Six Tennis Players Who Need To Step Up Their Games At the US Open

One hundred and twenty-six women are heading to Flushing Meadows with the goal of winning a major title before the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season comes to an end.

The US Open gives one final opportunity to achieve greatness, but who needs to step up their game the most for a chance to win?

Ana Ivanovic

Ivanovic’s game has been trapped on a rollercoaster ever since she reached the summit of the sport last June in Roland Garros. She peaked with her first major and the No. 1 ranking, and now just over a year later, Ana’s trying to claw her way back into the top 10.

The US Open hasn’t been the site of her best results over the years, but Ivanovic can still redeem her disappointing season with a solid finish. But if she does not get a much needed shot of confidence in her forehand, she’ll exit before the first week is out.

Venus Williams

Venus, we know you are one-half of the most dynamic duo in tennis, but it is time for you to show us that you can win big on a surface other than grass.

I hesitate to label Venus’ season as mediocre as she did reach the final at Wimbledon, but one would expect the world No. 3 to win more titles than a Premier in Dubai (where she only played two top 10 players), and Acapulco, where the best player she faced was Flavia Pennetta.

Victoria Azarenka

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t think there is anyone hungrier in tennis than Victoria Azarenka. Her drive and passion for winning is unrivaled by anyone, not even Serena Williams.

But for all young Vika’s hunger, she still has an Achilles heel that is costing her in the sport—-her temperament. When things don’t go your way, you can’t crater and choke the match away, or surrender it in tears like she did against Kim Clijsters last week in Toronto. Once Victoria learns to get a grip on her emotions, we’ll see her start gripping major titles.

Nicole Vaidisova

The sad saga of Nicole Vaidisova continues this week as instead of seeing the former it-girl of tennis warming up in New Haven or on the pre-US Open sponsor appearance circuit, fans can receive free tickets to watch Vaidisova play in the US Open qualifying tournament.

Vaidisova’s career has turned into a cautionary morality tale for young players, but fortunately, it’s not too late. If she can qualify and get a few wins on her card, she might be able to pick up the pieces on her nearly shattered tennis career.

Dinara Safina

My colleague Paula Vergara and I were talking the other day about the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s world number one and we both agreed on one thing: Safina needs to add a therapist to her entourage. She has all the goods to win a major—and even dominate the sport—but her mental game is making her a perennial bridesmaid.

Safina plays her heart out to reach a final, but then her brain gets in the way of her instincts. Fear overtakes her game and once she gets terrified of losing, she can’t find a way to win. Dinara, we’d like to see you work to surmount that mental hurdle because that is the one thing keeping you from taking the No. 1 ranking in a choke-hold and shutting up your critics for good.

Jelena Jankovic

Does anybody love playing under the lights for a New York crowd more than Jelena Jankovic? America has embraced the Serbian trio (Ana, Jelena, and Novak) with welcome arms, especially at the US Open.

Last year, Jankovic nearly stole all the spotlights from Serena Williams, and I’m certain that since she reached the championship match, she has longed for a chance to repeat it. Her season has not been quite as disappointing as Ivanovic, but JJ hasn’t exactly shined this year either.

She picked up a big win two weeks ago in Cincinnati over a nervous-wreck Safina, so it will be interesting to see if that momentum carries over to Flushing Meadows.