The players to watch this summer...
BY BARRY FLATMAN
INTRODUCING THE TOP 5 WOMEN
DINARA SAFINA
French Open runner up 2008, Australian Open runner up 2009.
No longer just viewed as the younger sister of former men’s No.1 Marat Safin,
she moved to the top of the women’s world rankings in April. Strong and
forceful from the baseline, the 23 year-old from Moscow collected the silver
as Russia made a clean sweep of the singles medals at last year’s Olympics
but admits grass is her least favourite surface.
SERENA WILLIAMS
Wimbledon champion 2002, ’03. Australian Open champion 2003, ’05, ‘07, ’09. French Open
champion 2002. US Open champion 1999, 2002, ’08. Wimbledon runner up 2004, ’08.
US Open runner up 2001.
The world rankings may have regularly suggested something else but few
would dare to argue as this 27 year-old maintains she has been the best
female player in the world for most of this century. Fiercely powerful, she and
her sister have taken the female game to new boundaries, while also making
forays into the spheres of fashion and acting.
VENUS WILLIAMS
Wimbledon champion 2000, ’01, ’05, ‘07, ’08. US Open champion 2000, ’01.
Wimbledon runner up 2002, ’03. Australian Open runner up 2003.
French Open runner up 2002. US Open runner up 1997, 2002.
Now just a year away from her 30th birthday, this will be her 13th Wimbledon
and only Martina Navratilova (9) and Steffi Graf (7) have won the singles title
more times in the Open era. Now a statesperson for women’s tennis as well
as a player, she was heralded by Billie Jean King as the current day leader of
the female game.
JELENA JANKOVIC
US Open runner up 2008.
Hugely extrovert and immensely talented, this 24 year-old was born in
Belgrade but schooled in tennis by the same Floridian academy that propelled
Andre Agassi and Monica Seles to stardom. She may be a former mixed doubles
champion at Wimbledon but will be frustrated by three successive fourth round
finishes in the ladies’ singles.
MARIA SHARAPOVA
Wimbledon champion 2004, US Open champion 2006, Australian Open champion 2008.
Australian Open runner up 2007.
Still the cover girl of world sport despite her presence being sorely missed
on the women’s tour for more than eight months because of a shoulder injury
that required surgery. The American-based Russian is still only 22 years-old
but there is much conjecture of whether she can recapture her former lofty
presence in the game.
ONE TO WATCH
SABINE LISICKI
Germany has been yearning for a top flight women’s star since Steffi Graf
retired ten years ago and the nation just might have found it in this 19 year-old.
A strong serve is a massive weapon on grass and Sabine regularly propels hers’
in excess of 120mph to prove herself as strong as anyone on the women’s tour.
A first ever title at April’s $1 million Charleston, North Carolina event proved
her point.
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