No Slam Wonders
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Mar 8, 2008 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
Elena Dementieva
Ninety-three of the women currently inside the Top 100 have all come up short at Grand Slams, making it an all-exclusive club with a steep membership price.
Will 2008 continue to see Justine Henin, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Amelie Mauresmo, or Lindsay Davenport repeat as champions, or could this be the year for a talented youngster or energetic veteran to hoist her first major trophy?
Elena Dementieva
Dementieva’s serve remains her biggest liability, although I’m not convinced that it is enough to keep her from finally proving that she can win a major on her own terms. She has been to two major finals and after her promising title run in Dubai earlier this month, she may have the ticket to another Grand Slam championship match.
Grand Slam Outlook: A kind draw, an early upset of Justine Henin, and a Roland Garros victory may become a possibility for Dementieva.
Ana Ivanovic
Like Dementieva, Ivanovic has reached two major finals, yet unlike the Russian, Ivanovic’s best years are still ahead of her. While she may not be as aggressive as her older countrywoman Jelena Jankovic, sooner or later Ivanovic will conquer her nerves in big matches.
Grand Slam Outlook: The next time you see Ivanovic in a Grand Slam final, expect to see her prepared, relaxed, and ready to be champion.
Jelena Jankovic
Jelena Jankovic’s chances of winning a Grand Slam would be much better if she’d learn to trim back her schedule. The US Open is one of her best surfaces, but by the time Flushing Meadows rolls around, Jankovic is generally exhausted or worse, injured.
Grand Slam Outlook: She’ll win a Grand Slam or two, or three before calling it quits, but not until she learns how to plan (and stick to) a decent schedule.
Nadia Petrova
Petrova’s tendency to choke once the pressure mounts has cost her dearly at the majors. She plays the first couple of rounds like a woman on a mission, only to bow out meekly once she sees the second week approaching.
Grand Slam Outlook: She will never make it past the quarterfinals again until she finally learns to get her head in the game.
Patty Schnyder
On her best day, Schnyder can upset anyone on Tour. Trouble is, these best days are becoming fewer and further between. Moments of brilliance appear a few times each season, yet stringing together seven straight major wins is almost impossible.
Grand Slam Outlook: Living under the shadow of Martina Hingis was not easy for the free-spirited Schnyder, but even now that the Swiss Miss is gone for good, don’t expect to see Schnyder blossom into a Grand Slam champion this late in her career.
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Chris | Mar 9, 2008 | Reply
What’s a “kind draw” for Elena at RG? Let’s look at her 2005 path she fumbled.
4R - l. to Likhovtseva who beat Karantcheva who lost to Pierce in the semifinal (Elena proved later in the year she can beat Mary on clay). Would have faced Justine though.
2006?
3R - l. to Peer who lost to Hingis who lost to Clijsters. She was going nowhere in this tournament.
2007?
l. to Bartoli who lost to Jankovic who beat Vaidisova. Was going nowhere here either.
2008? I expect another early loss and fairly early finish in Wimbledon. Watch out for New York, though.
Chris | Mar 9, 2008 | Reply
Dementieva and Ivanovic are the only non-slam winners I can see possibly win one. Even several years after Dementieva’s peak she proves she can still hit with the best and even beat them sometimes. She’s awfully consistent and with a good draw, whatever that is, who knows where she can end up. At the least I hope she goes far in Beijing.
Petrova will never QF at a slam again, IMO. It pains me to say that, but what can you do.
Steve Pouliot | Mar 10, 2008 | Reply
I agree that Ivanovic’s day is coming for a slam. The only other woman with a chance is Nicole Vaidisova - I think she’s ready to make big move back toward the top.
benjamin | Mar 11, 2008 | Reply
Vaidisova’s game as big as it is, it is her mental toughness that is lacking. Time after time, she folded in close important matches. She needs to learn how to construct the balls better, much more than just simply pounding her powerful serves then immediately go for the kill on the next shot. She needs to think more on the tennis court and not be so rushed. Sharapova plays a similar style, but the big difference is Sharapova is so so tough mentally and that’s why she has already won 3 slams. Let’s hope in Vaidisova’s case, it’s the inexperience and maturity that seem to get the best of her in those matches.
pov | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
benjamin,
Good points. Although, if you have the time, review Sharapova’s matches since the YEC. To me it seems as though she has made a lot of strides in playing tactically instead of just pounding the ball.