2009 Australian Open – Women’s Breakdown – Top 10 and Others to Watch
Once again, Nick’s Picks along with Tennis Week will bring you in-depth coverage of the Australian Open. We continue today with the breakdown of the Top 10 Women and the Players to Watch. Check back everyday for insight leading up to the Open and then throughout.
Can Jelena Jankovic capture her first Grand Slam title in Australia?
Top 10 Seeds
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 130 lbs.
D.O.B: 02/28/1985
Turned Pro: 2000
Current Ranking: 1
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: Rome, Beijing, Stuttgart, and Moscow
2008 Australian Open: Semifinals
Nick’s Thoughts:
Jankovic ended last year as the top WTA player in the world and has given notice that she intends to stay there. The entire IMG/Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy is thrilled to have her back with IMG and training with her coach and physio at the Academy. It’s like old times: mom and dad on the sidelines, Nick sneaking in the back door of the stadium court and giving a few words of advice and then leaving the same way!
Jankovic was high in the mountains of Mexico for three week before she came to the Academy to train. She is extremely fit, like a tiger ready to attack! To win a Grand Slam Jankovic must slip in a few times to not only end the point sooner, but also so her opponents know she will no longer let them off the hook. She is a different player coming into 2009. She believes she can beat anyone on any surface, and I think she can too.
Serena Williams (USA)
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 150 lbs.
D.O. B: 09/26/1981
Turned Pro: September 1995
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 2
2008 Titles: Bangalore, Miami, Charleston, and the US Open
2008 Australian Open: Quarterfinals
Nick’s Thoughts:
If I were pinned to the wall and asked who the best player in the world is and who has the best chance of winning the Aussie Open I would have to bet on Serena or Venus Williams. I say this only if they are completely fit and can endure the 14 days of long matches under the hot sun.
Serena is relentless with her pounding early forehands and backhands. Her serve is a killer. She can move. She can attack. She does it all. Serena will fight to the bitter end and then she will start it all over again! She is as strong as a contender as there is for this title and don’t think, for one second, that she can’t win it.
Dinara Safina (RUS)
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 154 lbs.
D.O. B: 04/27/1986
Turned Pro: 2000
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 3
2008 Titles: Berlin, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Tokyo
2008 Australian Open: 1st Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Safina was the surprise player of 2008, as many coaches and tennis fans knew she could play but all of a sudden something clicked inside of her. She worked her way into the top five and definitely belongs here. She reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open last year and is poised to do even more in 2009. Safina has never had great success down under, having never been past the third round but I think that is going to change. She plays very offensive and tries to control every point. Her confidence is a special gift and if you have it you can do all sorts of things. She will definitely play into the second week.
Elena Dementieva (RUS)
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 141 lbs.
D.O.B: 10/15/1981
Turned Pro: August 1998
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 4
2008 Titles: Dubai, Olympics, and Luxembourg
2008 Australian Open: R16-4th Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Dementieva has already begun 2009 with a bang, as she won the title in Auckland without dropping a set. She has never been past the fourth round of the Aussie Open in 10 previous appearances, but with the field as wide open as it is this could be her year. Dementieva is as solid as they come from the baseline and she keeps her errors to the bare minimum. For years, she was branded as the “girl who couldn’t serve.” She has a well-balanced game, which includes excellent movement, and she isn’t hesitant to come into the net. Dementieva worked extremely hard on her serve and right now I would say it is neutral and not a weakness (thanks to her coached Harold Solomon and Andy Brandi). She will not her opponent the match, you must beat her. Look for her to be playing come week two.
Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 152 lbs.
D.O.B: 11/06/1987
Turned Pro: August 2003
Current Ranking: 5
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: Indian Wells, Roland Garros, and Linz
2008 Australian Open: Finals
Nick’s Thoughts:
This is where Ivanovic made her big splash last year, as she reached the finals of her first Grand Slam before falling to Sharapova. She later went on to win the French Open and claim the #1 spot in the world in 2008. She was on a roll and all of a sudden the ball was rolling down hill, and she couldn’t stop it!
Publicity, publicity, publicity! Maybe too much of this came too soon for her. She has the guns, and it’s time to start firing them again. I like her chances, but she has to stay focused at all times.
Venus Williams (USA)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 160 lbs.
D.O. B: 06/17/1980
Turned Pro: October 1994
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 6
2008 Titles: Wimbledon, Zurich, Tour Championships
2008 Australian Open: Quarterfinals
Nick’s Thoughts:
Life is a mystery where all sorts of things will take place. The last couple of years have been strange for Venus. She seems to kind of float through a majority of the year and then when Wimbledon rolls around she makes everyone look like they are playing for second place.
She is a joy to watch with her long strokes, classical volleys, and beautiful movement. It’s not very often Venus comes right at you and says “I will win this tournament,” so when she does you better watch out. I sure hope her sister didn’t read that! I look for Venus to be playing well into the second week, and possibly contend for this title.
Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 130 lbs.
D.O. B: 09/07/1984
Turned Pro: September 2000
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 7
2008 Titles: Prague and Guangzhou
2008 Australian Open: 1st Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Zvonareva is a tough competitor and competes hard in each and every single one of her matches. Like so many others though, she struggles on the big stage. She has only been to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam once, back in 2003 at the French Open, and has been to the fourth round of the Aussie Open twice. Last year she got bounced in the opening round by Ai Sugiyama, and she doesn’t want to let that happen again. It’s pretty simple if you ask me; she cannot think about the past and must focus on the here and now. It’s all about confidence for Zvonareva!
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 161 lbs.
D.O.B: 06/27/1985
Turned Pro: 2000
Current Ranking: 8
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: None
2008 Australian Open: 3rd Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Kuznetsova hasn’t won a singles title since August 2007, when she won New Haven. This will be a pivotal year for her. Her age is certainly not a factor, but what’s inside her will determine her success. She’s been to the quarters here once (2005), and to make it back she is going to have to get herself focused and ready for battle. Kuznnetsova has the baseline game, a good serve, and a well balanced foundation, but she must attack when in control of the point. Her status to play is in question because of an abdominal injury, so if that has any effect on her game it could be a short stay for her.
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 123 lbs.
D.O. B: 03/06/1989
Turned Pro: April 2005
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 10
2008 Titles: Pattaya City, Istanbul, and Eastbourne
2008 Australian Open: Quarterfinals
Nick’s Thoughts:
Radwanska had a very good year in 2008, jumping up from #26 to #10 and winning three titles in the process. She went to the quarters at both the Aussie and US Opens, and reached the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon. Her play is as consistent as it gets and she is extremely smart on the tennis court. Radwanska is still a young pup on the tour, but her potential is very high. She is like a warrior that is ready to not only battle, but win the fight!
Nadia Petrova (RUS)
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 143 lbs.
D.O.B: 06/08/1982
Turned Pro: September 1999
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 11
2008 Titles: Cincinnati and Quebec City
2008 Australian Open: 4th Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Petrova and her coach spent some time at the NBTA last year when she was coming back from an injury. I was really impressed by not only her technique, but also her knowledge and strategy of the game. She can definitely break back into the top 10, and a successful Aussie Open would point her in that direction.
Others to Watch
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 128 lbs.
D.O.B: 07/11/1990
Turned Pro: July 2005
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 12
2008 Titles: Stockholm, New Haven and Tokyo
2008 Australian Open: 4th Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
This is the girl that I feel has the talent to break into the top ten and possibly even challenge the very best in the world. She jumped all the way from #64 to #12 in the world in 2008 and she should continue that climb. In her first Aussie Open appearance last year she reached the fourth round and I see similar things in her future for 2009. She played last week in Auckland, falling to Elena Vesnina in the third round.
Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 132 lbs.
D.O.B: 07/31/1989
Turned Pro: 2003
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 14
2008 Titles: None
2008 Australian Open: 3rd Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Azarenka is another player that made her way into the top 20 last year, moving up 15 spots from #30 to #15. It looks as though she is going to be climbing even higher in 2009, as she already won the title in Brisbane without losing a set. She has never been past the fourth round of any Grand Slam, and I see that changing in 2009. Although she is only 20 years old, she is now a veteran and has to play like one.
Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 128 lbs.
D.O.B: 03/05/1987
Turned Pro: 2003
Current Ranking: 18
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: Hobart, s’Hertogenbosch, Cincinnati, and Stanford
2008 Australian Open: Quarterfinals
Nick’s Thoughts:
Chakvetadze experienced some crazy stuff off the court, which I am sure contributed to her so-so year in 2008. She has to control her emotions, focus on her game and believe she can do it. She has been as high as #6 in the world, so the talent is there. Hopefully we will see the best of her in 2009!
Sabine Lisicki (GER)
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 154 lbs.
D.O.B: 09/22/1989
Turned Pro: 2006
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 56
2008 Titles: None
2008 Australian Open: 3rd Round
Nick’s Thoughts:
Last year’s Aussie Open was Lisicki’s break out tournament. She qualified for the tournament, defeated Safina in the first round, won her second round match, and then fell to Wozniacki in round three. The 19-year old NBTA student has a huge serve and groundstrokes, and I have personally spent a great deal of time with her and her father (who coaches her on the road). Sabine has the potential to climb higher and higher, but the unforced errors must be eliminated. She has to be a little more patient on the court, and take advantage of any defensive balls. Her future is very bright, and her work ethic is beyond description.
