted by this representation.

The match between Green and Korda, among the other competitors, will undoubtedly be the center of attention as it progresses.

Although there will be obstacles in Green’s way of defeating Korda and winning her maiden US Open championship, her self-assurance and recent performance indicate she is ready.

Both the more general pursuit of golfing fame and these specific struggles will influence the storyline of this year’s US Open.

In conclusion, Hannah Green is ready to face the powerful Nelly Korda in the 2024 US Open, which could be an exciting show.

A thrilling contest is anticipated because of Green’s self-assurance, accomplishments in the recent past, and steadiness in her personal life.

For golf fans throughout the world, this is a tournament that they just must not miss because of the huge stakes and potential rewards.

This post was edited by Anmol, author @09sports.com

Source – NCA Newswire

The ninth-ranked player in the world right now, Ons Jabeur, has urged the French Open organizers to do more to highlight women’s tennis during the tournament’s prime time periods. Jabeur believes that despite attempts, there is still a big difference between the men’s and women’s schedules for the highly sought-after night sessions.

Disparity in Night Time Scheduling

Jabeur’s remarks draw attention to a bigger problem at the French Open and perhaps in tennis generally: the underrepresentation of women’s matches during prime time. Women’s singles matches were played in just two of the twenty night sessions in the 2022 and 2023 championships. In 2024, the first four days of the night sessions will feature just men’s singles matches, maintaining the skewed distribution. These spots have been occupied by well-known athletes including Andy Murray, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, highlighting the tournament’s bias for male competitors during these intensely watched periods.

The Importance of Prime Time Exposure

Sporting events must be scheduled at prime time to maximize visibility and promotion. Evening matches typically draw bigger crowds for both live and broadcast viewing. enhanced interest in the sport, more money made by advertising, and bigger chances for the participating athletes can all result from this enhanced exposure. The French Open unintentionally reinforces the false belief that men’s tennis is more significant or interesting than women’s tennis by mostly scheduling men’s matches during certain times.

Notable Women’s Matches Overlooked

Some of the most interesting matches in women’s tennis, according to Jabeur, aren’t getting enough attention. For instance, Sinner’s match versus French veteran Richard Gasquet was slated for prime time, while the much awaited match between world number one Iga Swiatek and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was set for the afternoon. Jabeur and other supporters of women’s matches believing they might attract a sizable audience if given the same opportunity as men’s matches were disappointed by this decision.

Support from Fellow Players

Jabeur’s criticism is not unique. The three-time major champion Andy Murray showed his support on social media by drawing attention to the squandered chance to screen the Swiatek-Osaka match during a night session. Murray’s support demonstrates how male players as well as female athletes understand the importance of gender equity in sports scheduling.

The Role of Amelie Mauresmo

Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo, a former world number one, has been acknowledged by Jabeur for her efforts to balance the scheduling. Mauresmo’s position as a former top player gives her unique insight into the importance of fair representation. However, as Jabeur noted, significant changes take time. The hope is that Mauresmo’s influence will gradually lead to a more balanced approach in the allocation of prime time slots.

The Broader Implications

Jabeur’s advocacy goes beyond just tennis; it is part of a larger movement to promote women’s sports more generally. Increased visibility in prime time can have a ripple effect, encouraging more young girls to take up sports, increasing the popularity of women’s competitions, and ensuring that female athletes receive the recognition and financial rewards they deserve.

Final Thought

Jabeur is dedicated to advocating for change and is still upbeat about the future. Her call to action serves as a helpful reminder that despite recent advancements, much work remains. We anticipate seeing a more equal representation of women’s matches in prime time slots at the French Open and other big athletic events with sustained player lobbying and support from tournament organizers.

The discussion that Ons Jabeur started on the differences in schedule at the French Open highlights a larger problem with gender parity in sports. Even if this disparity is being addressed, it appears that there is still more work to be done, based on the French Open’s current scheduling. Athletes such as Jabeur, by persisting in their advocacy for increased prime time opportunities for women’s matches, are pivotal in propelling the necessary change to attain full equality in sports.

This Article was edited by Anmol, author @09sports.com

Source – France24