With the Australian Open just over a week away, the world No.1 faces a race against time. And no, for once we are not talking about Rafael Nadal's dodgy knees.

Instead, it is the top woman, Simona Halep, who has eight days left to snare a clothing sponsor. After her deal with Adidas expired at the end of 2017, Halep could face going into the year's first grand slam with unbranded kit - a fate usually reserved for qualifiers and no-marks.

Smell the roses: Simona Halep relishes in her ranking, but will have to settle for status alone. Credit:AP

In light of this commercial mishap, we might be tempted to berate the Women's Tennis Association for its haphazard leadership while also bemoaning the lack of marquee names and compelling rivalries in the game.

You hear these arguments all the time, especially from male reactionaries who claim that equal prize money is a swindle. As the blowhards love to point out, the men's tour leads on every metric, from viewing figures to sponsorship revenues.