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We’ve
often used the Australian Open as an opportunity to see how
players have prepared for the new year and observe how they’re
striking the ball, committing to the sport, and getting match
tough. The problem this year is that so few players came to the
Australian Open really prepared. Now, they’ll be pressed to play
catch-up with our top ranked players, Andre Agassi and Lleyton
Hewitt, two men who will certainly punish you if you give them a
lead of any sort. While not many men can hang with these two,
there are a few men worthy of keeping an eye on in 2003. Our top
12 men to watch:
Andre
Agassi & Lleyton Hewitt (tie). A couple of matches and a
handful of points. That’s all that really separated Andre and
Lleyton and the No. 1 ranking last year. Despite looking
unfocused at year’s end, especially in some uncharacteristic
losses, A-Train played well enough to get within a match win of
Hewitt’s world-topping ranking. After winning a spectacular
fourth Australian Open title, Andre has official declared that
the race is back on. Moving as beautifully and playing as
aggressively as ever, Andre seems built for success in 2003. But
arguing against Hewitt is hard. Lleyton has never played
particularly well at the Australian, so his loss, while
disappointing, is only barely cause for alarm. Talk of scaling
back his calendar implies he’ll play with extra ferocity in the
tournaments he does make. If Lleyton really does hunker done,
conserve his best tennis and energy, and come out strong in the
clay court season, you can expect to see a see-saw battle atop
the rankings all year.
Marat
Safin. Perhaps no other player is as natively talented as
Marat Safin. His strokes are fluid and powerful, and his game
looks as strong on clay as it does on grass. Fans and observers
are inclined to believe Safin is going to trophy again at a Slam
any day now. We think that day will come this year, perhaps at
Roland Garros. Safin vs. Hewitt is a match-up that has always
intrigued us. We hope to see it again this year, and hopefully
at Wimbledon. What a treat that would be.
Andy
Roddick. The good news is his run to the semi’s at the
Australian. The bad news is the tendency of many young players
to cool after accomplishing such a big break. With proper
coaching and conditioning, Roddick might very well make the
semi’s of Wimbledon or the US Open. He needs to stay focused,
disciplined, and grounded to do it, though…
Juan
Carlos Ferrero. This year, Juan Carlos either becomes French
Open champion OR one of the best men on the tour to have never
won a Slam title. It’s either now or never Mosquito! OK,
OK…maybe not now or never, but if Ferrero doesn’t at least reach
the Paris Slam semifinals, we’ll have to declare that things
have officially fallen apart. He’s here at No. 5 because we’re
confident (hoping? wishing?!) that Juan Carlos has something to
say in 2003.
Guillermo Canas. Wild Willy won big in Toronto in 2002,
upending Federer, Srichaphan, Kafelnikov, Safin, Haas, and
Roddick for his most prestigious title to date. A French
quarterfinalist last year, Canas can make a real run on grass,
too. Look out for Canas…something tells us he’s just getting
started.
Roger
Federer. Coming off his best year on tour to date, Federer
must be feeling confident as the new year begins. Last year, he
won three events, each four to five months apart. Federer is
clearly an all-year, all surfaces threat.
Pete
Sampras. One word: Wimbledon. (Wait…didn’t we say that last
year?!?!?)
Paradorn Srichaphan. Not since Patrick Rafter has there been
such an athletic serve-and-volleyer. P-dorn is an amazing
specimen of athleticism and true talent. His game is beautifully
suited for grasscourt competition, but he can perform just as
well on hardcourts. We’re thinking he’ll make another nice run
at Wimbledon, earn two or so titles, and be proud of how far his
game has come in a year.
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James Blake. His forehands is as nasty as ever, and his
serve is improving. Big wins in Hopman Cup (including a solid
win over Hewitt) are exactly what he needs to put him on the
winners’ track. With confidence and more big match play, Blake
should grow into an even more dependable Davis Cup pick and a
solid singles player in his own right.
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Tim
Henman. One word, Tim: Wimbledon.
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Fernando Gonzalez. Owner of perhaps the most impressive
inside-out forehand in the men’s game, Fernando is the kind of
player who makes you wonder, “Why isn’t this guy huge yet?!?!?”
When things start clicking for Gonzalez this year, look out! His
groundies are lazer-quick, or maybe just plain ol’ hard, and
he’s got incredible endurance, to boot. A Masters’ Series Cup
breakthrough is well within his grasp in 2003.
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WOMEN
The
Australian Open was baaaaaad news for the women of professional
tennis. Playing to poorest tennis we’ve seen from her in a while,
Serena Williams made history by winning her forth consecutive
Grand Slam title. The fact that she was able to take the title
while not playing clean tennis is a bad omen. We’re hoping two
newcomers and two old-timers can breathe new life into tennis in
2003. Our top 12 players to watch:
Serena Williams. She’s likely to repeat as French Open or US
Open champion, especially if she starts playing good tennis. She
has a lot of points to defend, so staying at the top won’t be
easy, but very few of the other women on tour seem ready, or
willing, to challenge her. So until Amelie, Chanda, Jennifer, or
Venus really step it up, Serena will be the “The Man” in 2003.
Amelie Mauresmo. Everyone remembers that the Frenchwoman
played surprisingly well last summer, reaching the semi’s of
both Wimbledon and the US Open. What many don’t realize, though,
is that Amelie has a bit of a sense of humor. That tells us
she’s got some perspective, so we’re willing to bet she’s more
likely than any other candidate we’ve seen recently to really
take it to Serena. Amelie’s best chance to do so will be at the
French, although we like her chances for Grand Slam success even
more at the US Open...
Venus
Williams. It’s highly unlikely Venus will be able to defend
all of the Grand Slam points she earned last summer. The French
Open will be a particular challenge for Venus. Her demeanor is
earning her legions of more fans, however, and she is likely to
make them proud at Wimbledon, where her big serve and ever
improving net play may help end her Grand Slam dry spell.
Kim
Clijsters. After the Australian Open debacle, Kim will need
some time to clear her head and focus on playing the clean,
brilliant tennis of which she is capable. It’s honestly now or
never for Kim, who should’ve won that semi in Oz. The extra
burden of being Australia’s best female player, without actually
playing for Australia yet, is an extra burden she doesn’t need.
Our advice: stay in love with Lleyton if it helps, but cool
those marriage plans for now. Oh, and win the French.
Jennifer Capriati. With relatively few points to defend,
Jenny can hop back up toward the top of the WTA rankings if she
actually wins a title here or there. Instead of holding out for
just the “big” events, Capriati would do well to enter lower
tiered events like the Kroger St. Jude tournament in Memphis:
she could use the points AND the match play.
Justine Henin-Hardenne. After losing in the first round at
last year’s French, Justine can easily improve this year in
Roland Garros. If she does, she can receive a very comfortable
seeding for Wimbledon, where she has played extremely well the
past several years. A Grand Slam breakthrough would be nice, but
we don’t expect much more than three tournament titles and the
quarters or better at the remaining Slams. And you know what?
That’d actually be a great year for Justine.
Lindsay Davenport. The events in Scottsdale, Indian Wells,
and Miami will really test what Lindsay’s made of…is she really
back??? Her comeback in the late summer and into the fall
weren’t bad. It wasn’t great, either, though. Lindsay, the time
is now. We expect that she will earn two or maybe even three or
four events before 2003 ends. It’s just too soon to tell how
well she’ll do at the Slams. She’s always at threat at
Wimbledon, even when playing uninspired ball. We’re hoping
someone or something boosts her spirits by the time summer rolls
around.
Sveltlana Kuznetsova. The former French Open girl’s singles
semifinalist is slated to make her French and Wimbledon debuts
this year. She won two titles in 2002 and reached the third
round of the US Open. After playing a lot of dubs with Arantxa
last year, Kuznetsova has an impressive new doubles partner:
Martina Navratilova.
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Chanda Rubin. If she can continue to remain injury free in
2003, there’s no telling what Chanda can accomplish. She’s
constantly evolving her court smarts, improving her all-court
and net play, and continuing to hit with tremendous pace. Look
for two titles and a quarterfinal finish or better in either
Paris or New York.
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Vera
Zvonareva. Three is Vera’s lucky number: she took Serena to
three sets at the 2002 French Open and reached three WTA tour
semifinals last year, as well. If you’re looking for a new teen
phenom, check out Vera Zvonareva.
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Martina Navratilova & Steffi Graf. How sweet would this
be?!?!: Martina Navratilova and Leander Paes vs. Steffi Graf and
Andre Agassi in mixed dubs at the French Open. If Steffi does,
indeed, hold up her end of the bargain (her bet with Andre in
preparation for the Australian Open) it may be two “old-timers”
who finally steal the spotlight from Serena Williams in 2003.
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