Australia's New Doubles Queen Storm Hunter Still Can't Quite Believe It | The Sporting Base
[google-translator]

Australia’s new doubles queen Storm Hunter still can’t quite believe it

November 8, 2023

Australia’s new doubles queen Storm Hunter still can’t quite believe it

Storm Hunter has finished the 2023 season as the world’s top-ranked doubles player after winning 42 of her 56 matches across the calendar year, and while she’s certainly enjoying the success, it’s not something she ever really expected.

“To be honest, it still hasn’t really sunken in. It’s crazy,” she admitted on Tuesday.

The Rockhampton-born, Melbourne-based star confirmed her place amid the tennis world’s elite after she and ace partner Elise Mertens made it to the semifinals at the WTA Finals in Cancun. The pair fell to German combo Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund 6-3, 3-6, 5-10, but making the final four was more than enough.

Hunter’s achievement makes her just the third Aussie woman to ever hold the doubles top seed after Samantha Stosur in 2006 and Raennae Stubbs in 2000.

“I honestly didn’t think this would ever happen to me in my life,” Hunter admitted. “It was kind of a dream that just always was there [for me], but kind of seemed impossible.”

Before climbing to the first rank in doubles this year, Hunter had already more than proven her talents in the two-player arena when she and fellow Australian John Peers won the 2022 US Open mixed doubles. She also finished in the top four in the women’s doubles in the States that year and made the Wimbledon finals earlier this season.

For now, though, the celebrations will have to wait; Hunter rushed from Cancun to link up with the Australian team in Spain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. There, she teamed up with Kimberly Birrell—Australia’s top-ranked singles player—to win 7-5, 6-7(2) [10-5].

Ajla Tomljanovic and Daria Saville lost their singles rubbers, however, leaving Australia facing elimination if they can’t beat a Kazakhstan line-up spearheaded by Elena Rybakina.

“I’ll be able to celebrate once we finish here. For now, it’s just doing my part,” Hunter said.


Tell Us What You Think Below

September 18, 2025

RACING: Rosehill Best Selection & Value Play 20/9

A huge day of spring racing awaits at Randwick on Saturday headlined by the G2 Shorts, 7 Stakes and G2 Tea Rose Our analyst has selected a Baker filly that's been crying out for 1400m with 2 solid Read More

September 18, 2025

Mariners enter the postseason red hot

The Seattle Mariners are not in the Major League Baseball postseason yet, but they are close They have taken over top spot in the American League West by half a game over the Houston Astros and lead Read More

September 18, 2025

Opinion: The two best rising stars in the American League are on the Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are not making the postseason At 71 wins and 80 losses, they have a winning percentage of 470, which is 44 more percentage points than their 426 winning percentage in 2024 when Read More