The Women: A 2008 Preview (Top Ten)

It's hard to believe, but if you include the Hopman Cup, the 2008 professional tennis season has already begun. For the women, the calendar officially begins on Monday with events at the Gold Coast, Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand. An impressive eight out of the top 20 women will compete at the Gold Coast, including a rested Amelie Mauresmo. Top seed in Auckland is Vera Zvonareva; Lindsay Davenport is also competing there.

My predictions for '08:
Justine Henin
World rank: 1 '07 record: 63-4 Highlight: Breaking out of her shell.
Had a spectacular 2007 season, where she won two out of three grand slams she played and captured ten WTA titles overall. To me, however, the bigger story was Justine coming out of her shell and showing the world that the girl with game also has a bit of personality, too.

So what does all that mean for Justine in 2008? Well, no doubt will she be back with her normal drive and fire, but will it be as intense as last year? She had lots to prove following her no-show at the Australian and did quite a pretty good job at winning a few matches. I think Justine's number one goal this year should be to win Wimbledon, the one major that has alluded her thus far in her career.

Prediction: Henin will hold on to No. 1 ranking while winning Wimbledon and garnering the silver in Beijing. She'll make the semifinals at the Aussie, fall early at the French and lose in the quarters at the USO.

Svetlana Kuznetsova
World rank: 2 '07 record: 55-20 Highlight: Reaching a third GS final.
The newest player in my "I Can't Stand Watching This Player She's So Boring!" category. The category was originated by Kim Clijsters and Daniela Hantuchova, but after her lackluster grand slam final appearance in New York this fall, I just can't help but be constantly frustrated by Svetlana and her inability to control her emotions.

And that's what I think it all comes down to for Sveta: she's just doesn't have a complete grasp on herself as an individual to maintain a certain control over her tennis game. Yes, she can play some good tennis, but I'm still baffled that she is the No. 2 player in the world, and that she ever even won a grand slam.

Prediction: She'll win lots of short, boring matches and lose a few that look more like train wrecks than tennis matches. She'll slip to No. 6 in the rankings with an early loss at the USO, but will go far at the French and Beijing.

Jelena Jankovic
World rank: 3 '07 record: 72-25 Highlight: Learned (hopefully) how to schedule herself properly.
The Serb is hands down my favorite player on tour right now. Her game, her personality, her looks: she is the complete player, and she adds a spice to the WTA line-up that can sometimes lack depth (see Hantuchova, Daniela).

As far as schedule management goes, Janky will have to tone it down this year after playing 28 tournaments in 2007. (That's as many as Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova played, combined!) Jankovic's fitness, strong baseline game and battle-tested toughness will no doubt keep her in the top five, but the true tests will come only in a handful of occassions during the year. Last year Jankovic was rather unimpressive in tight situations, something she'll have to work hard on this year.

Predicition: As soon as she wins the big one (and I mean a tight, late-round grand slam match against a top player) she'll flourish. The sooner this happens, the more we'll see Jelena Jankovic on the second weekend of majors.

Ana Ivanovic
World rank: 4 '07 record: 51-18 Highlight: French Open semifinal dismantling of Sharapova.
Ivanovic is slow, and as soon as opponents realize that, the Serbian might be in trouble. But Ivanovic proved in '07 that depth and pace can keep her out of a foot race, something she'll want to do consistently this year.

Prediction: I think that Ivanovic can only continue to mature, both mentally and tennis wise. Like Jankovic, this girl has a stupendous personality in her and she no doubt brings that on to the court as motivation. Clay is her best surface, but she proved last year that she can play well on both hardcourts and grass, too. I think Ivanovic will go far in most majors in '08 and keep her top 10 billing, but this (still) isn't her year for a slam.

Maria Sharapova
World rank: 5 '07 record: 40-11 Highlight: Playing the match of the year at the SEC against Henin.
Played one of the best matches of her career in the Season Ending Championships against Justine Henin. The match was by far Sharapova's best performance in 2007, following a frighteningly bad grand slam season, where she made just one final and lost a flurry of one-sided matches against supposed rivals.

If Maria has matured the way that I believe she has, '07 will only serve as a motivation and ground for growth. Her serve was nothing short of bipolar, but the Russian seemed to have solved that riddle (see the SEC final for proof) and her hunger for a third major (she hasn't won one since the USO in '06).

Prediction: If she stays healthy, Maria will capture at least one major and perhaps be crowned Queen of Beijing, too.

Anna Chakvetadze
World rank: 6 '07 record: 59-20 Highlight: USO semifinal appearance.
Joins Kuznetsova, Hantuchova and Clijsters on the ICSWTPSSB list. Yes, the Russian's rise up the rankings from No. 756 in 2002 to No. 6 last year was catastrophic, and her baseline game can be lethal, but Chakvetadze lacks any sort of major weapons that give me reason to think she's a threat to win any major titles. The Russian may have peaked, as well, seeing she finished the year 4-6 after making the semis at the US Open.

Prediction: She'll keep playing, and playing, and playing (and playing). Chakvetadze is 2008's Jelena Jankovic.

Serena Williams
World rank: 7 '07 record: 35-10 Highlight: Her ferocious Aussie Open run.
The younger Williams gets injured a lot, which couldn't be more frustrating for Serena, her fans, the media or the WTA institution itself. But where there's a will, there's a way, and this Williams has plenty of will.

Prediction: She'll take the cake at the French (gasp!), but will have a hard time with her two biggest opponents: staying healthy and Justine Henin.

Venus Williams
World rank: 8 '07 record: 50-10 Highlight: An inspiring fourth Wimbledon title.
Is probably the hardest tennis player - male or female - to give a prediction on in today's game. The V had a solid 2007, winning Wimbledon while re-entering the top 10 and playing nearly flawless tennis in her first five matches at the US Open. But that's just the thing about Venus: she's streaky. Her forehand can go and boy, can it go! She reminds me of Kim Clijsters in that way; her forehand can be traumatic to her opponent, or it can be their best friend - it just depends.

Prediction: Well, it's hard to say. But each year the Williams sisters claim that tennis has their fullest attention. However, this season I'm going to say Venus will be in and out, up and down. Perhaps a US Open crown to end the year? That would be fun.

Daniela Hantuchova.
World rank: 9 '07 record: 52-28 Highlight: Winning somewhere other than Indian Wells (in Linz, in October).
I think I just fell asleep typing her name.

Prediction: She'll keep whining, and losing matches she should've won (do you even have to guess where this link leads you?) and keep playing semi-decent tennis. Blah, blah, blah.

Marion Bartoli
World rank: 10 '07 record: 47-31 Highlight: Stunning Justine (and the world) at the semis of Wimbledon.
Who know that the "Girl Who Could Eat" could also be the "Girl Who Could Play Tennis"? Bartoli, with her Seles-esque two handed strokes on both sides, showed the tennis world that 2007 wasn't just about the Serbs. Though Marion has a tough time moving around the court, her mobility can surprise, as can the pace and punch of her shots. Like Ivanovic, Bartoli has to hone all the strengths of her game - her serve, groundstrokes, depth - and make sure that her weaknesses are kept at bay.

Prediction: There will be no Wimby repeat for Bartoli, but she'll stay inside the top 15 and wreak havoc now and then with those big strokes of hers.

Birthday Thriller: Ivanovic Wins in Madrid

Ana Ivanovic matured in many ways yesterday in Madrid: the Serb left behind her teen years, turning the big 2-0 while winning her first year-end championship match in dramatic fashion, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1 4-6 7-5.

The win gave Ivanovic a 1-0 record in the Red Group, where she and Kuznetsova will battle with Maria Sharapova and Daniela Hantuchova for a spot in the semifinals. The French Open finalist ran her record to 3-0 against the Russian this year and 4-1 overall. All three of their meetings this year have gone three sets, with Ivanovic winning two of them in extra innings.

Though Ivanovic has a winning record against the Kuz, it certainly was seen as an upset that the 20-year-old was able to beat the No. 2 seed here. Not only will this now make the Red Group more interesting, but it also puts Sharapova in more of an advantageous place after her opening-day win over Daniela Hantuchova. All together, the four women have played 31 times, so the fierce competition in the Red Group will no doubt surface over the next few days.

(Ivanovic was all smiles on a day when she took out the world No. 2. Photo by fred8912026 via flikr.)

Stuttgart, Tokyo, Metz, Oh My!

Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova are underway in their quarterfinals at the Tier II event in Stuttgart this week. I can't imagine a more dream draw for such an event. Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Tatiana Golovin are already into the semifinals.

While some people moan and groan about the fall season (I tend to join in on that chorus usually), I'm really digging the competition lately. Davis Cup week supplied us with plenty of inspiring stories, and the women seem to be in make-up mode for such a boring summer by playing every fall event they can.

In Tokyo, Venus Williams will meet Virinie Razzano (newly tagged on AIPT) in the finals. Razzano benefited from depleted draws to have a hot summer and has gained confidence into fall, especially after winning a career-first title in Gangzhou last week.

Also in Tokyo, Lleyton Hewitt couldn't be more frustrated after holding serve 12 times (and not facing a break point) but still losing to Ivo Karlovic. With 25 aces in the match, Karlovic joins the 1,000 Ace Club. Karlovic is just the fourth man to complete this feat (1,000 aces in one year) in history. (See ATP link for graphic.)

Andy Murray continued his comeback from a mid-year injury that forced him to sit out Wimbledon. The Scot defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Metz to advance to the semifinals Friday.

No YouTube clip has shown up yet from Stefan Koubek's meltdown over a linecall. The search continues...

Russians Win Fed Cup Title

I just submitted this article to Sportingo for immediate release. Hopefully you can see it there soon, too.

Last year, the Fed Cup was all about Francesca Schiavone. This year, it was Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The second-ranked Russian won both her singles matches in impressive fashion, including a nail-biting, match-point-saving win over Schiavone on the second day of action to give Russia an insurmountable 3-0 in the best-of-five ties Fed Cup Final.

In a battle between the two countries that have won the last three Fed Cup titles, Russia hosted a determined Italian team who had pulled out all the stops in July to beat a more formidable French team 3-2 in the semifinals.

But this time, with Kuznetsova leading the way and Maria Sharapova as a (gasp!) practice partner, the Russians flourished with their experience in front of red, white and blue crowds in Moscow.

Anna Chakvetadze started the weekend out right for the host country, extending Schiavone to three sets and pulling it out. It was a surprising falter for Schiavone, who has been known in the past for her heroics - especially in Fed Cup ties. In the aforementioned tie against France in July, Shiavone fought back from 1-5 down in the third set to not only beat Tatiana Golovin, but clinched the Italians a chance to play for the finals.

It was a different story this weekend in Moscow, however, as Chakvetadze built off her US Open semifinal appearance by appearing the more calm and collected player in the third set, even when she was down.

Kuznetsova looked more determined to forget her US Open experience than to build on it. Her embarrassing final loss to Justine Henin left her with her tail between her legs as she left New York City. But from the onset of her match against Mara Santagelo, Kuznetsova looked in form and in control.

The same couldn't go for Saturday, when Russia led 2-0 following Chakvetadze and Kuznetsova's win. Italy was desperate for a point on the board, and Schiavone had taken the first set 6-4 and had two match points in the second-set tie-breaker to give her nation a chance at a come-from-behind win.

Yet Kuznetsova dug deep, winning the breaker and then coming back from 1-4 down to win the match in a close three sets, 7-5 in the third.

With players like Nadia Petrova, Elena Vesnina and Sharapova on the sidelines, Russia clinched its role as the single most powerful nation in women's tennis today. Though no Russian won a Slam in singles this year, Sharapova reached a final and a semifinal, while Kuznetsova was also a finalist and Chakvetadze a semifinalist. There are now 11 Russian women in the top 100.

And if Sharapova's precense is any indicator of a mended relationship between her and coach Shamil Tarpishchev, the Russians can only expect not only to be back in the title tie next year, but a fourth title in five years.

Tennis Chatter

Lindsay Davenport is undefeated in her singles career as a mother. She next takes on Julie Ditty, an American journeywoman.

Roger Federer looked pretty good for his US Open trophy photo shoot. Justine Henin, on the other hand, did not.

The TENNIS WEEK Web site still looks like it was designed (and has never been chance since) the late 90s. Aren't they supposed to have a new, cutting-edge image in tennis?

Svetlana Kuznetsova is the number two player in the world?!? Whhhhhhattt? This girl just got a tag on my blog two days ago. Man, the WTA really is struggling...

Sorry Slams

15.

That's how many games the four runners up could muster this year in women Grand Slam finals.

First there was Serena Williams' drubbing of Maria Sharapova. Then Ana Ivanovic's nerve-fest against Justine Henin at the French. Venus followed that up by humbling a bouncy Marion Bartoli on the grass before Henin capped off the year by destroying Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The future of women's tennis can find solice in the fact that it had seven marquee players in four finals, Henin being the only to make two appearances. The lack of quality play late in Slams has to worry insiders and fans alike. In fact, Bartoli's win over Henin at Wimbledon and Kuznetsova's defeat of Chakvetadze just this past week were the only two three-set semifinals out of eight this year. 2 of 8? That's not exciting tennis.

I don't want to take away from the brilliance of Serena's comeback at the Aussie, or the fact that Henin won both the French and the US Open without dropping a set, or the sheer dominance that Venus captured the All England Club with this year, but it's the lack of competitive women's tennis in the late stages of said tournaments that worries me.

Where's the classic Seles-Graf or Navratilova-Evert battles? No two women will stand out of this generation with the distinction that those past champion do; they do, however, have the chance to be known for competitive and inspiring tennis. To watch such white washes is discouraging, especially knowing that the talent in the women's game has only improved over the last decade.

Ten years ago a bright-eyed Martina Hingis defeated a beaded Venus Williams 6-0, 6-4 in the finals of the Open. Though that wasn't a particularly compelling match, Venus had just come out of a nail-biting semifinal win over Irina Spirlea. Including that final, absolutely NONE of the last eleven US Open women's finals have gone three sets. Last year's title bought between Henin and Maria Sharapova was one of the more closely fought matches.

Such Grand Slam finals as Wimbledon 2006 between Henin and Amelie Mauresmo or the '05 Championships featuring Venus and Lindsay Davenport certainly can't happen every time, but it would certainly be nice to watch some competitive tennis, especially when the biggest titles of the tour are on the line.

Perhaps the LOSER at the Australian Open next January could win 15 games in one match? Now I'd love to see that.