Love this. TENNIS.com has updated you on all the players you were wondering about on the men's side of the game.
Thursday they're running on women's special. Love, love, love it!
Now... I have a midterm to take :)
Four years ago Guillermo Coria was poised to take the French Open after a steady rise up the ranks.
So this week, as Coria returned to the ATP Tour with a protected ranking just out of the top 100, you can't blame the Argentine for setting his hopes high. Though the former world no. 3 had once claimed tennis' best backhand, he'd fallen fast - and hard - with injuries, and, later a fight for his reputation after being accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Now, the '04 French Open runner-up has a chance to clear his name and resurrect a career that has crumbled before our eyes. Here's a glance at the final few games in which underdog Gaston Gaudio completed his come-from-behind win to beat clay king Coria in five sets:
Coria played in Vina del Mar along with Gaudio, both trying to make their comebacks onto the ATP Tour. With any luck, we might see both former top 5 players back in fine form.
Am I the last in the world to realize that Karolina Sprem hasn't played a match since May?
The former Wimbledon quarterfinalist (you remember, "The Call") had fallen out of the top 50 in the last couple years, but still maintained her groundstrokes and guile. Even her web site is out of order.
Is her career over? Thoughts, news and opinions are welcome! I'm as curious as you!
She certainly looks healthy in this clip, from Rome last year, her final(?!) tournament.
Sybille Bammer. Not only should Bammer win the "Mom of the Year" award over one Miss Lindsay Davenport, she might also be a strong candidate for "Breakthrough Player of the Year". In her 13th year on the tour, Bammer has reached a career-high #20 in the rankings and compiled a stunning 44-23 record. At 27, I can only see it getting better for the Austrian.
Tamira Paszek. Speaking of successful Austrians, one can't forget another breakthrough player from 2007 in Paszek. The 16-year-old, in her first year of competing at the majors, went 8-4, including 4th Round appearances both at Wimbledon and the Open. She had just two losses to players outside the Top 50 this year, and gave Justine Henin a run for her money more than once.
Sania Mirza. Midway through the year I was ready for Sania Mirza to finally make her run into the Top 20. She has had inconsistent success over the last three years, and after she shook off a bit of injury and immaturity, I thought Mirza would come into her own. But that didn't quite happen...though it doesn't mean it won't. Mirza went 14-6 over the summer, and her baseline game (particularly her giant forehand) loves the hardcourts. Is 2008 her year? I'm unsure of that, but she certainly will be one to watch.
Taylor Dent. Hasn't played a match in nearly two years, but has a new web site launched by (it appears) adidas and IMG. I'm guessing if you asked Dent today, he'd tell you he's still looking to get back on the tour as soon as he can.
Vania King. King was as high as #50 in the rankings last fall after she won Bangkok, but following a year in which she lost in the first round of every major and only made the quarterfinals in Thailand, the American teenager has fallen out of the Top 100. Perhaps some time in lower level tourneys might help King find her form.
Mardy Fish. In case you forgot, Mardy Fish once won an Olympic silver medal. It's hard to believe, but the American was just points away from winning an Olympic title in 2004. Since then, Fish has struggled with injury and, subsequently, with results. He started 2007 off with a bang, making the quarterfinals of the Aussie and then the semifinals at Memphis, rocketing to 25th in the rankings. But a 4-13 performance through the spring and summer has stalled Fish's success. After losing in the finals of New Haven, Fish took Tommy Robredo to five sets in the second round of the US Open. Now ranked 39th, Fish hopes to stay on the right track to returning to the Top 20, where he resided for most of 2004.
Melissa Torres. Melissa Torres is my (and Mexico's) darling of tennis. Since reaching a career-high at #233 earlier this year, Torres has teetered off a bit, losing 10 of her last 12 matches.
Mirjana Lucic. Lucic made a storming comeback at the Pacific Life earlier this year, exciting the media and fans across the globe. Lucic, however, hasn't been active since May and the 25-year-old may have too many personal issues (family, etc.) to make a full-fledged commitement to the WTA Tour.
Nicole Pratt. Is 34. And still playing. You go girl.
Sam Querrey. Earlier this year, Sam Querrey was America's poster-boy for the future. He had a spread in TENNIS Magazine, was in the midst of a hot summer playing good tennis and couldn't find a reason not to believe he could keep climbing up the rankings. However, then came John Isner. And then came the US Open. Isner rocketed his way onto the map and bumped Querrey out of the I'm-Tall-And-Going-To-Win-Majors-One-Day category, while Querrey lost an ugly match to Stefan Koubek at the Open and has since lost his last two.
The "Where Are They Now" series AIPT style continues tomorrow when we look at where Melissa Torres, Mardy Fish, Marjana Lucic, Nicole Pratt and Sam Querrey are today.
If you missed the first two installments, check out the links:
--WATN? Part One
--WATN? Part Two
Now, back to school...
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.
Checking in with the few non-stars that AIPT has followed in the past.
Alexandra Stevenson. Last time (February) we checked in with the '99 Wimbledon semifinalist, she was in decent form at a challenger event (her norm over the last few years) in Minneapolis. Currently ranked 396, Stevenson has found recent success (she's moved up 115 spots in three weeks) on the challenger events in the US. If the American can continue such a pattern, we might see her in the qualifying draw in time for the Australian.
Amy Frazier. Is MIA. After phoning in to the WTA, I learned that Frazier is "not retired and has no plans of retiring." Curious indeed. A little more digging might be needed in this one...
Aravane Rezai. The sassy Frenchwoman continues to be a lower level mid-major player (how's that for a title?). After starting the year a respectable 9-15, the 20-year-old has gone just 1-7 in her last eight matches and is 76th in the rankings this week after reaching a career-high number 40 in January of this year.
David Nalbandian went from Grand Slam contending powerhouse (aka Mr. Consistency) to overweight has been. The Argentinian is 22nd in the rankings, but is 33rd in the Race to the Championships, showing he's had a less-than impressive year.
Frank Dancevic. Following a brilliant summer in which Dancevic went 8-3 (including the quarters at the Rogers Masters), the Canadian fell in a tough three sets to Marat Safin in the opening round of the Open. He won a tough battle against Juan Martin Del Potro in Bangkok before falling to Fernando Verdasco in three last week.
Part two will feature Donald Young, Gustavo Kuerten, John Isner, Li Na and Madison Brengle. Stay tuned!
