The No. 1 ranking continues to pass around like a hot potato, as we wait for the next dominant player to emerge.
Who do you think will be next to establish herself long-term at the top of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour? Tell us in today’s edition of Open Forum Friday!
Today’s discussion idea came from an email I received on Wednesday from Karin Burgess, the editor of Tennis Identity. If you have not checked out Tennis Identity, please visit it today and peruse their fantastic tips and reviews of the latest products in tennis gear, apparel, and equipment.
Karin passed along to me a fascinating article written by Dave Solomon of the New Haven Register, who has been covering the Pilot Pen this week. Solomon considers the lack of star quality at the top of the WTA Tour, and gives his list of eight players who have a chance to separate themselves from the rest of the field.
Dave Solomon’s List
Ana Ivanovic
Jelena Jankovic
Dinara Safina
Agnieszka Radwanska
Anna Chakvetadze
Alize Cornet
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Victoria Azarenka
While I agree with some of Solomon’s choices, I took a few moments to compose a list of my own.
My List (in no particular order)
Dinara Safina
Ana Ivanovic
Casey Dellacqua
Bethanie Mattek
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Elena Dementieva
Alize Cornet
Agnieszka Radwanska
Dominka Cibulkova
Caroline Wozniacki
I’m not predicting that one of these women will become the next Monica Seles, Justine Henin, or even Kim Clijsters, but these are my picks for players to watch over the next few seasons.
Some may say I’ve cheated by including Venus and Serena Williams, but I think it very likely that we will soon see a Williams Sisters 2.0 dominance emerge. Both of them have proven that they are capable of winning on any given Saturday at a major, plus the one person who gave them fits, Justine Henin, is out of the picture.
You’ve seen Dave’s list, as well as my own, so now is your chance to weigh in with your own opinion. It can be one player you’ve watched for a few seasons, a junior that bodes well for the future, or a list as long as mine.
Everyone, have a great weekend, and get ready for the US Open!
This is tough. It has been such a disappointing year for women’s tennis. There really isn’t anybody out there to get excited about. If I had to choose, these are my 4 picks for likely dominant players:
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Dinara Safina
Ana Ivanovic
Jelena Jankovic
The problem with all of these picks are they just aren’t mentally there yet. They can play on any surface and they play a relatively heavy schedule. They just don’t have that champions mentality like Justine. Justine was so mentally strong and she had the game to back it up. We don’t see that anymore.
I think that we have yet to see the next Steffi, Monica, Martina, or Serena. She is out there somewhere and I can’t wait for her to come on tour because I am totally bored with the players on tour now.
I couldn’t disagree more; I find there are many players about whom I can get excited. Granted, I am disappointed that JJ has not done better, but her game continues to excite me more than any other player’s but Mauresmo’s, and well…you know how that’s going.
I’m also very up about Safina, and am quite pleased for her.
I hope there is no dominant player, for I think tennis is more fun without one. I suppose if one of my top favorites became dominant, I might change my mind, yes? I certainly loved it when Evert dominated. At any rate, I don’t think it’s necessary to have a dominant player.
The players who excite me the most right now are Jankovic (with all the frustrations), Safina and Cornet. I’m also enjoying Wozniacki and Radwanska, as well as some lesser-ranked players. I enjoy the complete spectrum, but I think I’m different from most people.
Speaking of Wozniacki, Diane, we just published a story about her a few moments ago. As I’m sure you know, she reached the final at New Haven and will play Anna Chakvetadze tomorrow. You can check it out here.
I disagree with you Diana. The thought that the tour is better off without a dominant player is bogus!
When there is no domiant player, you get what we have now. A whole bunch of ****** tennis!
WE NEED THE HENINS GRAFS AND EVERETTS TO CHALLENGE THE REST OF THE FIELD! Mediocore tennis is not ok, and I don’t understand how you are willing to accept that!
I feel cheated as a tennis fan right now because none of the “top” players are playing well! It isn’t compelling for the number spot to be a toss up! Every week it seems like a contest between who will play the least ****** to gain the number one spot!
I want to cheer for Kuznetsova, Safina, and Jankovic, but they fold under pressure and are too inconsistent.
Please be honest without yourself! Women’s tennis has a storied history of fierce rivalries and compelling storylines. Can you say that today about the WTA? I can’t.
William, it is Diane, not Diana (and it is Evert, not Everett). And a thought cannot be bogus; it is just a thought.
I happen to be enjoying the tennis we have now, perhaps BECAUSE no one is dominant. And I wonder if having a dominant player really does successfully challenge other players. Sometimes, of course, that indeed happens…Mauresmo finally figuring out how to overcome Henin, Aranxta giving her all to beat Graf. But these players were already great and would have pushed themselves, regardless.
Go back to when Henin dominated. She was still in some terrible finals with players like Kuznetsova. I agree with you that there is a mental toughness problem on the tour, and it manifests itself in some of my very favorite players. But they were having the same problems when Henin dominated and when Serena dominated.
Oh, and yes, Aaress–I read the Wozniacki piece–nice. I’ve had my eye on her for a while now.
So if players are playing just as poorly now as when there was a dominate player on tour, how could you possibly enjoy the tennis?
Now its just the whole tour playing badly and inconsistent. I guess some people enjoy low quality tennis as opposed to high.
Now you have switched your thesis, I see, William. Your thesis WAS that players who are struggling do better if there is a dominant player. Now that that thesis has been demonstrated as being incorrect, you have, without warning, changed to a new one.
Okay–so on to your pasted-on second thesis–that having one good player is better than having a bunch of bad players. I don’t know if that is true. It doesn’t matter to me because I do not believe we have a tour filled with bad players. There are several players who play well enough to please me–Safina, Cornet, Serena, Jankovic, Wozniacki, Radanska, etc. Could they play better? Of course they could. And I hope they do.
And you could drop the sarcasm.
Don’t ask me to drop the sarcasm. Your posts have been just as scathing. And you’re lucky this is a new me, because I am really holding back what I would like to say.
But now I believe in good healthy debate, and since you choose to take it to a dark place, I choose to end this on a good note.
Enjoy the US Open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William, your posts are just ridiculous. Diane is trying to have a healthy debate with you, yet apparently you decided you ran out of points and went with the “okay I’m done with you” approach so you can have the last word. It’s quite evident you are speaking from two points that shows glaring contrasts, some people just want to point that out.
Women’s tennis does not need a dominant player. Henin’s domination last year did not sell tickets or draw TV ratings, nobody outside of fans of women’s tennis cared for her. She didn’t make the tour better because she played well, nor did she hurt the tour. It really depends on the overall condition of the tour, which will change thanks to the new roadmap in 2009.
You don’t have to hold back on what you have to say, because you’re just a bunch of fluff. And if I was the site moderator, you would be gone from the blog forever, as your posts are just plain annoying to read.
Hey Everyone,
I was certain that this topic would invoke a fascinating discussion with a wide variety of opinions. Like most online forums, we do have rules and regulations, which you can see above at the “Comment Policy and Help”‘ link.
Richard, Will.I.AM and everyone else who wants to comment is allowed to state his/her opinion AS long as it does not violate the policy. Thus far, this conversation has not stepped over that line, hence the reason why I’m allowing it to continue.
Now just a reminder to all, this is a subject that is bound to garner differing opinions. This is an online forum, so if you state something in a comment, you need to prepared to defend your opinion (with intellect not emotion) against someone who might find a loophole or inconsistency. We’re not all going to agree with you, so in other words, if you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
With that being said, feel free to carry on. Would someone care to comment about the pro’s and con’s of having a dominant player and why it helps/hurts the Tour in the long-run?
Also, to further clarify this situation, remember to respect the individual as a person.
We can dissect a person’s viewpoint and opinion, while still showing respect for the person who took time to share their viewpoint.
On the Baseline is a place where I hope everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinions, but be aware again that you may be asked to defend or further clarify that opinion.
In my opinion, having a dominant player on tour really challenges the rest of the field to play at a higher level. The long run effect of having a dominant player on tour is that it changes the game for up and coming players. Evert lead the way for Seles with the two-handed backhand, Seles lead the way for the Williams sisters with her power, and the Williams sisters lead the way for the current field when it comes to athleticism. Without someone to challenge the field, the game becomes stagnant; much like it is now.
That being said, this will more than likely be my last post for the year, if not forever.
This site is the one place I come for an escape from the rest of my hectic life, and I refuse to be villanized or ganged up on.
No hard feelings are garnered for either of you Richard and Diane.
Aaress, keep up all the good work and I will continue to visit the blog daily. Also, I received my onthebaseline.com shirt the other day. Thanks a lot and I’ve worn it already. Peace.
Hi Will.I.AM,
I’m sorry to see you go and wish that you would reconsider. No one was attempting to “villanize” or gang up on you. Actually, if you look back at the comments, you were the first person to turn this personal by calling Diane’s opinion “bogus.”
You do bring a lot to the table with your opinion, but like I said, this is an online discussion, so disagreement and differing opinions is just a natural part of the territory. Thanks for your support of On the Baseline!
I do disagree with the thought that tennis is stagnant and overall that this has been a disappointing and bad year. True, we might not have a dominant player, but in a way, that is what makes it so exciting.
Justine Henin was dominant, but honestly, she didn’t really force a change in the women’s game, not like the power-hitters of the last decade.
Dominance will come in its own good time, but in the meanwhile, I’ve enjoyed watching the next generation rise to the occasion. The status quo has been shaken up–and out of all the top players, the only one that I believe has performed even close to mediocre this season is Jankovic.
Take a look at these stats:
Ana Ivanovic – French Open / No. 1 ranking
Serena Williams – 2 Tier I titles / Wimbledon Final / Olympic Doubles Gold / Back to No. 3 in the world
Svetlana Kuznetsova – 3 Finals / Steady member of the Top 5
Maria Sharapova – Australian Open / No. 1 ranking
Dinara Safina – French Open Final / 5 singles and doubles titles
Elena Dementieva – Olympic Gold medal / Dubai Title
Venus Williams – Wimbledon / Olympic Doubles Gold Medal
These results are amazing and not even close to being mediocre. How are you looking at the glass? Is it half empty or half full?
Women’s tennis has never been more entertainng than now. I LOVE todays game. Knowing that the winner of the open will be a Serbian, a William’s sister, A Russian or one of the other very exciting and talented women is awesome. You use to look at the field and limit down to a few people with a chance – andnot waste your time watching the 1st week. I am so looking forward to the first couple rounds knowing there will be excellent tennis with a couple upsets.
William, I did not use sarcasm with you and I never would. It is one of my personal rules to never use sarcasm with anyone. Whatever seemed like sarcasm to you, I assure you was not. I am not interested in hurting or cutting people.
My complain was not that you disagreed with me–people disagree with me all the time–but that your rhetorical rules kept changing.
Would have to say Safina, Ivanovic or Sharapova.
My money is on Dinara, she just needs to get her head screwed on properly.