Petra Martinnen
Rookie
Mary Joe Fernandez noted during banter from Charleston that a WTA gal hits her peak at age 28. Drysdale asked her about this while yapping about Serena.
Let’s Go To The Record (way back 20 years!!)
Yes Navratilova was at her zenith at age 27 to 30 as were big names of ancient times like Billy Jean Moffat King and Margaret Smith Court. But they didn’t play mostly on grueling hard courts.
Graf was invincible from age 18 to 26. By age 27, Steffi was decimated by many knee injuries and won only 1 of her 22 slams after age 27.
Seles won her 9th and last slam at age 21 and was dominant from 17 to 19.
Sanchez Vicario was at her peak at age 19 to 26.
Gabriella Sabatini was at her best ages 17 to 24 and retired at age 26.
Conchita Martinez won her sole Slam at age 22 and was at her best at age 19 - 24.
Hingis won her 5 slams from age 16-19.
Davenport won her slams by age 23.
Serena and Venus were at their peaks at age 19 to 23
Capriati won her slams by age 25 and was a phenom at 15.
Pierce was at her peak from 18 to 24.
Sharapova has been a superstar and the top paid female athlete on earth from age 17 to 21 (now). True, she may peak in 7 years, though I wouldn’t bank on her body holding out.
Clijsters retired at age 24.
Myskina retired at age 25
Henin is 26 and looks nearly finished
Mauresmo, a “late bloomer” peaked at age 23-26.
Kuznetsova won her only slam at age 18 and is now 22. Will she also peak in 6 years?
Dementieva has been at the same level from age 18 to 24. She likely will not be better at age 28.
And how about Mary Joe Fernandez herself? Well she was at her best at age 19 and made her only slam final at age 22. MJ’s top years were from age 19-26.
Which top players of the past 20 years am I missing? Who was at a peak at age 28?
Let’s Go To The Record (way back 20 years!!)
Yes Navratilova was at her zenith at age 27 to 30 as were big names of ancient times like Billy Jean Moffat King and Margaret Smith Court. But they didn’t play mostly on grueling hard courts.
Graf was invincible from age 18 to 26. By age 27, Steffi was decimated by many knee injuries and won only 1 of her 22 slams after age 27.
Seles won her 9th and last slam at age 21 and was dominant from 17 to 19.
Sanchez Vicario was at her peak at age 19 to 26.
Gabriella Sabatini was at her best ages 17 to 24 and retired at age 26.
Conchita Martinez won her sole Slam at age 22 and was at her best at age 19 - 24.
Hingis won her 5 slams from age 16-19.
Davenport won her slams by age 23.
Serena and Venus were at their peaks at age 19 to 23
Capriati won her slams by age 25 and was a phenom at 15.
Pierce was at her peak from 18 to 24.
Sharapova has been a superstar and the top paid female athlete on earth from age 17 to 21 (now). True, she may peak in 7 years, though I wouldn’t bank on her body holding out.
Clijsters retired at age 24.
Myskina retired at age 25
Henin is 26 and looks nearly finished
Mauresmo, a “late bloomer” peaked at age 23-26.
Kuznetsova won her only slam at age 18 and is now 22. Will she also peak in 6 years?
Dementieva has been at the same level from age 18 to 24. She likely will not be better at age 28.
And how about Mary Joe Fernandez herself? Well she was at her best at age 19 and made her only slam final at age 22. MJ’s top years were from age 19-26.
Which top players of the past 20 years am I missing? Who was at a peak at age 28?