OFF: Will the WTA Tour see a ‘Roger Federer’ in 2008?
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Sep 28, 2007 | Print |
In recent years, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has not seen one player dominate exclusively like the ATP’s Roger Federer. On any given Saturday at a Grand Slam, the champion could easily be one of several different women.
Today’s Open Forum Friday question is on the possibility of one player emerging in 2008 as the WTA’s counterpart to Roger Federer.
Before I turn the questions over to you in the comments, I’d like to weigh in with my own opinion.
I do not believe that we will see one player dominate to the extreme of Roger Federer in 2008 - or for that matter, anytime in the near future.
It may sound like one of the most oft-used cliches in women’s tennis, but the depth right now on the WTA Tour is simply too great to allow one woman to step up to the net and dictate not only at every Grand Slam, but every tournament she enters.
By virtue of reaching six of the last eight Grand Slam finals, Justine Henin has come the closest to being the Tour’s FedExpress.
However, not even the Tour’s top player is invincible. I still cringe when I think back to Henin’s semifinal meltdown against Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon.
Okay folks, now it is your turn to tell us what you think. Will it be Justine Henin in 2008 or one of the Williams sisters? Or will we see another season with three - or even four - different Grand Slam champions?
Thanks everyone for participating and have a great weekend!
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Chris | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
I really don’t like Henin, so by virtue of that she’ll be the most dominant player on tour. Again.
However, with Lindsay, Serena, Venus, and possibly Pierce as well, it should be much more competitive. If Sharapova gets her serve together, we have six potential slam champs right there. And who knows what Kuznetsova, Jankovic, Ivanovic, or Chakvetadze have under their sleeves?
So, while Henin won’t dominate, she will be the most dominant next year I believe.
Will.I.AM | Sep 28, 2007 | Reply
Nope. The current field of players so strong now. Serena was the last great dominate player until 2003. Since then, there hasn’t been one clear dominate player.
Justine has been the closet to Federer I’ve seen in a while. And I think she proved it this year (except for that blip at Wimbledon). I agree, Justine will be the most dominate next year, but she’s no federer!
Nick | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I agree that Federer is one of the greatest players ever, but if he finishes his career without winning the French Open he’ll be just another Pete Sampras with an asterik at the end which will **** for Feddy.
Justine needs Wimbledon or else she’ll fall into the same category. As for 2008 I predict more injuries!
Cate | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I think Justine’s just going to continue getting better and better. OK, so she lost one match when she shouldn’t have…big deal. She isn’t a hulk like some other players, but she has style, intelligence and guts. She is also determined to improve. She deserves to dominate.
Diane | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I don’t think anyone will totally dominate, not even Henin, and she is, in my opinion, the best player on the tour. But there are other very good players, too. I hope no one dominates; I think that is boring
Fiorella Vidoli | Sep 30, 2007 | Reply
how about Ivanovic? She seems to be coming along really fast!
Kate Bego | Oct 1, 2007 | Reply
Justine will be the top player of 2008 but I can’t see her dominate the way Federer does. Too fragile!