If I'm looking at the ranking points correctly, it seems like Clijsters has a pretty good shot at rising to #2 after Filderstadt this week. Her draw is actually kinda tough, at least on paper, so this is of course predicated on not losing early. Is there an outside chance she could go all the way up to #1 this week? The 20004 Filderstadt points drop off next Monday. Here's how things stand:

1. Sharapova, 4768 points currently; 137 drop off 10/10 for a new total of 4631. She's not playing this week, so she won't add any points.
2. Davenport, 4619 points currently; 413 drop off 10/10 for a new total of 4206. Lindsay is playing this week so she will add something, but even if she defends her title she breaks even.
3. Clijsters, 4404 points currently with nothing dropping off 10/10. With a Filderstadt win, she'd get the 220 points plus bonus points for beating seeded players. Using Lindsay's 413 point from her 2004 Filderstadt win as a benchmark, is it possible Kim could get to #1?

Barring injury, Kim will definitely be #1 by years end, and this time there will be no debate about it. Remember last time she was #1 people seemed to think it was undeserved since she had no slam title?

At this point she's my favorite to win the year end championship and the '06 Australian Open....

Kim has a commanding lead of over 500 points in the race, so she will almost certainly be #1 going into the year-ending championships, and deservedly so. Lindsay and Maria are unlikely to catch her unless she gets injured.

Despite the disappointing losses in Australia and Wimbledon, I still think it was a successful year for Maria in which she consolidated her position as one of the top players. Wimbledon in 2004 was a bit of a fluke. Other than that her 2005 year has been superior almost across the board, despite her ongoing pectoral muscle issues. She's still just 18. Serena also had only one major at 18 while Venus and the Belgians had none. There's clearly room for improvement in her game (movement, variety), but time's on her side.

Random thoughts while I procrastinate at work:

I have a feeling that Venus will be within the top 5 by French Open 06. She's quietly making a return to the top. On the flip side, I suspect that Mauresmo will do a downward slide.

And call me a cynic, but I don't think Sharapova will ad any variety to her game. Not while Yuri is screaming at her.

But back to the main point, I also see Clijsters closing in on the top spot. After her terrific summer, she really deserves it.


Where's Chanda Rubin? I miss her... frown

I did the math, and here's what I got:

The most points Davenport can earn is 394. 220 for winning the tournament plus the following bonus points:

- 23 for beating #22 Schiavone
- 35 for beating #12 Myskina
- 50 for beating #5 Henin-Hardenne
- 66 for beating #3 Clijsters

Since she's defending 413 points, the best Lindsay can do is lose 19 points, taking her down to 4600 even.

Kim, of course, has nothing to defend.

If she reaches the final, she gets 154 points. All she would need is 46 bonus points to hit No. 1, and she'll get that, even if she beats the lower-ranked player along the way:

- Second-round opponent: Either #67 Daniilidou or #68 Sprem: 8 points
- Quarterfinal opponent: #15 Dechy: 35 points
- Semifinal opponent: Either #28 Farina Elia or #29 Medina Garrigues: 15 points.

That's 58 total. Add that to 154, and that's 212 points

4404 + 212 = 4616. So, if Kim reaches the final, she's No. 1.

Now if Lindsay loses before the final, Kim will move up to No. 1, regardless of what she does.

When Kim does get back to number one, which seems inevitable by the end of the year, it will be the first time in a long time that the ranking will actually reflect the current state of the women's game. I think that's a very positive sign going into 2006. And it couldn't happen to a nicer person. It's really great to have Clijsters back and playing so well.

I thought it was interesting that Kim hadn't signed up for Zurich or Moscow, two Tier I events where she could earn a lot of points. I wonder if she'll be a late entry to either?

I think Kim's learned a great deal about when to play and when to rest. She'll certainly return to #1 and deservedly so. She'll have to beat Elena, likely Amelie and then LD to win this tournament though; no easy feat.

Interesting/surprising note about the Porsche Grand Prix:

Neither Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, or Monica Seles ever won this tournament. Chris and Steffi lost in the finals a couple of times but it looks as if Monica didn't play this tournment much if at all. Austin, Navratilova, and Hingis are the winningest players with Cljisters just behind them.

Interesting about those 3 not ever winning. Monica...she stopped playing in Germany after being assaulted, so she wouldn't have had many chances there before. Always a surprise when Chris or Steffi didn't win a tournament. Steffi especially for this one, since it's in Germany.

Steffi stopped playing in Filderstadt after she lost the Final to Catarina Lindquist in 1984 or 1985 because she felt the crowd didn't support her. I have a feeling her father was pulling the strings and the tournament, from what I hear, never paid exhorbitant entrance fees to the players, so that's why Peter Graf had Steffi not enter. Most players loved the pampering they got from the tournament and its director, so that's why they kept going back!

She had wanted to play during her last years but seemed to always be injured then.

[ October 06, 2005, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: playerten73 ]

This will be the most exciting YEC that I can remember in the woman's game. I do think Kim is the best player right now, but the combo fo Davenport, Maria S and Kim have played the best all year on all surfaces. Thought Davey or Maria didnt win a slam, they were very consistent, especially Davey. She was finalist at Aussie and Wimby and quarters of French and US. I hope it comes down to Davenport and Clijsters coz they seem to have great matches.

With Sharapova, Davenport, and Clijsters all within striking distance of ending the year at #1, the YEC will be very exciting. The round robin format could potentially add some drama to the chase as well--you never know what could happen when comes down to the number of sets won/lost, etc. I believe that's how Davenport didn't make the semis last year--she had the same RR record as someone else from her group but lost more sets/games or something.

davenport will become No.1 if she won Hantuchuva tomorrow.

Here's hoping! I want either her or Kim to finish number one. (Lindsay forgive me...) I almost want Kim to finish number one more than LD, because of her awesome comeback and because of her Open win.

Lyndsay to return to #1 after her win over Hantuchova, and Mary Pierce becomes the 4th qualifier in the Porsche year end championships!

i read in an article about lindsey's latest tour win that it was her 11th tier one title, and that this is tops among active players.

am i the only one surprised by this? she has had such a seemingly quiet career -- she needs a better publicist. during the sissies reign of terror over the wta, they were everywhere. i don't see lindsey anywhere.

I wouldn't blame the publicist, I just think it is Lindsays's personal style.The quiet achiever... intelligent,classy and no fuss.

Yeah, I don't think Lindsay really has the desire to be a pop culture icon. Venus and Serena have different goals in life--which is fine, and brought publicity to women's tennis in general--but that's just not Lindsay.

It would be interesting to see the tier 1 titles list. Venus & Serena would be down a ways, because they each played less than half the tier 1's per year for a few years. The Belgians might already be ahead of them.

Also an interesting note about the list of Tier I title owners...I did a quick count of Martina Hingis's haul. She has 15 Tier I titles. She won every Tier I title that was available during her career (I think San Diego only recently became a Tier I). Outside of the slams, she seemed to be quite adept at winning the big events. It's possible that none of the active players will reach her Tier I count.

Lindsay loves the fact there are other players who get so much more attention. She would just as soon fly under the radar. Just as long as she gets credit for all of her great achievements.

The Tier I count is a bit hard to pin down. Many Tier I events were non-events in the past. Or not Tier I material in the past. So, you have someone like Chris Evert (156 career titles) tied with Lindsay (51) and Gaby (27) on the career list. (According to the article I ready yesterday.)

This year's Tier I events included: Pan Pacific Open, Pacific Life, Nasdaq 100, Family Circle, German Open, Italian Open, San Diego, Canadian Open, Moscow, and Zurich.

Most of those events were not considered Tier I type events. If they were, someone like Chris (Martina probably has the same issue) would be on top of the list. She won 8 Family Circle titles alone.

Yes, unlike the slams, the Tier I's have not been a constant through WTA history. So you can't really use them to discuss Evert & Navratilova's careers. They are useful in comparing modern players, however, which is one of the reasons I thought Jon Wertheim was wrong in ranking Davenport above Hingis.

Hey there! New to the board but bare with me. I am a huge Davenport fan have been for years. I saw her play as a young kid (on tv) and what she has done with her life is fantastic. Her game is a dream to watch when it is on, but I like her honesty, sportmanship, class etc.... She has seen the greats come and go in her career including Hingis. I hope she can pull this year out and go onto the Aus Open with gusto! I truly believe she feels she has one more big win in her and can do it. I saw her play against Venus in the 2001 Wimbledon semi what a match. It amazes me what talent these players have. I get sick of hearing how slow Davenport is believe me she ain't that bad. One the other hand you have to like Kim too! As a man I like watching women's tennis for the purest tennis you can find. Not a huge fan of big gun tennis you get on the ATP! Please say hi! Nice to know there are sports fans out there not looking for the next star but for talent.

Aside from the race for year-end #1 ranking, the YEC look to be a little anticlamtic with a good chance that 2 more of the Grand Slam champs (JHH and Venus) looking a little shaky. Venus just pulled out of Philly, leaving her spot vulnerable to Dementieva and Petrova (who is also playing this week in Linz). If Venus is still injured, she may have to pull out anyway. I also just read that JHH's participation is looking unlikely. So the field is looking like it could turn out to be:

Clijsters
Davenport
Sharapova
Pierce
Mauresmo
Snyder
Dementieva
Petrova

Conspiculously absent are Venus, Serena, Justine, and, arguably, Myskina who had a very tough year on court and off.

Is there room for a Capriati comeback in 2006?

With the impact of injuries, there is room for Capriati to come back, if she's healthy. And even for Seles. If either is able to get in top shape, they could each be competitive enough to win, given the depleted fields due to injuries. But, alas, they're part of the injury lineups, so who knows if it'll happen.

glad to see another Davey fan

[quote]basketballfan29:
[/quote]glad to see another Davey fan [/QB][/QUOTE]

We're everywhere!

[quote]shep71:
[quote]basketballfan29:
[/quote]glad to see another Davey fan [/quote]We're everywhere! [/QB][/QUOTE]

I love me some Lindz