Where Are They Now? Part Two

Donald Young. The last time we checked in with America's Next Best Hope he had not only won his first ATP match in New Haven, but then followed that up with a third round performance at the US Open. The 18-year-old has gone 5-2 since the Open and has reached a career-high number 144 in the rankings. With continued fall success, Young may hope to get an automatic bid into the Australian Open.

Gustavo Kuerten. Guga has continued to nurse various injuries, and was last on the court for the Brazilian team in a doubles loss. The former world number one has been somewhat of a doubles specialist this year. Unless the beloved star can show physical and tennis improvements in the near future, however, we may hear the 'R' word from our favorite South American.

(Kuerten looked good in Davis Cup play, but won just six games in his doubles rubber loss. Photo by Marcio Nel Cimatti via Flickr.)

John Isner. After his inspired run at the US Open, Isner left fellow big-serving up-and-comer Sam Querrey in the dust. The 6'9" star came back down to earth this past week after losing in the second round in Tulsa, where Donald Young was a finalist. After his loss to Federer at the Open, Isner lost to another #01 in Tulsa: Fritz Wolmarans, ranked 401st in the world.

Li Na. China's best hope for a medal in Beijing is currently a hobbled hope. The 25-year-old hasn't played since prior to Wimbledon and is dealing with a re-occurring muscle injury. Meanwhile, the Chinese deal with the possibility that the Olympics might be a flop a year from now.

Madison Brengle. After winning her opening match in LA as a wildcard, Brengle lost to another petite American, Bethanie Mattek, in the first round of the US Open. Brengle is set to graduate this spring from high school and the 17-year-old is still listed as an "Amateur" on her WTA biography. If anything, it looks like the Delaware native is taking the slow track to the pro tour.

Ten Days: Ten Topics

Being gone from the tennis world - from the entire world, for that matter - for 10 days feels like a lifetime. Four delayed flights, five days at the cabin and one late-delivered bag later, I'm back in the TENNIS Magazine offices this morning. But, to my utmost shock and surprise, the tennis world continued while I was away. Here's what I missed the most.

1. Jennifer Capriati was on court at the Acura Classic after the women's final to help bid farewell to one of the WTA's most beloved tournaments. I hope it wasn't a pseudo farewell for J-Cap too...

2. Lindsay Davenport officially took the Hingis Train for her comeback transportation. From WTT to doubles to singles. Let's see if the new mama can make some waves on her return to the tour.

3. Sam Querrey and John Isner announced their arrivals on the tour. Is anyone else seeing a taller-than-6'3-trend here?

4. Troy blogged on the Road Trip commercial and the fans loved it! How could they not though, really?

5. The ATP is the next NBA? Yikes.

6. Luke Jensen came to Montana and I totally missed it. Damn, and he could have yelled loudly into my face instead of the TV screen, I'm so sorry I didn't get that real-life experience.

7. Venus supposedly hits the hardest ball in women's tennis - well, at least at last week's Acura. But what I don't understand is that if you're taking the hardest hit shot from a category of six or so, how does that warrant the hardest average? I smell system flaw.

8. Kim Clijsters hasn't updated her web site in two weeks! Someone call the authorities! Well, she could be trying to get pregnant...or saving puppies from the streets of Belgium. No worries, Kim fans, her book is still slated for publishing.

9. The ATP is getting so awkward that they hosted a fashion show to kick off Canada this week.

10. Madison Brengle won her first match in LA as a wild card. Up next? Dementieva or Makarova. Hmmm...

A Wet Week in Brazil

I wouldn't want to be the tournament director in Brazil this week. This rain is relentless.

Wimbledon is feeling so dry right now.

Back in the states, an indoor tournament in the middle of winter can't be hampered by rain or snow in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Two interesting developments in little Minny: Madison Brengle and Alexandra Stevenson both won their opening rounds. A past American champion and a future one to cross paths in the Midwest? Just maybe...

Overseas Success

Madison Brengle isn't the only up-and-coming American teen.

Vania King, who won her first WTA Tour title last fall in Bangkok, won her opening match in Pattaya City, Thailand this week.

King has already had a busy 2007. After qualifying at Gold Goast, she suffered two first-round losses (including a first-round loss to Ivanovic at the AO) before going 2-1 at the qualifying draw in Tokyo.

She got a direct entry into Pattaya City this week and swept aside Jelena Kostanic Tosic 6-1 6-3 in the first round.

For King to continue her success she must keep playing a variety of tournaments. It is good that she still has to do some qualifying, it keeps her grounded and gives her good match experience. She has solid results last spring and summer that'll she'll have to follow up this year to keep inside the top 50 and - hopefully - move up.

As for Brengle, she sits #469 right now. She can continue to work on her minor-to-major shift slowly and hopefully enjoy the 2007 success that King had in '06.

For a continued success overseas, King will have to play points like this one from last year's Bangkok final against Tanasugarn:

More on Madison

The USTA has named Madison Brengle, the 16-year-old Australian Open girl's runner-up, its spotlight player of the week.

The thing about Brengle is her size: 5'4. Justine Henin (no more Hardenne, the divorce papers are being signed) is the only woman of diminutive size who's really made an impact on the game in recent years...can Brengle do the same?

It will be interesting to watch her progression now that her name is on the map for many.