Will a strategic/smart player ever dominate the WTA again?

[Mr Topspin]

I have been watching the Radwanska sisters who have done quite well from juniors to the seniors. The elder Radwanska has managed to get inside the top 20. But i am wondering how far she could go. Agniezka Radwanska plays with a lot of variety and has been likened to Martina Hingis. But she finds herslef in the era of power with big hitters like the Williams' sisters, Sharapova, Kuznetsova, Dementieva, Safina, Vaidisova amongst others. She also has to contend with Ivanovic who is closer to her age. But if she can handle her generation of big hitters then the elder generation will all be gone in a few years when she hits her prime. Thoughts?

 

[soyizgood]

Radwanska looks very promising. She has room to improve and if she keeps this up I could see her in the top 6 in the next year. Many of the top 10 are either injured or injury prone (Sharapova, Jankovic), getting old (Venus, Serena, Dementieva), have some maturing to do (Ivanovic, Safina), or just find new ways to lose (Kuznetsova).

 

[superman1]

Not for a while. The women's field is completely pathetic. Jankovic especially is a joke.

 

[Dr. Acula]

Not for a while. The women's field is completely pathetic. Jankovic especially is a joke.

Why do people say stuff like this. "This top ranked player who could beat me off-handed is pathetic."

Perhaps you don't particularly enjoy the play style but anyone on the tour is not pathetic.

Don't hate, it doesn't look good on you.

 

[soyizgood]

There may be hope. Coin simply played a smarter match than the #1 seed today.

 

[Skooler]

Why do people say stuff like this. "This top ranked player who could beat me off-handed is pathetic."

Perhaps you don't particularly enjoy the play style but anyone on the tour is not pathetic.

Don't hate, it doesn't look good on you.

of course jankovic is better than almost everyone here, but most of these comments are made based on the standard of play set by previous professional women and maybe men.

 

[SempreSami]

Not for a while. The women's field is completely pathetic. Jankovic especially is a joke.

Why? Because she plays through tournaments injured? Ivanovic has missed several tournaments recently with niggly little injuries and look at what it's done for her game.

 

[matchmaker]

I think a smart and strategic player can dominate but she would also have to be endowed with the necessary power to hang with the hardhitters.

 

[superman1]

Why? Because she plays through tournaments injured? Ivanovic has missed several tournaments recently with niggly little injuries and look at what it's done for her game.

She's seriously injured 365 days of the year and in every match she plays, but somehow has the courage to tough it out and grind out 3 setters against choking opponents. A true champion. And those massages really work wonders at curing debilitating injuries that cause you to collapse to the floor in agonizing pain, inches from death.

 

[wyutani]

this is the best time for the williams sisters to rise.

 

[superman1]

Why do people say stuff like this. "This top ranked player who could beat me off-handed is pathetic."

Perhaps you don't particularly enjoy the play style but anyone on the tour is not pathetic.

Don't hate, it doesn't look good on you.

You're right, we should all only say positive things about everyone. Sunshine and rainbows and all of that. "Yay Jankovic, you're a great champion and so much better than me!!!!!!!111"

Nah, I'll bash them all I want. Women's tennis is horrific to watch, which is okay for me because I give them 5 minutes then just fast forward to the next men's match.

 

[rosewall4ever]

will their ever be a smart female player to dominate? - Just ask the swiss for their next promising junior...they produced two of the best players of that kind...they must be doing something right...programme, player development etc.

 

[grafrules]

It obviously can happen since it has happened very recently. That player was Henin last year who dominated 2007 with a smart/strategic game. The year before that it was Henin and Mauresmo together dominating 2006 with smart/strategic game. Unfortunately Henin is retired and Mauresmo is done, so someone new like them will have to emerge.

It is much more doable now since the best of the power players- Williams and Sharapova are either clearly past their peak (both Williams) or oft injured of late (Sharapova).

 

[crazylevity]

To dominate the WTA, you need to have the smarts/strategy AND the power to pull it off...an all-rounder like a Fed or Henin is the key to being able to deal with all types of opponents.

 

[swimntennis]

Specifically referring to Agnieszka, it can happen. She doesn't have the power that the "power-players" have, but she uses their pace to redirect the ball wonderfully. Although she possesses much variety and touch, her biggest asset (IMO) is her mental game. She is tough as nails mentally and rarely, if ever, chokes. The few times I have seen her choke a lead, she usually ends up winning the match anyway, even if it is a set and an hour later. If she continues to improve as she has in the last couple of years, I can see her being one of the best players in the game on a consistent basis.

 

[Mr Topspin]

It obviously can happen since it has happened very recently. That player was Henin last year who dominated 2007 with a smart/strategic game. The year before that it was Henin and Mauresmo together dominating 2006 with smart/strategic game. Unfortunately Henin is retired and Mauresmo is done, so someone new like them will have to emerge.

It is much more doable now since the best of the power players- Williams and Sharapova are either clearly past their peak (both Williams) or oft injured of late (Sharapova).

I must not have watched the same ladies Wimbledon final as you. The one I saw was an all Williams' final which was won by Venus in straight sets. It was her 5th Wimbledon and her 2nd in a row. I would hardly call her past her peak. Both Williams' sisters won the doubles and repeated the feat at the Olympics.

Serena has been one of the form players this year despite not winning a slam.
I think both Williams' have a few good years left imo.