Olivia Gadecki has become Australia’s No. 1 women’s singles champion in singles after reaching the WTA finals, the first of many highlights for the Queenslander in a memorable season.
Melbourne, VIC, Australia, December 4, 2024 | Matt Trollope
Year under review
One of the brightest emerging stars in Australian women’s tennis, Gadecki had an incredible breakout season in 2024.
Her year truly began when she hit the grass courts, starting with a run to the semi-finals of the ITF 100 tournament in Surbiton. She then qualified for Wimbledon and won 23 of 32 matches from June to September.
Her biggest achievement was reaching her first WTA singles final in Guadalajara in September. As a result, she was ranked in the world’s top 100 and Australia’s highest ranking in women’s singles.
Related: Seven Aussies nominated for Newcombe Medal
She achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 83 in October, up from No. 172 just two months earlier. These improvements allowed her to change her schedule and compete in the WTA Asia Swing for the first time.
Take a seat with Australia’s new No.1 WTA singles player 👋
Olivia Gadecki is Australia’s latest success story of 2024 🎧 https://t.co/Q6r3CarVU1 pic.twitter.com/rNhxzk0Owd
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) September 23, 2024
Gadecki won nearly 40 singles matches across all levels in 2024 and also excelled in doubles. In Austin, she won her first WTA title with Brit Olivia Nicholls, rising to world number 64.
She made her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing Australia in both singles and doubles.
Newcomb Medal History
This is the first time the 22-year-old has been nominated for the Newcomb Medal.
reaction
“It is truly an honor to be nominated amongst some of the best Australian tennis players of today – Alex, Alexei, Jordan, Matt, John and Max,” Gadecki said.
“It’s amazing to be nominated for this and I’m looking forward to celebrating everyone’s achievements at the Newcombe Medal.”
The Newcombe Medal, the Australian Tennis Awards, will be held at the Palladium Ballroom in Melbourne on Monday 9 December.
Follow Tennis Australia’s social channels as the evening unfolds using the hashtag #Newks24.
Learn more about the awards, including award categories and previous winners.
