While her performance has been amazing in Miami and Indian Wells, Clijsters would seriously have to win at least two slams this year to get to #1. And, she's apparently gonig to play a very reduced schedule, consisting only of Tier I tournaments and Grand Slams. And by winning Miami and Indian Wells, it has really shown nothing about how she'll be in the slams again. She's won Miami before, only to choke hard in the slams. US Open 03 was a perfect example. Two set point. She wins those, the match is over. Chrissy was out of gas. But, we screw up, and continue to be crap in major finals. I really wouldn't be suprised if after all the confidence with the comback she didn't win a slam this year. Anyway, here are my predictions:
Men:
Roland Garros: Winner - Random. Finalist - Random. I really think it will be two very random top 20 players in the final. RG is good at doing that. Probably the top 10 player winning over the top 20 player. They both slip into oblivion after the tournament.
Wimbledon: Winner - Federer. Finalist - Roddick. Federer drops one set in route - to Karlovic. End.
US Open: Winner - Federer. Finalist - Safin or Hewitt. You never know if the oaf will show up. If he does I think he makes the final. Yay. But, I also could see a 2r tank happening, so then you could see Hewitt make it. Federer dominance continues, yawns.
Year End Rankings: #1 Federer, winning the Masters. #2 Hewitt, extremely consistent, rarely losing before the SF at any tournament. Masters finalist. #3 Safin, will go on a rampage during indoor season.
Women:
Roland Garros: Winner - Random. Finalist - Kim. This is why Roland Garros annoys me alot on the women's side. Some random Russian will win it, and Kim will choke hard in the final. Myskina will lose 3r, and her ranking will finally die. Same with Dementieva, but I'd give her until the 4r.
Wimbledon: Winner - Serena. Finalist - Lindsay. I really think it could go either way between the two, but Lindsay is a freak in slams lately. Maria will lose in the QF to one of them, easily. Her 6-0 6-0 loss in Indian Wells said alot to me, a damn lot. Capriati situation develops in a year or so.
US Open: Winner - Serena. Finalist - Lindsay. Again, could go either way. But Lindsay gets really stupid. Sveta's ranking will die. Lindsay will announce and then take back her retirement for the 13th time.
Year End Rankings: #1 Lindsay, yes, her again. She's going to be freaky consistent. I think she'll only lose before the finals no more than four times, and then those times probably lose in the SF or QF. Probably five or six titles, and as I said, I see her making three slam finals too. But, you never know with her.
#2, Mauresmo. We'll make a joke of the WTA with this one again. She'll make YEC final, and lose 6-1 6-0 to Kim.
#3, Serena. Even though she'll win another slam or even another two this year, she'll be sick with Bahamaitis for most of the year, and just won't play enough.