Year end #1 ranking for women-Henin, Sharapova, Jankovic, Venus, Serena?

The year end #1 ranking for women seems to be between 5 women-Jankovic, Henin, Sharapova, Venus, Serena. So who will end the year ranked #1?

The women count their best 18 tournament points totals. These are the current Race standings with the number of tournaments they have played:

1. Justine Henin 3245.00, 9
2. Jelena Jankovic 2990.00 18
3. Ana Ivanovic 2431.00 13
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova 2161.00 12
5. Serena Williams 2141.00 7
6. Maria Sharapova 1785.00 8
7. Venus Williams 1630.00 8

Realistically, we will have a clearer picture after the US Open. But most likely it will be Henin.

Realisticaly it probably has to be Henin or Jankovic unless there is a serious injury to Henin, and maybe Jankovic as well. If there is an injury that causes one or both to miss a significant amount of time maybe Ivanovic, Serena, and Venus have a shot too.

No way could I see Kuznetsova or Sharpova collecting the points needed.

anointedone said:

Realisticaly it probably has to be Henin or Jankovic unless there is a serious injury to Henin, and maybe Jankovic as well. If there is an injury that causes one or both to miss a significant amount of time maybe Ivanovic, Serena, and Venus have a shot too.

No way could I see Kuznetsova or Sharpova collecting the points needed.

Click to expand...

Jankovic reminds me of a slimmer version of Kim Clijsters, but she has had a great year and most likely have a better 2nd half. It is only a matter of time before she breaks through at a slam or the constant playing catches up with her.

Serena or Venus doesn't play enough tournaments to accumulate the points needed to become #1.

I would like to see Ivanovic have an even stronger 2nd half, Sharapova I could honestly care less what she does, and the other hand of the Russian wave, I like Kuznnetsovas game but she appears to me as only a consistent, "quarterfinal", "semifinal" player.

MEAC_ALLAMERICAN said:

Jankovic reminds me of a slimmer version of Kim Clijsters, but she has had a great year and most likely have a better 2nd half. It is only a matter of time before she breaks through at a slam or the constant playing catches up with her.

Serena or Venus doesn't play enough tournaments to accumulate the points needed to become #1.

I would like to see Ivanovic have an even stronger 2nd half, Sharapova I could honestly care less what she does, and the other hand of the Russian wave, I like Kuznnetsovas game but she appears to me as only a consistent, "quarterfinal", "semifinal" player.

Click to expand...

I agree with you on Jankovic. While she shares many of Clijster's postive traits, she also seems to share her trait for not stepping up in the big match. Remember Clijsters won only 1 slam out of 5 slam finals, and 12 slam semis. Jankovic so far hasnt stepped up in the big match vs a marquee name in the 2nd week. Choking vs Henin in the U.S Open semis, barely putting up any resistance vs Serena in the 4th round of Australia, and not able to make much of a competitive match vs Henin in the French Open semis.

You are right on Serena and Venus not playing enough tournaments I guess. Still if one of them was really tearing up the events they were playing, would they maybe load their schedule up if they saw a chance at #1? Who knows.

I would like Ivanovic to continue her current surge, but still 800 points is alot to make up on a Justine Henin, when you are a young player still trying to win your first slam. I agree on Kuznetsova, except I would downgrade to a quarterfinal/4th round at the slams type, instead of semis/quarters.

Good,

It seems we are on the same page, but let us turn the page a bit.

What do u think about Nicole Vaidisova? She is currently number 10 but has a shot at possibly ending the season in the top 5? If she is a little more consistent with her game...

I like Vaidisova. I see her as a technicaly sounder superior version of Sharapova. While I think Jankovic and Ivanovic both have great potential, and potential to win slams in the future, I think of all 3 Vaidisova has the most potential to maybe be a dominant player. What is most disconcerting of her so far is her nerves. She seems to be making strides on how to construct her points, moving better, playing some better defence.

However in her first slam semi vs Kuznetsova she dictated the match, served for a straights set win in the 2nd set, choked, then fell apart the rest of the match. That is perhaps understandable, dissapointing but understandable, it was her first slam semi after all. However then in the Australian Open semis vs Serena this past year she again chokes trying to finish out the 1st set. While her game did not completely fall apart afterwords, as it did in the French Open semis, she still had a serious emotional letdown and could not recover enough to keep up her level of tennis of the first set in the second set. Then Wimbledon this year vs Ivanovic in the quarters, blowing a match point and a big lead in the 3rd and final set. Usually young players learn from those type of experiences. How to close out matches or sets, or how to battle through adversity, is not something she seems to be making any progress in.

anointedone said:

I like Vaidisova. I see her as a technicaly sounder superior version of Sharapova. While I think Jankovic and Ivanovic both have great potential, and potential to win slams in the future, I think of all 3 Vaidisova has the most potential to maybe be a dominant player. What is most disconcerting of her so far is her nerves. She seems to be making strides on how to construct her points, moving better, playing some better defence.

However in her first slam semi vs Kuznetsova she dictated the match, served for a straights set win in the 2nd set, choked, then fell apart the rest of the match. That is perhaps understandable, dissapointing but understandable, it was her first slam semi after all. However then in the Australian Open semis vs Serena this past year she again chokes trying to finish out the 1st set. While her game did not completely fall apart afterwords, as it did in the French Open semis, she still had a serious emotional letdown and could not recover enough to keep up her level of tennis of the first set in the second set. Then Wimbledon this year vs Ivanovic in the quarters, blowing a match point and a big lead in the 3rd and final set. Usually young players learn from those type of experiences. How to close out matches or sets, or how to battle through adversity, is not something she seems to be making any progress in.

Click to expand...

Thank you, I love the way you think. But I have seen and read a few pieces in her and have seen a lot of her matches. I have no idea why but I think I like the girl..lol

But she has displayed some nerves in the big stages in matches that she was dominating, also in the matches she has displayed some nice versatility, which will help her in the long run. Mentally when she puts it together I think she will dominate for years to come, her support team seems very strong and have the right idea in constructing her future.

MEAC_ALLAMERICAN said:

Thank you, I love the way you think. But I have seen and read a few pieces in her and have seen a lot of her matches. I have no idea why but I think I like the girl..lol

But she has displayed some nerves in the big stages in matches that she was dominating, also in the matches she has displayed some nice versatility, which will help her in the long run. Mentally when she puts it together I think she will dominate for years to come, her support team seems very strong and have the right idea in constructing her future.

Click to expand...

The support team is a big problem in my opinion. Vaidisova radiates insecurity, her need to look up at her team after every significant point and her tendency to complain to them when things don't go her way speaks volumes. When you look at the [relatively] mentally stronger women in Serena, Venus, Henin and Sharapova they rarely look up to their box seeking validation, the times they do look up there it's to pump a fist to psyche themselves up.

Vaidisova needs to learn to stand on her own when she steps up to that line.

1: Henin
2: Ivanovic
3: Jankovic
4: Serena
5: Sharapova

Serena will be number 1 after USO.
Sharapova and Mauresmo will be out of the top ten.
Venus will be number 2 in the world.
Jankovic number 4.
Henin number 3.

Alexandros said:

The support team is a big problem in my opinion. Vaidisova radiates insecurity, her need to look up at her team after every significant point and her tendency to complain to them when things don't go her way speaks volumes. When you look at the [relatively] mentally stronger women in Serena, Venus, Henin and Sharapova they rarely look up to their box seeking validation, the times they do look up there it's to pump a fist to psyche themselves up.

Vaidisova needs to learn to stand on her own when she steps up to that line.

Click to expand...

Whoa there- Henin looks up at her coach after EVERY SINGLE POINT. I'm not exagerating. Everytime she's doing bad in a match, she looks to him for comfort, like a security blanket. Watch the Wimbledon semis for the most recent example.

Vaidisova has a different look when she looks up. Sort of a half-crying look. "What's wrong with me today??? Help me!!"

Yeah what superman1 said; Henin looks up for reassurance but doesn't look like she expects/is looking for validation from there. When Vaidisova looks to her box it seems she's doing either one of three things:

a) yeah, check out that shot!
b) i can't keep a ball in, help!
c) i'm losing this match because of you guys

serena could be number one if she can stay healthy and play enough events. venus could also if she play at the level she played at wimbleon and played enough events and won.

Justine H!!!!!!!!

Alexandros said:

Yeah what superman1 said; Henin looks up for reassurance but doesn't look like she expects/is looking for validation from there. When Vaidisova looks to her box it seems she's doing either one of three things:

a) yeah, check out that shot!
b) i can't keep a ball in, help!
c) i'm losing this match because of you guys

Click to expand...

How many of Justines matches have you watched lately?

Justine is 25, Nicole is 17, give the kid a break.

MEAC_ALLAMERICAN said:

How many of Justines matches have you watched lately?

Justine is 25, Nicole is 17, give the kid a break.

Click to expand...

I've watched a heap of Justine's matches in Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

I'm not trying to disparage/put down Vaidisova in particular, I think she is a fantastic talent and has the most potential out of any of the youngsters to dominate. Her game is similar to Venus Williams (moreso than to Sharapova's), devastating open stanced backhand and one of the best forehands on tour (only bettered by Ivanovic and possibly Serena imo). Great serve, good movement for someone of her size and fair touch at the net. If she gets her head on straight and believes more in herself and her abilities (as Ivanovic is starting to do) she has the game to really impose herself on her peers and become a dominant player.

I agree with Alexandros's accessment of Vaidisova's game. I always believed she had the potential to be a better player then Sharapova as well. I have said that for a long time, and people laugh at me sometimes, but I still believe that. I think it is possible that all of Jankovic, Ivanovic, Vaidisova surpass Sharapova in the next year or so, but of all of those I think Nicole has the most potential to dominant perhaps.

I also find it interesting how much more Vaidisova was able to hang with Serena in slugfests at the Australian Open and Nasdaq so much better then Sharapova was able to. I shouldnt overstate, since Serena still didnt lose a set to either opponent in either event, so clearly was the better player in all 4 matches. However the Vaidisova matches looked like much more of a sluggers delight battle, while the Sharpova-Serena looked more like a sluggers mismatch/ exhibition by Serena with no semblance of battle.

I kind of agree to what you guys are saying about the VAIDISOVA/SHARAPOVA debate. It's easy to compare them because they are somewhat attractive blonds. I agree that Nicole Vaidisova's strokes are more technically solid and her serve is just as big as Sharapova's and her service motion is SO SMOOTH. Which leads to my point, Sharapova's starting to have the serving yips....aka the Anna/Elena syndrome. And once you start having doubts about your 2nd serve, it's very hard to recover from that. Maria at one time according to Mary Carillo had the best 2nd serve in women's tennis. This was because she went for it and hit it very flat above the 90mph range consistently and DIDN'T double fault hardly at all...but now days her serve is getting worse since her "shoulder injuries"....she doesn't have that fearless, free-swinging confidence on serve like she used to....which I'm not trying to play devil's advocate here by any means, but I'm just saying that Maria really needs to train even harder to find a level better than she was this time LAST year and even some of 04 and 05...this is because there are more athletic girls (better movers) that can do the same things she can...serve big and hit relentless groundstrokes. Sharapova is not as gifted of a mover as Venus or Serena, especially Venus...which both sisters hit bigger serves and harder groundies. Ana Ivanovic moves relatively well...and she's slowly starting to surpass Maria...killed her twice this year easily and has done better in the last 2 slams...now I'm not bashing Maria by any means, but back to Vaidisova comparison...I think Vaidisova has a better all-around game than Sharapova and may eventually surpass her. BUT what Sharapova does have is a champion's heart and VERY FEW players have that. None of her younger Peers have achieved that status just yet (ie Ivanovic, Vaidisova, Chakvetadze, Peer [no pun intended...lol]) Many people thought Anna Kournikova would surpass both Williams sisters and Hingis, and there was reason to think that because she had an impressive junior career and Nick Bollettieri said that she was the best prospect and natural talent he had ever seen come to his academy even today. Yes, Nick still thinks Anna was the most talented female junior ever to come through his academy....but what she did not do was DEVELOP to her full potential or listen to his advice for a long enough period (if you know the Anna story, Anna's mom made her leave the academy prematurely, but Nick wanted her to stay at the academy because he wanted to work on a few things with her mainly her serve). And of course, she wasn't the strongest player mentally...And I guess this leads to my point, Does Vaidisova have the talent to challenge for slam titles...that is a resounding yes...However, does she have the mental capability? We'll see...

Andy Zarzuela said:

I kind of agree to what you guys are saying about the VAIDISOVA/SHARAPOVA debate. It's easy to compare them because they are somewhat attractive blonds. I agree that Nicole Vaidisova's strokes are more technically solid and her serve is just as big as Sharapova's and her service motion is SO SMOOTH. Which leads to my point, Sharapova's starting to have the serving yips....aka the Anna/Elena syndrome. And once you start having doubts about your 2nd serve, it's very hard to recover from that. Maria at one time according to Mary Carillo had the best 2nd serve in women's tennis. This was because she went for it and hit it very flat above the 90mph range consistently and DIDN'T double fault hardly at all...but now days her serve is getting worse since her "shoulder injuries"....she doesn't have that fearless, free-swinging confidence on serve like she used to....which I'm not trying to play devil's advocate here by any means, but I'm just saying that Maria really needs to train even harder to find a level better than she was when she was this time last year and even some of 04 and 05...this is because there are more athletic girls (better movers) that can do the same things she can...serve big and hit relentless groundstrokes. Sharapova is not as gifted of a mover as Venus or Serena, especially Venus...which both sisters hit bigger serves and harder groundies. Ana Ivanovic moves relatively well...and she's slowly starting to surpass Maria...killed her twice this year easily and has done better in the last 2 slams...now I'm not bashing Maria by any means, but back to Vaidisova comparison...I think Vaidisova has a better all-around game than Sharapova and may eventually surpass her. BUT what Sharapova does have is a champion's heart and very few players have that. Many people thought Anna Kournikova would surpass both Williams sisters and Hingis, and there was reason to think that because she had an impressive junior career and Nick Bollettieri said that she was the best prospect and natural talent he had ever seen come to his academy even today. Yes, Nick still thinks Anna was the most talented female junior ever to come through his academy....but what she did not do was DEVELOP or listen to his advice for a long enough period (if you know the Anna story, Anna's mom made her leave the academy prematurely)....And I guess this leads to my point, Does Vaidisova have the talent to challenge for slam titles...that is a resounding yes...However, does she have the mental capability? We'll see...

Click to expand...

Very interesting points. I pretty much agree with all of that. Definitely on Marias dilemna, Anas (the current one) progress compared to Maria, and Nicoles outlook.

As for Anna, I dont know much of her story but her being coach by her mom always seemed like it was really holding her back. Then again I feel kind of strange saying that when the Williams were both coached by a parent too their whole pro career. However everything seemed to work for them the unconvential way, it doesnt mean it will for others too.

MEAC_ALLAMERICAN said:

Serena or Venus doesn't play enough tournaments to accumulate the points needed to become #1.

Click to expand...

Both sisters are more concerned abt winning the Grand Slams than the ranking at this moment.

robin7 said:

Both sisters are more concerned abt winning the Grand Slams than the ranking at this moment.

Click to expand...

They always have been. I dont blame them either. Womens rankings are a joke anyway these days. Slamless Davenport year end #1 in 2001 over Capriati and Venus, each with 2 slams. Hingis going over 11 slams without winning one before losing the #1 ranking for good. Slamless Clijsters #1 until almost the final event of 2003, over Serena and Justine each with 2 slams.

I would think it will be Henin, though I really, really like Jankovic's games and attitude, I am not so sure about this year's end ranking results. Sharapova I believe has too many contenders, and those who can beat her, though she is very very good, I don't think she will bypass Henin. Venus and Serena, great players and fighters, but for the week in week out schedule, seems others get it done far more often than they.

Looking at the race again:

1. Justine Henin 3245.00, 9
2. Jelena Jankovic 2990.00 18
3. Ana Ivanovic 2431.00 13
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova 2161.00 12
5. Serena Williams 2141.00 7
6. Maria Sharapova 1785.00 8
7. Venus Williams 1630.00 8

I really should not have included Sharapova and Venus as options at all, and should have included Ivanovic as one instead. Sharapova and Venus are just too many points back to ever catch up. Also in Marias case the bigger question might how far she drops.

Maria is ranked #2 now, but has a ton of points to defend. Justine has a U.S Open final, and year end Championships, but other then that was injured both in the summer and fall and hardly played anything else. No way on earth Maria catches her, and almost no way she stays #2. The bigger question for her is how far she will fall.