December 21, 2008 by editor.

There was a power vacuum left at the top of the women’s rankings when Justine Henin retired earlier this year, and we all wondered who would step up and be the next dominant number one on the WTA.  Truth be told, we go into 2009 with the same question.  There are many suitors, but for the first time in a long time the top spot is wide open for whoever wants to step up and take it.

Jelena Jankovic finished the year as the number one ranked player on the women’s player, but you can’t help but wonder whether she really believes she is the best.  She is still without a grand slam, and it makes one wonder if she is number one because of the quantity of tournaments played, as opposed to the quality of her victories.

Jankovic won in Rome on the clay for her first title of the season, and she routinely goes deep into all the draws, but the majors have been her undoing.  The feeling among the tennis pundits, fans and media alike is that your number one ranking should have some (at least one) Grand Slam attached to it.

I am not saying she didn’t have good results or win titles.  She had nice tournament wins in Beijing, Stuggart, and Moscow, all on the hard courts, to go along with her win on clay in Rome.  She has had sucess, but what is stopping her from breaking through on the big stages?

Jankovic relies on her tennis IQ, finesse, and consistency to overwhelm her opponents rather than power.  The other women at the top of the rankings rely more on power, so if she is matched with a power player late in the draw and they are on their game, she will be at a disadvantage.

This being said, I believe it won’t be long before she breaks though.  She has a good time when she is playing, she is never out of a match, and she plays with confidence and intelligence. 

The one player who probably made the biggest strides in 2008 was Dinara Safina.  She dominated the hard-court season in winning the U.S. Open series, and has consistently contended in most of the tournaments she was in.

Safina matured as the year went on and was in control of her emotions for the most part.  She played with a confidence and determination, winning a number of close matches against quality competition.  She is definitely a contender for the top spot in 2009. 

It will be interesting to see how Maria Sharapova bounces back after missing a good portion of last year with a rotator cuff injury.  She was at number three when she got hurt, and opted not to have surgury.  If her rehab went well and she can serve consistently she will definitely be in the mix.  Some of Sharapova’s shortcomings have been exposed though. 

If she isn’t serving well the other parts of her game go south at times.  She does not move as well as many of the other women on the tour and has to take control of the points early to be effective.  She doesn’t play defensive tennis well.  When her ground game is on, she doesn’t have to play defense.  She simply overwhelms her opponents with her power and precision.  Very few on the WTA can stay in a match with Sharapova when she has everything working.

I would not label her a disappointment, but many pictured Sharapova being number one and dominating the game years ago.  She does have three slams to her credit since 2004 and has plenty of time to get more, but she has either been over-hyped, or mentally doesn’t quite have what it takes to maintain the level of excellence needed to stay number one.

Sharapova needs to develop and expand her game.  She needs to come forward more and become proficient at the net to get cheap points.  That will be a challenge because she is not a very good athlete as far as movement goes.  If she does, then she could find herself back on top of the rankings again.

Venus and Serena Williams continue to be a threat in every slam they play in, and you can’t help but think that they are ones to beat in all the slams, with the possible exception of the French Open.  They are now older than all of the other main contenders on the womens side and it is a testament to them that they are still playing at the level that they are.

They have been much criticized over the years for not playing as much as the other women on tour, for their father, Richard Williams, and for handling their careers their way.  They are outspoken and dance to the beat of their own drum, but after everything that has transpired on the women’s tour in the last six years, the pundits are finally admitting that they got it right.

The wear and tear mentally and physically year after year has taken a toll on many of the players on the tour and have forced top players such as Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin to retire when they were at the top of their games.  The Williams sisters never played hurt and paced themselves throughout each season which is paying dividends now as they are still winning slams and seem to be enjoying themselves. 

Their outside interests also seem to be not only financially rewarding, but mentally therapeutic for them as well.  They have stood the test of time.  There seems to be little doubt that both of them could return to the top spot in 2009.  How can we forget how a sub par and out of shape Serena Williams dismantled Sharapova in the 2007 Australian Open, and how Venus Williams seems to be invincible at Wimbledon.

They have learned to cut down on their unforced errors a little, while still being aggressive and coming forward to finish points.  Serena’s serve is the key to her game.  When serving well she has the best in the business and it sets up her unequalled an powerful ground strokes.  She is better at serving out of more tough spots against top players than any one else. 

Venus’ serve is dangerous as well, but it has been known to fail in the middle of matches.  Her forehand also tends to break down during matches as well, but most of the time she gets it together in time to prevail. 

If you look at the top women on the tour the Williams sisters are still the best athletes, even at this stage in their careers.  With all due respect to the other women, they are still the best all around tennis players on the tour.  Henin was the only player that was consistently beating them, and she is gone.  Venus and Serena, and rightfully so, may be more geared up for the majors more than anything else.  Cementing their legacy by adding to their Grand Slam totals may trump getting the number one ranking.  Who can argue with them if that is the case?  We tend to measure the greatness of the players by how many slams they win any way.

If Serena is serious about getting results and commits herself to being number one, I believe she will get there, hands down.  Injuries and apathy could be the only things that slow the sisters down in 2009.

It is hard to figure out Ana Ivanovic.  It is obvious she has the game and the ground strokes to play with, and defeat anyone.  She has proven that, but her mental colapse after winning the French and losing the finals in Australia has to make you think.  Breaking through at a slam is one thing.  Being number one and staying there when the bulls-eye is on your back is something else.  The pressure of being in the spotlight is not easy for everyone to handle.  Some thrive on it and it doesn’t affect their games, but if you can’t you can easily lose your nerve and fold under the pressure of expectations.

Ivanovic is a great tennis player, has a great personality and graciously put everything in perspective after her early round defeats in the majors.  Her over-all game and tennis smarts during the matches give her the ability to beat the Williams’ and Sharapovas of the world, but until she proves she can get to the top and stay there, she won’t be a favorite in my book to maintain a number one ranking.

Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova are solid top ten players, and should stay there because their consistent play and the fact that they play a lot, but they are not serious contenders for the top spot.  Kuznetsova has had problems breaking through in key matches in the slams, and even though Dementieva is an excellent athlete, she doesn’t seem to have the goods to win the slams.

I believe four women have a chance to spend most of the year in the top spot.  Keep in mind that doesn’t mean they are the best.  It just means that their results were consistent enough to get the ranking.  Jankovic is a good example of that.

Sharapova has a shot if she is healed, ups her game, improves her movement, and her serve dominates.  Safina has a shot if she builds on what she did this year and works hard to improve every facet of her game.  All she needs to do is take the next step.  Jankovic needs to win a slam to get her confidence going and that will propel her forward.  Serena Williams just needs to put the work in and be prepared.  Nothing will be handed to her so she has to prepare thinking that if she doesn’t she will be defeated by a lesser opponent.  She has to have a sense of urgency if she wants to get back on top and stay there.

They only thing that is sure about 2009 is that there is no clear cut number one or dominant player.  Only time will tell us who is ready to step into that role.

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December 6, 2008 by editor.

As we enter the 2009 Tennis season, the stage is set for one of the most competitive years on the tour, especially on the men’s side.  As 2008 ends it is not clear who has the momentum heading into the new year.

Roger Federer won the last major, which salvaged his year, but it was clear that Rafael Nadal was the clear number one, and not because Federer stumbled.  He took it from him with his stellar play.  Nadal has managed to do what Federer and Djokavic have not been able to do in the past year and a half.  Consistently get better on the hard courts and grass courts.  That is a tribute to his coach, Toni Nadal, (known as uncle Toni).

Instead of just dominating on clay only, he dominated on the other surfaces as well.  The question is just how good can Nadal be?  If he is still getting better, then the rest of the field has something to worry about.  I for one, didn’t think that Nadal could take Federer down on grass, and it remains to be seen if Nadal can raise his game to a level where he can win majors on the hard courts.

If he can there is no telling how many majors he can win.  We have to keep in mind that the brand of Tennis Nadal plays is not easy on his body.  His strength is his speed and range, and that causes him to retrieve and hit a lot of balls that the other men on tour would not get too.  The constant stopping and sliding on all the surfaces, including the hard courts takes a heavy toll on your joints and hips.  

Leyton Hewitt played that way for most of his career and as a result he is battling a hip injury that could hamper him the rest of his career.

It is obvious that Federer wants his number one ranking back, and he wants to begin the season healthy, unlike his 2008 season.  I believe this year will tell us whether he is on the decline, or if he has found a way to regroup, reinvent his game and take it to a higher level.  Truly exceptional  athletes do that, ala Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.  Nadal has upped his, now Federer needs to up his. 

There are two other men at the top that will push Nadal and Federer.  Novak Djokovic won the year end championships and served notice that he will not stand by and watch Nadal and Federer dominate the tour.  His season got off to a good start in 2008 as he won the Australian Open, beating Federer in the process.  He seemed poised to do great things, but was never able to build on it and get the results he was looking for until the season ending championships.

He is ranked number three, and if Federer is not careful Djokovic will pass him and be number two.  He is only ten points behind, which is nothing.  Andy Murray rounds out the top four and is the third of the trio that is trying to unseat Federer and bring in a new era tennis.  Murray has matured and came into his own in 2008.  He got good results at Wimbledon, and followed that up with a finals appearance at the U.S. Open.  He is getting better and has proved he has the game to duke it out with Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.

At times Murray seems to be his own worst enemy, but he has matured and is frustrating his opponents with his match strategy and deceptive speed and athleticism.  These four men, baring injury will be at the top of the tennis world in 2009, we just don’t know in what order.  Wimbledon will decide how the season goes for Roger Federer.  If he can come back and win it, and win the U.S. Open again, he will serve notice that he is not going anywhere.  He also has to start the season healthy and not get knocked out so many tournaments early, which happened a lot in 2008. 

If Nadal wins Wimbledon, it will solidify his claim to the number one ranking and serve notice to the other young guns that the road to the top goes through him now.  No one beats him on clay, and if he wins two majors no one will catch him.  Djokovic needs to successfully defend his Australian Open title to make a statement.  If he does that he will jump Federer in the standings.  He also needs to be injury free, and show evidence that his game is getting better.  Murray needs to keep improving and know that he can beat anyone on the tour.  As long as he doesn’t lose confidence he will be fine.

I predict that Nadal will finish number one, Federer will be number two, with Djokovic and Murray at three and four respectfully. 

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July 11, 2008 by editor.

We were treated to one of the most, if not the most, entertaining and thrilling Wimbledon’s in recent history.  Yes, the men’s final was the most competitive and dramatic match in the history of the sport, because of the quality of the match and what was at stake.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal left everything and more on center court, and it was truly a shame that someone had to lose.  Nadal took control of the match early with his penetrating forehands and went up two sets to none. 

It looked like he would win in straight sets and Federer wasted break point after break point.  Federer would show that he not only had the skill to overcome any challenge on his favorite surface, but he showed he had the mental toughness necessary for a champion to deal with his number one nemesis.

After two tie-breaks, one in which Federer was down five to two, it was two sets apiece, but Nadal’s resolve would not diminish.  Rafa’s toughness would not allow him to wilt under the pressure the five time champ would inflict.  He would not allow Federer to break his serve over the final three plus sets, which was really the difference in the match.

Both men showed unbelievable mental fortitude that most athletes in other sports don’t possess, and neither would choke.  This match show-cased the best professional tennis had to offer, and proved that Federer and Nadal should be in the conversation when we talk about the best athletes in the world.

Not only do they have the skill that comes from being trained in their craft almost every day from their youth, but they have something else that most professional athletes don’t.  Humility and sportsmanship.  Nadal always defers to Federer as number one in the game when asked.  Federer said he tried everything but to no avail, and that Nadal was a worthy champion.

Federer is a class act and represents the sport with dignity and a conservative style that reminds everyone that it is a gentleman’s sport.  Nadal exudes the youthful qualities of a young man that really doesn’t take it for granted what he has achieved.  Even when proded with questions about his greatness he always says that any of the men in the draw can win, and that it is unbelievable that he has been this successful.

What we have is a rivalry for the ages where they both want to win and re-write history, but respect each other and the game enough not to take verbal shots at each other.  Our athletes today should take a page out of these guy’s book.  It’s about being mentally and physically in shape, believing in your abilities, never quiting, and being humble. 

We also remember what Dominick Hrbaty did in his match with Federer as well.  The two are friends, and this was Hrbaty’s last Wimbeldon before he retired, so before the last game he broke with tradition and decided to sit next to Federer and chat.  I thought that was a great moment that you don’t normally see.

These guys made people who don’t normally care about tennis stand up and take notice.  Honorable mention goes to Marat Safin, and Rainer Schuettler.  No one expected them to get through to the semi-finals.  Adding to the unpredictability of this years Wimbledon was Novak Djokovic, who, after mouthing off that Federer was done and it was his and Nadal’s time, lost in the second round to Safin.

Adding to the drama, and lost in the weight of the men’s final was the quality of the women’s final between Venus and Serena Williams.  You have to appreciate the fact that we are watching history continually being made, and that this probably will never happen again.  Two sisters, both multiple grand slam champions, Americans, who desperately want more titles before they retire, even at the expense of each other.

Right now they are the best that tennis has to offer on the women’s side.  Most of the higher ranked women went out early.  Most notably Maria Sharapova and the new number one,  Anna Ivanovic.  Ivanovic showed in her post match interview why she will be heard from again.  She knew she was not mentally ready for what comes with being ranked number one, and she pledged to learn from her Wimbledon experience.  She was not too torn up about it.  She handled her second round exit well.

All in all, this was the most memorable Wimbledon I can remember, and I have seen a lot of them.  I only hope that our American athletes in football, basketball and baseball show the class and respect that Nadal and Federer showed.  They are proof that you can compete with an edge, and even in disappointment teach your peers and younger players how to conduct themselves.

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