Serena and Maria will have a great battle for #1 this year I predict.

[davey25]

As poor as the quality of tennis was at the Australian Open, for the woman, I personally could see things picking up later in the year. The highlight of the year in womens tennis could be the emerging rivalry between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. Their match at the Australian Open was dissapointing with both players playing far below their best. Both showed tremendous fighting spirit though, Serena a bit more on that day, which is why she prevailed. I am looking forward to more encounters between the two, and could see the next one living up to expectations.

I would project those two to battle for #1 this year. Davenport does not seem to have the mental werewithal to win a slam again, and Henin might have trouble being on top form soon in her comeback. It would be great to see them play in 1 or 2 more slam finals before the year is out.

 

[driger]

be nice to see henin back in the thick of things too.

 

[Vlad]

I see Svetlana as potentially a better player than Maria Sharapova. All these doping allegations during AO took its toll on the young Russian. Even players like Dementieva said something like she doesn't feel like talking to Sveta after all that happened. THis is just wrong. I am glad that some players like Molik provided a lot of support for Sveta in that difficult situation.

 

[danniflava]

GO SERENA. Serena will get the #1 ranking once again, I promise.

 

[Saschanator]

Lets not forget henin won the olympic during her injury. So we never know

 

[norcal]

GO SERENA. Serena will get the #1 ranking once again, I promise.

Don't make promises your body can't keep---Scorpions, 80's metal band.

 

[RoddickRulez]

I hope serena dominates sharapova this year

 

[RoddickRulez]

Her (sharapova) screams are so annoying
only reason why people like her is because of her looks

 

[Vlad]

Hmm, Seles screamed a lot and people still liked her..
Are you gonna tell it was all because of her looks?????

 

[RoddickRulez]

no i'm saying this for sharapova

 

[Lee]

you kiddin? her looks are only AVERAGE. She needs a boob job and some acne treatment.

 

[wildbill88AA]

maria is fine and will be the most attractive #1 ever.

vlad, you must not have been watching the AO or wta championships:

I see Svetlana as potentially a better player than Maria Sharapova.

maria's game, at 17, is easily bigger than anybody elses, except maybe serena's, when shes playing well. the other russian women want nothing to do with maria, because they know there not in the same league.

 

[pound cat]

I think Sharapova will be ground down and out by the pressure of her father, the media, the sponsors. Serena will be #1 all year if she wants to be. Bookmark this post.

 

[davey25]

I think Sharapova will be ground down and out by the pressure of her father, the media, the sponsors. Serena will be #1 all year if she wants to be. Bookmark this post.

Yeah but then you can just say Serena didnt "want" to be #1 all year if she isnt. You gave yourself a good safety net. In any case, even if you feel Serena will be #1, I dont understand the basis of it having anything to do with Maria being under "too much pressure." I think Serena is under more pressure than Maria, everybody expects her to win every event, Maria is a young girl who is still improving and as long as she does that her sponsers, dad, and fans are probably pleased, she doesnt have to win every event like Serena does.

 

[Tenny]

maria is fine and will be the most attractive #1 ever. I see Svetlana as potentially a better player than Maria Sharapova.

Maria will be fine (Her biggest asset is her determination, will power). Attractive? She is OK. Needs classier fashion sense (PLS cover yourself more, girl).

Now seriously, I haven't seen Svetlana vs Maria match. How would you guys compare these two? How about 3 yrs later?

 

[Vlad]

maria is fine and will be the most attractive #1 ever.

vlad, you must not have been watching the AO or wta championships:

I see Svetlana as potentially a better player than Maria Sharapova.

maria's game, at 17, is easily bigger than anybody elses, except maybe serena's, when shes playing well. the other russian women want nothing to do with maria, because they know there not in the same league.

OK, I admit that I don't watch women's tennis a lot but I saw Kuzzy - Maria match and I thought that Kuzzy has a game that is just as big as Masha's. Sveta moves a lot better than Masha.
In YEC in LA last year, Sveta was really tired after all that tennis she played in the fall, so you can just throw away that match.

Maria's game is not as consistent as Sveta's as of yet, so only time will tell how they would develop.

 

[driger]

svetslana has a big forehand. just about everything in marias game is big.

 

[davey25]

Maria and Svetlana are both huge hitters and can challenge Serena in the power department when they are playing well. Svetlana more consistent than Maria though? No way, all she does is club forehand with all her might and hope they clear the net, she misses more in the net than long.
Look at the quarterfinal between Sharapova and Kuznetsova in the Aussie Open this year. Kuznetsova could barely put her big forehand in court the last two sets, she is not the more consistent player right now.

 

[Arc]

the other russian women want nothing to do with maria, because they know there not in the same league.

you ARE aware that Dementieva whooped Sharapova in a warm-up tournament the week before the Australian Open?

 

[wildbill88AA]

arc-
warm-up? u mean exhibition. elana managed to take her in 3 sets. not much of a whooping. the most important shot in tennis is the serve. i rest my case. i'm not saying maria will never lose to the other russians. elena does have a great ground game, but i think marias is a little bigger. elena does have some problems with nerves. elana, like maria, does take great photos though.