Suga Babes in Pre-Wimbledon Party

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Rafael Nadal

There will be a time and place to celebrate the winners of the first two men’s singles quarterfinals at the 2010 Australian Open. (In the next post, actually!) But one can’t comment on two riveting spectacles at Melbourne Park without addressing the acute agony of the valiant competitors who lost on Tuesday.

Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal, for all they’ve achieved in the sport they love so much, were left to wonder how their best efforts – not their best technical performances, but their best and most spirited fights – could lead to such physical pain combined with disappointingly early exits from Australia.

Roddick, the seventh seed, lost to 14th-seeded Marin Cilic in the day’s first quarterfinal, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3. Nadal, the No. 2 seed and the defending champion, lost the first two sets against fifth-rated Andy Murray before retiring in the third set of a match the Scotsman led, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 3-0. While Cilic and Murray entirely earned their spots in the first men’s semifinal on Thursday night, the recognizable opponents they defeated could tell plentifully powerful tales in defeat.

For Roddick, the nature of his loss had to sting in a larger context. Roddick, a 27-year-old who has been through so many tennis wars in his career, has long been a victim of terrible timing. If Roddick had hit his prime years even two years earlier than he actually did, the American likely would have captured at least one Wimbledon, if not two. However, this mainstay in the top 10 on the ATP Tour just happened to develop at the same time that a Swiss fellow named Roger Federer discovered how to blend mental toughness with a full arsenal of shots. As a result, Federer would win multiple Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and Australian Open titles at Roddick’s expense.

But that doesn’t tell the whole story about the terrible timing of Roddick’s lucrative but trophy-poor tennis life.

Bad timing also touched Roddick’s 2005 Wimbledon final against Federer. With Roddick playing his very best tennis and leading the Swiss superstar 4-2 in the third set of a match tied at one set apiece, the skies opened up in suburban London and caused a rain delay. Given a crucial break, Federer regrouped and dominated when play resumed. Because of the weather, Roddick lost one of his best chances to claim a Wimbledon championship.

But an even more excruciating loss would come four years later.

Roddick – at 8-all in the fifth set – had 15-40 on Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final. Just one more point would have enabled this Texas resident to serve for the crown he had always coveted. But his Swiss foe played two authoritative points, held for 9-8, and eventually won the third set, 16-14, to deny Roddick yet again. A hard-working athlete proved to be in the right place, but not at the wrong time.

This brings us to the loss to Cilic.

Roddick was playing an opponent who had just come off a 4-hour, 38-minute win in the fourth round of this event. Heading into this match, Roddick had a good chance to win by virtue of his physical fitness developed under coach Larry Stefanki.

Instead, Roddick’s body betrayed him at the wrong time. Early in the second set, he asked for an ATP trainer. It was revealed after the match that he felt numbness in two of his fingers along with an achy shoulder that took a lot of pop from his fearsome serve. The lack of punch in Roddick’s groundstrokes was evident against Cilic, who – though inconsistent – was able to lift his level of play in the fifth set.

Basically, if Andy Roddick didn’t have bad luck, he wouldn’t have any luck at all.

And then there was Rafael Nadal’s sad end against his rival from Scotland.

Nadal and Murray played two thrilling sets of tennis that were closely contested and turned on a handful of points. Nadal broke Murray in each of the first two sets, only to get broken back in the very next game. Murray played the best major tournament match of his career (which is saying something for the No. 4 player in the world), but even when he took a two-set lead, Nadal – who moved fluidly around the court – still had a shot to create a protracted battle. If anyone could come from two sets down, the six-time Major champion could.

But then, his dream – and his Australian Open title defense – died.

Nadal felt a twinge in his knee – which has been affected by tendonitis in recent months – on the second point of the second game of the third set. The Spaniard tried to make a go of it, but when Murray held for 3-0, this decorated performer felt there was little use trying to continue. Just when Nadal had seemingly regained a strong measure of health, his balky body spoke up at exactly the wrong time.

Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal have nice problems compared to many, but that doesn’t change the fact that they endured very difficult losses in a tournament they hoped to own.

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My colleague Hiland has broken down the draws for the tournament, so this preview will focus on some of the themes and questions that will dominate the next two weeks Down Under.

* QUESTION: Is Victoria Azarenka fit and focused enough to make a big move?

It’s worth recalling that Azarenka has played Serena Williams (the defending champion and a four-time winner of this event) in each of the past two Australian Opens. In 2008, the Belorussian got drummed out of town in a decisive 6-3, 6-4 defeat.

Last year, however, was different… but with a cruel conclusion to a midday match played in this tournament’s broiling summer sunshine.

Azarenka took command in the first set and whipped Serena, 6-3. However, emergent and persistent dizziness – a combination of fatigue, nerves and susceptibility to the heat – forced Azarenka to retire from the match with Serena leading, 4-2, in the second set.

While some observers of women’s tennis – recalling Justine Henin’s retirement in the 2006 Australian Open final against Amelie Mauresmo – might have been inclined to think that Azarenka should have been able to “tough it out” against the best player on the WTA Tour, the fact of the matter was that Azarenka appeared to be on the verge of passing out when she toed the service line midway through the second set. The chemical cocktail inside that 19-year-old body produced enough anxiety and physiological distress to short-circuit her system.

As Azarenka prepares for another grueling experience in the Southern Hemisphere (she and her support staff are certainly hoping for night matches in Melbourne), it will be interesting to see how the 20-year-old, seeded seventh, carries her body and mind through the rigors of major tournament combat. Serena lurks as a potential quarterfinal opponent. If the two meet, perhaps a first-set victory won’t be followed by a physical failure this time around.

THEME: Non-majors versus majors: two different beasts

Yes, Kim Clijsters beat Justine Henin in the final of the Brisbane International event just over a week ago, but when it comes to major championships, Henin has claimed seven scalps to just two for her countrywoman and rival.

Clijsters was indeed a mentally liberated player at the U.S. Open last September in New York, but it needs to be noted that if Serena Williams had not been defaulted for her outburst of obscenities, Clijsters would have still had to win another point in that memorable semifinal. Some skeptics in the world of women’s tennis want to see Clijsters win the final point of a match against a player of Serena’s caliber. That line of thought might be unfair, but it exists, and it might have a small degree of psychological merit.

Clijsters’ physical freshness paid off for her in the United States, while the rest of the women’s field was laboring near the end of a long season. Now that the rest of the WTA has been able to take a break over the just-concluded offseason, Clijsters won’t be able to count on fitness as a foremost advantage. It’s Henin who, due to a comeback that was announced after Clijsters’ crowning victory in New York, will have more fuel left in the tank.

Ultimately, Clijsters needs to retain the mental toughness she found at the U.S. Open. If this tennis mom can continue to find serenity between the painted white lines, she just might be able to become the best Belgian in women’s tennis. If the two meet in the quarterfinals (Elena Dementieva will have something to say about that; the Russian should face Henin in what would be a jawdropping second-rounder), a lot of questions will be answered.

QUESTION: Are the Russians ready to stop being headcases?

Dementieva. Safina. Svetlana Kuznetsova. These three women own the strokes and the strength needed to play championship-level tennis. They’ve all reached the finals of majors, and Kuznetsova has managed to win on two occasions. But oh, how many premium prizes have eluded these ladies because of their inability to handle the pressure of big-time tennis?

If any of these three fearsome forces can ever find the right formula between the ears, an Australian Open title contender will instantly emerge.

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Under normal circmstances, such a performance would have led to a decisive loss. But this was no ordinary day in the California desert, and Nadal, of course, is no ordinary player.

In the face of strong winds that varied from 15 to 30 miles per hour, Nadal was nothing short of magnificent in fighting through daunting conditions. Scotland’s Andy Murray was the unlucky student in this master class, as Nadal’s consistent precision carried the No. 1 player in the world to his second Indian Wells title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in 80 efficient minutes. Murray had another fine tournament marked by yet another triumph over Roger Federer, but Nadal once again reminded the Scot who rules the roost in men’s tennis.

Two years ago, Nadal broke through to win his first championship at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which was–at that time–the biggest hardcourt trophy of the Mallorcan’s career. But with Federer owning the hardcourt slams in 2007, it seemed unlikely that Nadal would conquer the concrete surface anytime soon. Now that he’s bagged yet another title at this prestigious event, Rafa–fresh off his first hardcourt slam title in Australia–has only cemented his status as an elite player on surfaces other than clay. Nadal is a prohibitive favorite at every important tournament he enters, and this throttling of the fourth-seeded Murray showed why.

Murray, it should be said, hit only 22 unforced errors in this match. The word “only” is used because of the strong winds that wreaked havoc with both men’s groundstrokes. While it’s true that the desert gusts were even worse in the women’s title match that immediately preceded this showdown, the mortal enemy of all tennis players was still significant enough to toy with the forward motion of almost every shot. Nadal and Murray, all things considered, did extremely well to combine for fewer than 40 errors. Nadal, though, raised his “bad weather game” to an art form.

Sometimes driving his backhand through the wind for a screaming winner, and other times hitting a teasingly gentle slice that bent from the middle of the court to Murray’s forehand corner, Nadal manipulated the ball with remarkable skill, putting the Scot on the defensive and establishing a winning position on most points. Impregnable from the back and supremely artful at the net, Nadal imposed himself on Murray in all facets of play. Even though the No. 4 seed competed vigorously and fought to the bitter end, the best player on the planet always had a superior answer, particularly on the many 30-all and deuce points that characterized most of the games in the match. The quality of the rallies produced by the two men were worthy of a close 6-4, 6-4 match, but Nadal’s otherworldly composure in the midst of nasty winds allowed the Spaniard to breeze home with another title.

The ATP Tour now heads to Miami for yet another 96-player, week-and-a-half event. Murray might make his presence felt, and a fellow named Federer could bounce back, but there’s only one man who will be favored to win in South Florida, and that man’s name is Rafael Nadal.

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As the match played out, Nadal’s ability to convert retrieves into winners put unexpected pressure on Federer. With the match on the line in the fifth set, Nadal was relentless. Just as he was in his five set semi-final win for the ages over Fernando Verdasco, Nadal played his best when the match was on the line. The intense pressure paid off for the Spaniard. Federer seemed hesitant and tentative as Nadal broke service in the pivotal fourth game and then secured the break with a love hold to make the score 4-1.

The feisty Spaniard is a compelling competitor. To the chagrin of his opponents, he often seems to be unaware of their presence. After his grueling 5 hour match with Verdasco, tennis experts wondered what toll the match would have in the final round. Nadal came out smoking. He powered his way to the first set and showed no ill affects from the brief one day rest between matches. With two days rest and perhaps a little too much time to strategize, Federer seemed slightly off his game.

Rafael solidified his well-deserved reputation as retriever extraordinaire and he refused to give in to Federer’s multi-faceted attack. Nadal did not give up on any shot. When points seemed over, he miraculously made saves and hit authoritative shots to get back in the point. With only 41 unforced errors in the match, Nadal consistently put pressure on Federer to make better and better shots.

Commentators noticed that Roger began moving around his backhand and often took himself out of position, opening the lanes for Nadal opportunities. Over his career, Federer has been a study in exquisitely controlled and adept groundstrokes. On this day, in this championship, Federer did hit more outright winners (71-50) and actually won one more point than Rafael. But, as he did throughout the Australian Open, Nadal once again proved to be the type player that does not go away easily. Verdasco and Federer both had statistical edges over the champion, but when all was said and done, the 22 year old with a long career ahead raised the year’s first Grand Slam trophy and fifth of his young career.

This was the Spaniard’s first Australian Open and this first final appearance in Melbourne. At 22, Rafael shows maturity and experience beyond his age. Always acknowledged as a clay court phenom, he now holds the 2009 Australian Open and the 2008 Wimbledon title as well as the 2008 French title. Generally regarded as a distracting opponent who takes his time between points and who takes control of the flow of the match, most professional players take offense at his demeanor. As the reigning Australian Open Champion and undisputed world number one, those traits will certainly not change.

Melbourne fans got their money’s worth in the semi-finals and finals. Nadal’s five hour Verdasco marathon exceeded five hours and is the longest match ever played in the Open while the final match against Federer closed in on five hours. Nadal does not seem dominant during the match. What is unmistakable is Rafael’s ability to drain his opponents. In these two highly-competitive matches, the Champion was clearly the better player at the end of each match. Players who are strong at the end, win titles. Congratulations to the strongest and most determined bull in the tennis ring!

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In the semis, Hantuchova and Sugiyama showed their usual camaraderie but took their teamwork to a new level. Sugiyama turned in a superlative volley and mid-volley game. Her low, close to the net strokes shortened the court and lured the opponents into uncomfortable mid-court positions. Meanwhile, Daniela patrolled the baseline like a hungry tigress. Her penetrating cross court forehands continuously drove Santangelo and Dechy deep behind the baseline.

Dechy and Santangelo tried a variety of strategies to offset the smooth play of their opposition. They staggered their alignments, juggled their positioning and mixed the pace of their strokes as well as any team could. Whatever they tried, Sugiyama and Hantuchova had the answers. Still riding the momentum from their thrilling win over the top seeded team of Huber and Raymond, Hantuchova and Sugiyama look poised to take on the power game of the Williams sisters.

Success at women’s doubles is nothing new to the American sister team. The Williams’s already possess three Grand Slam Doubles Titles. Even though seeded 10th, many experts and bookmakers liked the Williams entry from the beginning. Although Serena is still competing for the Singles Championship, she appears excited about her chances in the doubles. After an unexpected early departure from the singles by Venus, she has been able to concentrate on the doubles throne.

The sisters dominated Australia’s Casey Dellacqua and Italy’s Francesca Schiavone from the start in the 6-0, 6-2 semis. Most spectators left wondering who could challenge the two American sluggers.

The huge difference in serving velocity spelled doom for the underdogs right from the beginning. The Williams sisters were never threatened in the one hour contest. Serena, who had completed her singles romp, had a special day at Melbourne. If the sisters play with the same intensity in the finals, Hantuchova and Sugiyama may hard-pressed to survive and may well be left wondering what train just left the station..

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Everything about Venus Williams is larger than life. At 6’1”, 159 lbs. and with $22 million in career earnings and sporting lucrative endorsements, the 28 year old can seemingly do whatever she wants. Venus Williams is imposing and she is determined. What most fans fail to realize is that Venus Williams is bright, articulate, glamorous and sensitive.

Following her devastating loss to Carla Suarez Navarro in the 2nd round of the 2009 Australian Open, Venus’s commitment and skills again fell under the questioning eyes of the media. Most media experts wonder if it is time for the elder Williams to hang up her sneakers. Rarely do those experts talk about what Venus has brought to Women’s Tennis. When the tour was struggling with the retirement of many big-time players, Venus was there. Almost single-handedly she put Women’s Tennis on her shoulders and made all players raise the level of play. Thank you, Venus!

January 20th was a big day in the United States. New President Barrack Obama was sworn in during a poignant ceremony. Millions of Americans and millions of black Americans contemplatively celebrated the day and the event. The significance of the day was not missed buy the sensitive Williams. Venus preferred to watch the compelling events of the day live, rather than on tape delay. She made a conscientious choice to view all the day’s events live beginning at 3:00 a.m. Australian time

When Williams took the court against Carla Suarez Navarro, she was filled with emotion and operating on little sleep. However, she had experienced one of her country’s most important moments.

During post match interviews, Venus never referenced her commitment to this moment in history. She had made a private decision and one she would not reverse. She played to the best of her ability, absorbed her stunning defeat and did not second guess, make excuses or, when pressed, did not discuss retirement. There is no quit in Venus Williams. She is a sensitive, serious woman of extreme talent.

Tennis, America and the world will not benefit from the retirement of Venus Williams. There is a lot more to this woman than the game of tennis, but Venus continues to emphasize her love of the game. Rather than look back at the Suarez Navarro match, she looked forward to her doubles match with Serena. That is Venus Williams; always looking ahead, never looking back and performing with the grace, smile and demeanor of a champion. Please Venus, say it ain’t so. Do not leave us now!

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The draws for the 2009 Australian Open were announced on Friday in Melbourne. Here’s a look at the field of 128:

Best First-Round Matchup: (19) Daniela Hantuchova vs. Casey Dellacqua. Hantuchova possesses considerable talent but has historically lacked mental toughness, to put things mildly. Last year, the Slovak made a bold run to the semifinals before bowing to Ana Ivanovic in a wrenching three-setter. This year, Hantuchova didn’t receive any favors in her first-round draw, because she’ll be playing Dellacqua, an Australian who reached the fourth round of this event in 2008. A home-crowd advantage, plus the knowledge that she’s already been able to reach the second week of this tournament, should give Dellacqua a slight edge. Win or lose, however, this rates as an extremely attractive opening-round match in Melbourne Park.

Best potential second-round matchup: (10) Nadia Petrova vs. Sania Mirza. Petrova reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year and is always dangerous. “If only” are the words frequently attached to the Russian veteran, who simply needs to get out of her own way and not tighten up when a few points don’t go her way. If Petrova can get through her first-round match, she is likely to face Mirza, the Indian who endured a tough 2008 due to a nagging wrist injury. If her health improves, Mirza–who attained a top-30 singles ranking in the summer of 2007–has the game to become a formidable floater at slam events. The smart money, however, should rest with Petrova in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Best potential third-round matchup: (22) Zheng Jie vs. (9) Agnieszka Radwanska. The third round of the women’s draw offers many enticing possibilities. One could just as easily choose a top-20 battle between Victoria Azarenka and Amelie Mauresmo, or a similarly high-powered confrontation between 11th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki and No. 17 Anna Chakvetadze, but the feeling here is that a China-Poland pairing could create the most fireworks in the round of 32.

Mauresmo is a big name in women’s tennis, but the Frenchwoman needs to develop a little consistency before she can be seen as a legitimate threat. Chakvetadze, who endured a robbery of her home in 2008, was understandably unable to sustain the form that lifted her to a top-5 ranking in September of 2007. For these reasons, the best third-rounder on the big board is likely to come from Zheng and Radwanska, two players who could truly do damage in their section of the bracket.

Zheng stunned the women’s tennis world last season by reaching the Wimbledon semifinals and pushing Serena Williams in the second set of a 6-2, 7-6 (5) loss. Powerful baseline hitting and high-level court coverage earned Zheng a set point against the younger Williams sister, but the legend on the other side of the net was able to survive. Any doubts about this 25-year-old’s abilities should have been dispelled by that match. Zheng will be a tough out for any opponent in Australia.

If form holds in the first two rounds, Zheng should encounter a foe with the skills needed to take her out. Radwanska, though not yet 19 years of age, can already say that she’s reached the fourth round or better in all four Grand Slam events. Dating back to the 2007 U.S. Open, the clearly ascendant professional has reached the round of 16 in five straight slams, including a quarterfinal appearance at last year’s Australian Open. Other women’s matches might have bigger names or stars who have risen to greater heights, but a Zheng-Radwanska matchup promises the highest level of shotmaking and overall quality. Give a slight edge to Radwanska only because of her Grand Slam consistency.

The Fourth Round and Onward: Stacking Up the Seeds

To simplify matters for those who might have to look at the four different quarters of the draw, here are the highest seeds in each section, creating the template for the round of 16:

Top half of the draw, first quarter: (1) Jelena Jankovic and (16) Marion Bartoli; (10) Nadia Petrova and (7) Vera Zvonareva. If form holds here, Jankovic–even with her stomach ailments–should face Zvonareva, currently enjoying the highest singles ranking of her career. Bartoli’s physical fragility and Petrova’s mental frailty make it unlikely that an upset would occur in the top quarter of the bracket.

Top half, second quarter: (3) Dinara Safina and (15) Alize Cornet; (11) Caroline Wozniacki and (5) Ana Ivanovic. Safina, after her breakthrough last season, is the most formidable title contender other than the Williams sisters. In the other section of this quarter looms the most interesting fourth-round matchup. Wozniacki, a rapidly-improving Danish teenager who reached the fourth round of this tournament last year, will give an uncertain Ivanovic a stern test, and stands a very good chance of pulling off an upset, at least if the seedings are any indication. Expect Safina to meet Wozniacki in the second of the four women’s quarterfinals.

Bottom half, first quarter: (6) Venus Williams and (12) Flavia Pennetta; (14) Patty Schnyder and (4) Elena Dementieva. Venus should meet absolutely no resistance until the quarterfinals, when she’ll likely face Dementieva, a relentless defender who has consistently played into the middle of the second week at recent slam tournaments. Schynder might be the highest seed in her immediate section, but the Swiss figures to lose a third-round match against No. 18 Dominika Cibulkova, who is coming off a strong summer hardcourt season that lifted her into the top 20.

Bottom half, second quarter: (8) Svetlana Kuznetsova and (9) Agnieszka Radwanska; (13) Victoria Azarenka and (2) Serena Williams. Drama doesn’t figure to enter into this part of the puzzle Down Under. Kuznetsova has never fared well in Australia, meaning that Radwanska should face Serena in the quarters.

The Final Verdicts

Projected Semifinal Matchups: Jankovic-Safina (top half); Venus-Serena (bottom half).

Semifinal Winners: Safina and Serena. Jankovic doesn’t seem fit enough, while Serena should be confident after saving all 10 set points against her sister in last September’s U.S. Open.

Women’s Final: Serena over Safina. Coming off a semifinal win over her older sibling, Serena should take care of business and win her 10th Grand Slam singles title.

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Jelena Jankovic

A well deserved number 1 ranking for this native of Belgrade, Serbia. Jelena brings a dangerous combination of power, precision, endurance and sex appeal to the court. In 2008 she added plenty of cash to her to her resume while compiling a 65 wins against 19 losses. At age 23, Jelena finished the year strong winning successive tournaments in at the China Open, The Porsche Grand Prix and the Kremlin Cup. Her late season wins propelled her to the top of the rankings, kept her in front of the media and helped to land a big deal with Reebok. Jelena was a finalist at the U.S. Open and looks to improve upon her Grand Slam performances in 2009.

2. Serena Williams – Serena brings her big game to every match and her record shows it. The world’s second ranked player has impressive stat boasting $21,961,000 in career earning and $3,852,173 earned in 2008. At 27 years young, Serena claimed 4 championship titles in 2008 including the prestigious U.S. Open. Proud owner of 32 career championships, Serena is a force to be dealt with on the court. Off the court, her fashion line and endorsements her in the spotlight.

3. Dinara Safina – Dinara can get it on! Long known as a passionate player, Dinara lets everyone know how she feels. The 22 year old Russian bombshell explodes on and off the court. At 5’ 11’, the blonde Dinara stands out wherever she is. Although finishing the year poorly, she compiled 4 titles and earnings amounting to $2,541,270 in 2008. A finalist at the French Open, the native of Moscow looks to start the year fast in 2009. Her specialty is her two-fisted backhand and when she’s on, her game is poetry in motion.

4. Elena Dementieva – Well deserved star power glows around this agile 27 year old blonde-haired, blue-eyed, leggy Russian beauty. With 480 career wins and $10,627,000 in career earnings, Elena has plenty to smile about. In 2008, Elena could not get it done in the Grand Slams but she garnered three more tour titles and almost 2 million in earnings. Enthusiastic supporters keep rooting her on and look for some major wins in 2009. As gracious off the court as she is on, Elena looks to the Australian Open to jump start the upcoming season.

5. Ana Ivanovic – Miss Ana, Miss Ana wherefore art thou? Labeled “the body” by avid tennis fans, Ana Ivanovic had a topsy-turvy 2008 as she burst to tennis world prominence with her final appearance in the Australian Open and followed by her win at the French Open. The sultry, statuesque Serb may have been a bit overwhelmed by the publicity as she faltered near the end of the year. With 3 wins and more than 3 million dollars earned on 2008, Ana’s still smiling though. And, at 21 she should. Good things are ahead for this media and tennis phenom.

6. Venus Williams – At 28, and with 515 career wins and almost $22 million in career earnings, it is safe to say Venus never goes down easily. Players have to overcome her big play style to advance and American Venus Williams has plenty of power and lots of savvy. She won the championship at Wimbledon and along with her sister, Serena, claimed the doubles as well. 2008 reaped 3.7 million in earnings and while only claiming 3 titles, she was knocking on the door in most events. Venus sports a revitalized intensity these days and she’ll still be a force in 2009.

7. Vera Zvonareva – Vera is on the way up. A power packed all court performer, this 24 year old blonde Russian hits as hard as anyone and sports a wicked two handed backhand. With more than 5 million in career earnings, this 5’ 7” 130 pound dynamo covers the court well and donning her trademark white cap claimed two titles and more than $1.7 million in 2008. Look for Vera to get out of the blocks fast at the Australian Open as she sets her sights on Grand Slam success in 2009.

8. Svetlana Kuznetsova – another top Russian player, the solid Svetlana hails from St. Petersburg and is an effective clay and hard court performer. At 5’ 8’, 161 pounds, Svetlana looks to improve in 2009. Earning $1,771,000 and claiming no titles in 2008, Svetlana seeks more dimension to her play. If she finds her power serve, watch out! With more than $10 million in career earnings, this 23 year old is one of the hardest workers on the circuit.

9. Maria Sharapova – 21 years old, and proud owner of four Grand Slam championships, the 6’ 2” 130 pound endorsement icon, Maria Sharapova has come a long way and has big plans to go even further. With massive international appeal, her mammoth fan base has reasons to expect big results. Although battling injuries for the past two years, Maria managed to only lose 4 times in 2008 and ran up 32 victories along the way to amassing another $1.9 million in earnings. 2008 Winner of the Australian Open, watch out for Maria in all the big events. Regarded as a threat in every major, Maria has been practicing hard for an early season launch.

10. Agnieszka Radwanska – 2008 was a good year for the 19 year old Pole. Agnieszka claimed three titles, won over one million dollars and performed well in all four Grand Slam events. Her most impressive win was in Istanbul as she smothered Elena Dementieva in the finals. The 5’8’, 123 pound youngster seemed to gain some confidence from that win and finished the year on an upbeat note. Light on her feet and solid with her strokes, this fire plug never gives up. 2009 could well be her breakout year!

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• Change is Overdue in Tennis

If he drops out of the competition his place will be taken by the first alternate player Giles Simon, leaving James Blake as the other alternate. The Shanghai event is scheduled to begin Friday, and unlike regular ATP tour events where the seeded players often have an easy game or two in the early rounds, all the matches in the Master’s Cup will be tough and probably long, so if Rafa has any notion of showing up to play in less than top condition he will be quickly defeated and on his way home. We all want to see him play in this event, but if he is injured he should stay home. Rafa echoed his coach’s frustrated remarks during an interview after his withdrawal from the Paris tournament suggesting that in light of the number of injuries suffered by the players at the end of the season, the ATP should take a careful look at its grueling schedule. If it’s any consolation Rafa, I am on your side and in complete agreement with you. It must have already become evident that to remain at the top position for any length of time takes an enormous amount of discipline and a playing style that does not punish a player’s body. The demands of the ATP schedule are high, but so are the rewards!

The four doubles pairs to qualify are, the Bryan Brothers, Nestor/Zimonjic, Bhupathi/Knowles, and Erlich/Ram. It will be the first time for the successful pair of David Nestor and Mark Knowles to be on opposing teams in a Masters Cup Final event. As a team they were former winners of this event.

This Masters Cup Australian open tournament event promises to be the most highly competitive event in its history, there can be no favourite, no player who stands out as a sure winner, but whoever emerges as the winner will move on to the 2009 season brimming with confidence.

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