All four women in this year’s BNP Paribas Open women’s doubles final have already held the WTA’s No.1 ranking. Three of the four have won majors – and the title here in the California desert.
It is a star-studded quartet that will take the court on Saturday with the glittering Baccarat crystal trophy waiting in the wings. And revenge will be a factor…
Facing the duo that knocked them out of the Australian Open in January, the newly-formed tandem of Storm Hunter and Katerina Siniakova will hope to turn the tables on the vaunted tandem of Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens.
“We played against them in Australia and it was a really good match,” Siniakova said after she and Hunter topped Ena Shibahara and Asia Muhammad, 6-4, 6-4, on Thursday. “We were aggressive and it was just a few points and it could have gone the other way. We will focus on our game, trying to be aggressive, and some crossing at the net, the usual stuff.”
Hsieh and Mertens are a formidable pair with a shining resume at the BNP Paribas Open. The two-time Grand Slam champions (2021 Wimbledon and 2024 Australian Open) won the BNP Paribas Open title together in 2021. That triumph marked Hsieh’s third title in Tennis Paradise, and Mertens’ second.
On Thursday Hsieh and Mertens got past Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez, 6-2, 7-6(5) to reach the final. Mertens is a consistent force, both in singles and doubles, while Hsieh is the wild card who is known for her out-of-the-box shotmaking magic.
At 38 years and 24 days old, ageless wonder Hsieh became the second-oldest woman to win a Grand Slam women's doubles title.
“Definitely unique, I think that’s the best word to describe her,” Siniakova said of seven-time Grand Slam champion Hsieh. “She’s totally a great player. She makes it tough, but I hope we do the same.”
“She makes shots that no one else can make,” Hunter adds. “That’s what makes it tough.”
Hunter has never won a BNP Paribas Open title, but Siniakova is the defending champion, having won the title last year with her longtime partner Barbora Krejcikova.
Siniakova and Hunter have already made their mark on the 2024 season. They claimed the 1000-level title last month in Dubai, and reached semifinals at the Australian Open and the San Diego Open.
“It’s definitely fun playing with her,” Siniakova said of Hunter. “It’s so positive, and I think it’s really good that we stick together as a team. Definitely that’s why it’s working, even when it’s not going well and it’s not feeling so good on court, we help each other.”
Hunter and Siniakova both found themselves without partners in the off-season, and it didn’t take long for them to make the decision to work together. Now they are settling into a good rhythm as their rapport grows.
“It’s really nice that Storm can help me bringing the positive energy, and that’s why I chose her,” Siniakova said.
