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Tóm tắt nội dung (trích từ tài liệu gốc): 2015 PREVIEW ISSUE E u genie ! JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 INSIDE: $4.99US 02 Will this be the year Genie Bouchard wins a Slam title? PAGE 4 Roger Federer faces a major new challenge PAGE 34 A tournament unlike any you've ever seen before PAGE 40 0 71486 02612 9 Eight men with the potential to make TENNIS.COM serious noise in 2015 PAGE 50 WorldMags.net POWER. CONTROLLED. VISIT ASICS.COM TO FIND OUT MORE WorldMags.net RoW okoireldtMo aAglsl.-nSettar. Change for the better. Switch and you could save with GEICO. JHL
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2015
PREVIEW
ISSUE
E u genie ! JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 INSIDE:
$4.99US
02 Will this be the year
Genie Bouchard
wins a Slam title?
PAGE 4
Roger Federer
faces a major
new challenge
PAGE 34
A tournament
unlike any you've
ever seen before
PAGE 40
0 71486 02612 9 Eight men with the
potential to make
TENNIS.COM
serious noise in 2015
PAGE 50
WorldMags.net
POWER.
CONTROLLED.
VISIT ASICS.COM TO FIND OUT MORE
WorldMags.net
RoW okoireldtMo aAglsl.-nSettar.
Change for the better.
Switch and you could save with GEICO.
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WorldMags.neJant/Feb 2015
2015 SEASON PREVIEW ISSUE
WTA PLAYER 8 ATP PLAYER 36
PREVIEWS
P. PREVIEWS P.
TOURNAMENT GUIDE P.53 ONES TO W TA P. 2 8 AT P P. 5 0
WATCH
Plus:
2 CHRISSIE'S VIEW
4 FIVE BURNING
QUESTIONS (WTA)
32 FIVE BURNING
QUESTIONS (ATP)
40 TOURNAMENT
OF CHAMPIONS
BRACKETS
80 2015 ATP & WTA
SCHEDULES
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WorldMags.net C O V E R P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y G R A H A M C H A D W I C K / D A I L Y M A I L / Z U M A W I R E Jan/Feb 2015 tennis.com 1
Chrissie's W VieworldMags.net
Guesswork
At the start of every season, pundits in
every sport love to play the prognosti-
cation game. It gives us the chance to
make bold assumptions with the luxury
of not having to be correct. As the say-
ing goes: Prediction is very difficult,
especially if it's about the future. In this
issue, several of our writers take stabs
at answering some of the compelling
questions facing the pro tours heading
into 2015. I decided to join the fun by
offering predictions on the storylines
that most piqued my interest.
There's always speculation over which player is going to Wozniacki. Other than Serena, she showed the best form TOM DIPACE
capture a first Slam, and Eugenie Bouchard is going to be a at the end of 2014. I liked the elevated aggression she
popular choice. I think Bouchard's game--her aggression, added to her game, and she seemed to be over the bumps
temperament and big-match results--screams potential in her personal life. Plus, not having a Slam title on her
major champ. But for a couple of reasons it won't happen resume, Wozniacki still has something to prove.
in 2015. First, while she was consistent at the Slams, she
had nine opening-round losses at other tournaments; she The Big 4 on the men's side don't have that problem.
needs to be steadier on a weekly basis. Then there's the For them, it's a question of sustaining their excellence,
sophomore slump: Her success means she's going from but I think this year their stranglehold on the game will
the hunter to the hunted. History says this added pressure continue to loosen. I have little doubt Novak Djokovic
proves too challenging an adjustment. Bouchard's time will add to his trophy collection, as his game looks as
will come, but it may take another season of maturation. impressive as ever. But Rafael Nadal has been battling
the injury bug; Andy Murray has also struggled physically
It would help Bouchard, and her cohorts, if Serena and with his form; and Roger Federer, still playing great
Williams took a step back. However, I think Serena has ball, will nonetheless be a year older. Younger players
another two highly productive years in her. Now a savvy like Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori will
veteran, she knows her physical limitations and has continue to show growth and make further inroads at the
surrounded herself with a smart team. But the mental Grand Slams.
drive to continually compete at the highest level comes
from within, and as long as she stays motivated, she So I'm predicting less predictability in 2015. Murky
will continue to reign. Unlike other past champions in forecasting to be sure, but the best stories usually end up
the twilights of their careers, Serena still doesn't have a being the ones we never saw coming.
significant younger rival--a Monica to her Steffi--that
can match her. Unless someone bubbles up, her fiercest Chris Evert
opponent will continue to be her place in history. Partner, Tennis Magazine
That leaves the rest of the field to navigate through
Serena's wake. I'm most intrigued by which of the players
who had previously reached the mountain top will be
able to make the arduous climb again. My pick is Caroline
2 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net
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The Tennis ROUNDTABLE
OUR PANEL DEBATES FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS FOR THE NEW SEASON
2015 Predictions
Peter Bodo Ed McGrogan Nina Pantic Stephen Tignor
SENIOR WRITER SENIOR EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR SENIOR WRITER
2015 Player of the Year: 2015 Player of the Year: 2015 Player of the Year: 2015 Player of the Year:
Serena Williams Petra Kvitova Caroline Wozniacki Serena Williams
Biggest Breakthrough: Biggest Breakthrough: Biggest Breakthrough: Biggest Breakthrough:
Eugenie Bouchard Madison Keys Simona Halep Simona Halep
Biggest Disappointment: Biggest Disappointment: Biggest Disappointment: Biggest Disappointment:
Sloane Stephens Caroline Wozniacki Agnieszka Radwanska Sloane Stephens
1 No. Bouchard's 2014 record was 45�23, AP
and she won just one title. She hits flat
IS GENIE BOUCHARD and doesn't leave herself much room
for error, yet it's hard to say she owns
READY TO a finishing shot. At times Genie seems
wise beyond her years; at others she
WIN A MAJOR? seems to wilt under the spotlight.
M C G R O G A N : It usually takes years of consistently strong play--and coming I hope Bouchard is standing in that
up just short at the Slams--for a player to be saddled with this question. But spotlight, hoisting a major trophy,
Eugenie Bouchard's 2014 campaign was so good that it's not only fair to ask if she's someday. She's a likable player and
ready, it's the biggest question of them all. And one that's very difficult to answer. could be one of the tour's leaders in
the post-Serena era. But she's not a
You'd think that it's only a matter of time before a 20-year-old who reached an finished product, and she should
Australian Open semifinal, French Open semifinal and Wimbledon final breaks expect greater resistance and added
through for a title. The losses were learning experiences, although Bouchard was pressure after taking the tour by
beaten badly by Petra Kvitova, 6�3, 6�0 at Wimbledon, which took a little luster off storm. I see Bouchard winning more
her accomplishments. Of greater concern, however, is her lack of consistency. titles in 2015--just not a major one.
T I G N O R : At first glance, judging
from her 2014 results, you'd have to
say yes. She already knows how to
beat the players she should beat at the
Slams, and now she'll know what to
expect in the later rounds. One
slip-up from Serena Williams, which
we know can happen, and Bouchard
goes to the top of the contenders list.
Yet I don't think she'll win a Slam
4 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
WorldMags.net
"IT'S NOT ONLY B O D O : Bouchard's 2014 breakout showered with too much, too soon, in
FAIR TO ASK IF was the most impressive in women's the way of attention and remuneration.
SHE'S READY, tennis since the debut of the Williams
IT'S THE BIGGEST sisters. Now comes the hard part: PA N T I C : While Bouchard was the
QUESTION OF Closing the deal. Her three great steadiest WTA player at the majors,
THEM ALL." results at the majors took tennis by she notched just five wins over Top 10
storm, as did the commercial appeal players the entire season and isn't
this year; a sophomore slump seems of this young Canadian. But Bouchard quite ready to hoist a Grand Slam
almost as likely. That's not because also left a trail of questions in her wake trophy. There will be an intense
Bouchard isn't the real thing--her after a so-so post-Wimbledon period. amount of pressure for Bouchard to
exemplary mental approach alone defend all the points she racked up at
should make her a contender for years. Bouchard picked up her only title at the Slams, starting right away in Aus-
But her serve still needs work and, N�rnberg, a minor event at which she tralia. If she doesn't reach the semifi-
more important, so does her record beat nobody ranked higher than nals, look for critics to pounce. And
against the game's other top players: No. 52. She was also a dismal 2�4 at don't forget how she absolutely froze
She's 4�12 versus the women who made the four Premier Mandatory events in the home spotlight at the Rogers
it to the 2014 year-end championships. in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Cup, where she lost 6�0, 2�6, 6�0 to
Those are the same women she'll be Beijing. That's a truly strange statistic, 113th-ranked qualifier Shelby Rogers.
facing in the later rounds at the Slams. especially when you review her perfor-
Plus, there's that little thing called mances at the more critical majors. Bouchard spent 2014 as a rising star
pressure. Bouchard's rise came without More likely, she had trouble getting and underdog, free to go for broke while
much in the way of expectations; now fully motivated at sub-Slam events. taking a fairy-tale ride to the top. She
the WTA is hoping she can become the even picked up stuffed animals along
game's next face, its next Chris Evert. For that reason, I think Bouchard her merry way. All that changes now
Those are big expectations. can--and will--win a major this that she's the highest-ranked Canadian
year. Her aggressive, flat, high-risk ever. Bouchard has a solid grasp on
style is ideally suited to today's handling the spotlight of the cameras,
game, and she has a knack for winning but she still must prove that she can
that cannot be taught. The great handle a major moment on the court.
danger for her now is having been
WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T Jan/Feb 2015 tennis.com 5
2 N WorldMagso..net
WHAT DOES S E R E N A W I L L I A M S NEED
TO DO TO WIN HER FIRST
AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE SINCE 2010?
T I G N O R : Serena once dominated three Slams early. It should inspire her AP
Down Under. She has five titles there, to make her marks this year, starting in
and she has said that she loves few things Australia. A motivated Williams almost
more than starting the season with a win always wins, as she showed by mowing
in Melbourne. So it's strange that, in the through the draw at Flushing Meadows.
three years since she has returned to No. 1, Bottom line: If Serena wants it, she
she has done it without an Australian usually gets it--as long as Alize Cornet
Open title. In each of those years, Serena is nowhere to be found.
was contending with an ailment. That
could mean she needs to train harder in M C G R O G A N : There's been a lot of talk
the off-season to get sharp right away, or about Williams' health, and for good
it could mean she needs to rest more to reason. Serena is like Rafael Nadal: At
stay healthy. Or it could mean she just their physical peaks, their games are a
needs to be luckier. Regardless, getting visible level above everyone else's. But if
her body right is the first step to return- I may venture into the technical realm,
ing to the winner's podium. it's imperative that Williams serves
accurately in Melbourne--or anywhere
B O D O : Only one person stands between she plays--if she's to win. The stroke
Serena and another title in Oz, and remains her biggest advantage over the
that's Serena. Last year, her fourth-round field, but when the point lasts longer
loss to Ana Ivanovic set the tone for than three shots, the gap narrows
most of her Slam year, in which she considerably between the 18-time Slam
struggled until the last moment, saving champ and her opponent. She still holds
her season with a win at the US Open. the edge, of course, but none of her
three major conquerors in 2014 (Iva-
Williams' four-year drought Down novic, Garbine Muguruza and Cornet)
Under ought to give her some extra pulled the big upsets with their serves.
incentive--not that she will need it on
the hard courts so suited to her game. Of
course, she's 33 and has been incremen-
tally more injury prone with the passing
years. But if she can keep herself healthy
and avoid lapses of focus, she'll win it all.
PA N T I C : Given Serena's stellar, gritty
performance at the WTA Finals, the
veteran American shows no signs of
losing interest in competition. Ups and
downs regarding health are nothing new
for Williams, but 2014 was the first year
in quite some time that she bowed out of
6W tennois.rcomld Jan/M Feb 20a15 gs.net
3 WorlNdM4ags.net No. o.
IS THERE A YOUNG AMERICAN WHO
CAN EMERGE THE WAY SLOANE
STEPHENS DID IN REACHING THE
WHICH FORMER 2013 AUSTRALIAN OPEN SEMIFINALS?
NO. 1 WILL PA N T I C : Outside of T I G N O R : Most Likely B O D O : If an American
PERFORM BEST the Williams sisters, to Succeed is Madison were to win Down
IN MELBOURNE there are 10 U.S. women Keys. At No. 30, Keys Under, her name will
AND BEYOND: in the Top 100. While began this year ranked only be Williams. Keys
AZARENKA, several of them have ahead of Sloane has taken over the
I VA N O V I C , shown potential in the Stephens, and her mantle of U.S. heiress
S H A R A P O VA past, none have been gunslinging game gives apparent from the
OR WOZNIACKI? able to sustain success her a chance to upset slumping Stephens,
for any considerable anyone. But the 19-year- and Alison Riske,
B O D O : I give Caroline Wozniacki length of time. There's old's problem will be Varvara Lepchenko
the best shot to win in Oz. She's started a good chance that one putting together the five and Coco Vandeweghe
the new year with a good head of steam, of them can emerge at back-to-back wins she are promising works
thanks to the momentum with which some point in 2015, but needs to reach the in progress. But there's
she finished 2014 and the confidence I'd be surprised if there's semifinals. She has yet a big difference between
boost she must have earned from an American besides to show that kind of being a solid pro and a
having run the New York City Marathon Serena still playing consistency at a major Grand Slam champion,
in an impressive time of 3 hours and into the Australian to this point in her as the American women
26 minutes. Look for her to tap into that Open's second week. young career. surely realize.
athleticism and continue a resurgence
that began last spring, not long after the 5 No.
break-up of her engagement with
runaway groom Rory McIlroy.
M C G R O G A N : Maria Sharapova. She's WILL THE WOMEN BE MORE
refined her game since shoulder surgery ENTERTAINING THAN
and brings an edge to the court that only
Serena can surpass. She is a threat to THE MEN DOWN UNDER?
win on any surface, allowing her to go
deep more often.
T I G N O R : Of these four, Victoria M C G R O G A N : Yes. The Big 4 have side of all the competitive WTA events
Azarenka presents the most intriguing been great for tennis, but what more and matches we saw in 2014.
case. She has always started the year can they really give us? I'm not asking
well, but she has never started it after for more; it's simply a testament to T I G N O R : The best argument for
a full season of injuries, which is what their dominance. And as painful as it is equal pay at the majors is to look at
she'll be doing in 2015. But I'll take to admit, it's gotten somewhat repeti- entertainment value: Who provides
Wozniacki. The medium-paced hard tive. The WTA offers up much more more over the two weeks? In recent
courts suit her counter-punching unknowns at the moment. While a years, it has been pretty, well, equal.
game, and now that she's back among classic match involving Nole, Rafa or The women have dominated the
the top 8 seeds, she should have a Roger can scale to greater heights, in first-week headlines, offering up
manageable draw. terms of day-to-day intrigue, I give the drama, surprise and new story lines.
WTA the edge. Then, in the later rounds of the second
PA N T I C : Of those four, Wozniacki has week, the ATP's big guns typically
shown the most steady improvement B O D O : They might, but that isn't come to life. That blend of early
and has the fewest health concerns. The necessarily a good thing, not unless excitement from the women and late
Dane's ex-fianc� did her a favor last year you put drama above demonstrations star power from the men was in
by forcing her to focus more on her of consistent excellence. "Entertain- evidence through much of 2014, and
career and herself. Maybe she'll thank ing" isn't synonymous with "great" or I'm hoping we see more of the same
him in her championship speech. even "artful," after all. That's the flip from both tours Down Under.
WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T Jan/Feb 2015 tennis.com 7
WorldMags.net COUNTRY: United States 2014 RECORD:
WTA 2015 52-8 2014 TITLES: 7 2014 WINNINGS: $9,317,298
STARTING
RANKING: SWINGS: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT: 5-FOOT-9 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L
No. BIRTHDATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 1981 TURNED PRO: 1995 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 16 2
1 BIRTHPLACE: SAGINAW, MICHIGAN CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 1 VS. SIMONA HALEP 4 1
VS. PETRA KVITOVA 5 0
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. ANA IVANOVIC 8 1
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 8 0
No4 No1 No1 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 2 0
No3 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 10 1
No12 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 5 1
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 4 0
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 4 1
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 6 0
Serena Williams
The essential question in women's tennis for the Watching her outclass opponents when she's at her best, it's
foreseeable future is this: How will it end for Serena? not hard to imagine Williams still contending for majors three
She'll turn 34 in the fall, an advanced age for any tennis years from now.
player. But so far there have been few signs of decline, and it's
hard to say exactly how hers will begin. Will a younger player But as we found out last year, being No. 1 is not the same as
surpass her? There's no one on the horizon. Will she lose a winning every match. Much of Serena's 2014 season was a
step? Her unmatched confidence and determination can make disappointment to her, as she lost early at three of the four
up for that. Will she get tired of the sport? She's more majors. A mysterious physical ailment also took her out of the
committed to it now than she was in her 20s, and she has more Wimbledon doubles. There will likely be moments of
career goals in her sights, including passing Chris Evert and vulnerability from Serena in 2015, and then there will be
Martina Navratilova at 18 majors and catching Steffi Graf at 22. moments when, as she did at the US Open last year, she
says, "Enough!"
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Serena will have her At 33, even a top
off-days, physical player doesn't know
struggles and maybe how she'll feel or
even a slump or two. play from day to day,
But the thought of or whether her next
passing Chrissie and injury will be her last.
Martina and getting While she finished
closer to Graf on No. 1 in 2014,
the all-time Slam Serena had her share
list should drive her of bad days, and
to win at least one three of them came
major, if not two. at the majors. She
Different players have wasn't as dominant
challenged her in as she was in 2013;
recent years, but no that could be a sign
one has come close to of more trouble
matching her. to come.
Bottom Line AP
Serena's advancing age, and the inevitable decline that comes with it, will be pitted
against her determination to keep moving up the all-time Grand Slam ladder. With her,
determination usually wins.
8 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMaAlgl WsTA.nproefiltes written by S T E P H E N T I G N O R
WorldMags.net
Fabio FOGNINI
(ITA)
FB.COM/BABOLAT @BABOLAT
BABOLAT - OFFICIAL TENNIS RACKETS, SHOES*, WorldMags.netBABOLAT - OFFICIAL RACKETS, STRINGS, BALLS,
BAGS AND ACCESSORIES OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON BAGS AND ACCESSORIES OF THE FRENCH OPEN ROLAND-GARROS
WTA 2015 Russia 2014 RECORD: 49-13 2014 TITLES: 4 2014 WINNINGS: $5,839,357
STARTING
RANKING: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY: L
No.
SWINGS:
2 6-FOOT-2 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W
BIRTHDATE: APRIL 19, 1987 TURNED PRO: 2001 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 2 16
BIRTHPLACE: NYAGAN, RUSSIA CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 1 VS. SIMONA HALEP 5 0
VS. PETRA KVITOVA 6 3
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. ANA IVANOVIC 9 4
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 11 2
No2 No2 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 3 0
No4 No4 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 5 4
No18 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 4 2
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 3 3
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 5 0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 2 2
Maria Sharapova
How many lives does Maria Sharapova have as a Yet much like Serena Williams in 2014, it was hard to feel
player? After a decade's worth of winners, double confident in Sharapova from one tournament to the next, and
faults, shrieks, injuries, coaching changes, clenched even one day to the next. She melted down in the round of 16
fists and Grand Slam titles, she must be up to her fifth or sixth at three of the majors, and struggled against the tour's best
by now. But the 27-year-old keeps coming back. Sharapova players at the WTA Finals. Once again, her best results came
started 2014 trying out a new coaching team, and trying to on clay, in Madrid and Paris. Sharapova should be commended
shake off an old shoulder problem. After getting out of the for turning herself into a bona fide dirtballer in the middle of
gates slowly, she ended it at No. 2 in the world, and she won the career, but has the shift adversely affected her on other
her fifth major title, in Paris, in the grittiest performance of surfaces? She hasn't won a Slam outside of Roland Garros
the season on either tour. since 2008.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Sharapova had her She has always had
share of downs her bad days, but
along with the ups when Sharapova
in 2014. But this was off in 2014,
season she should she was really off,
benefit from a and no amount of
year's worth of work grit and fight could
with coach Sven save her. That could,
Groeneveld; they've after a dozen years
already won a Slam on tour, be an early
together. sign of decline.
Bottom Line AP
Her hunger hasn't diminished, and she'll be the woman to beat on clay. The big question will be
whether Sharapova can find success again on other surfaces now that she's in her late 20s.
10 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WTA 2015 Romania 2014 RECORD: 46-16 2014 TITLES: 2 2014 WINNINGS: $4,519,763
STARTING
RANKING: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY: L
No.
SWINGS:
3 5-FOOT-6 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W
BIRTHDATE: SEPTEMBER 27, 1991 TURNED PRO: 2006 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 1 4
BIRTHPLACE: CONSTANTA, ROMANIA CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 2 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 0 5
VS. PETRA KVITOVA 2 0
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. ANA IVANOVIC 2 2
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 3 4
No3 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 2 1
No11 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 1 1
No81 No47 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 2 0
No53 VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 1 3
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 1 0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 0 3
Simona Halep
The freshest game on tour last year came from a slightly February, with her title in Doha, she showed that she could win a
surprising source: An undersized, 23-year-old Romanian quality event. In June, with her runner-up finish at the French
who began the 2013 season ranked No. 47, but finished the Open, she showed that she could go deep at a major. In October,
2014 season all the way up at No. 3. Simona Halep is just 5-foot-6, with her blowout win over Serena Williams in Singapore, she
but she makes up for her lack of leverage with smooth movement showed that she can beat anyone on a given day. Her first test of
and clean ball-striking. She's a natural in every part of the game; 2015 will be whether she can win a Grand Slam; but even if it
no one makes changing the direction of the ball look so easy. doesn't happen this year, Halep's youth and all-around skills
Halep's 2014 was a series of tests, and she passed them all. In should take her to the top of the class in the near future.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Halep had her ups She'll no longer be
and downs in 2014, working with coach
but after beating Wim Fissette, who
Serena in round- guided her through
robin play and her breakout
reaching the season. And now
Singapore final in that the top players
October, she should have seen and
come into the new faced her, they'll
year with confidence make adjustments.
despite losing 6�3, Whether Halep has
6�0 to Serena in that the tactical help she
tournament's final. If needs to combat
Halep does play with them remains
confidence, she'll be to be seen.
among the favorites
at each of the first
three majors, and
especially on the
Parisian clay.
Bottom Line AP
Halep will show us how far a natural can go in today's power game. She can be out-slugged,
but she moves too well and hits too cleanly to stay down for long.
12 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
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43-16 2014 TITLES: 3 2014 WINNINGS: $5,203,236
WTA 2015 WorldMags.net COUNTRY: Czech Rep. 2014 RECORD:
STARTING SWINGS: LEFT-HANDED HEIGHT: 6-FOOT CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L
RANKING:
BIRTHDATE: MARCH 8, 1990 TURNED PRO: 2006 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 0 5
No.
BIRTHPLACE: BILOVEC, CZECH REP. CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 2 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 3 6
4
VS. SIMONA HALEP 0 2
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. ANA IVANOVIC 3 4
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 5 2
No2 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 3 0
No34
No8 No6 No4 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 4 5
VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 4 2
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 4 2
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 4 2
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 3 3
Petra Kvitova
She might not be the best in the world, but she is the Kvitova's go-for-broke ground strokes and skidding lefty
Queen of the All England Club. While every player tries serve are tailor-made for grass, but the biggest difference in her
to bring her best to Wimbledon, no one transforms game at Wimbledon is her attitude: Last year, she refused to let
herself over the course of the fortnight quite like Petra Kvitova, herself lose a close early-round match against Venus Williams,
the champion in 2011 and 2014. The question now for the and she sprinted to the finish line against Eugenie Bouchard in
Czech, who at 24 is entering her prime, is whether she'll ever the final. In the past, Kvitova has left that single-mindedness
be able to play the same way anywhere else. She has never behind: After winning Wimbledon in 2011, she looked ready to
reached a final at any of the other majors. take over No. 1; instead, she finished the next season at No. 8.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Now that Kvitova From match to
knows her first match, set to set,
Wimbledon win game to game,
was no fluke, she you never know
should also realize if you're going to get
that she's good Good Petra or Bad
enough to win big Petra--perhaps no
elsewhere. There player in history
have been chal- has been so up
lengers to Serena and down. If a
Williams in recent player hasn't
years, but none with fulfilled her poten-
Kvitova's crushing tial by 24, what are
power. Wimbledon the chances she
is definitely possible ever will?
again, but so is a
whole lot more if she
believes it.
Bottom Line AP
The power is there, and after two Wimbledon titles, the belief should be as well. No one
would be surprised if she won two majors in 2015; no one would be surprised if she didn't
win any tournaments at all.
14 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
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MAKE THE WORLD YOUR COURT
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WorldMags.net
WTA 2015 Serbia 2014 RECORD: 58-17 2014 TITLES: 4 2014 WINNINGS: $2,317,649
STARTING
RANKING: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY: L
No.
SWINGS:
5 6-FOOT CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W
BIRTHDATE: NOVEMBER 6, 1987 TURNED PRO: 2003 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 1 8
BIRTHPLACE: BELGRADE, SERBIA CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 1 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 4 9
VS. SIMONA HALEP 2 2
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 4 3
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 3 7
VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 1 2
No13 No5 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 5 2
No17 No16 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 5 2
No22 VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 2 2
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 1 1
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 5 0
Ana Ivanovic
What was the biggest WTA surprise of 2014? The Slam that she didn't make yet another coaching change by the end of
struggles of Serena Williams? The rise of Simona Halep the season. On court, Ivanovic got back to doing what she does
and Eugenie Bouchard? Few anticipated those develop- best, attacking early and often with her forehand, and she didn't
ments, but it's fair to say that even fewer would have predicted let her famously wayward service toss do her in. This former
that Ana Ivanovic, at 27, would finish the season at No. 5, with French Open champion and world No. 1 has always had the
four titles to her name. It was her first year-end appearance in ball-striking skills; it was a matter of getting out of her own way
the Top 10 since her Slam-winning days of 2008. After half a and letting them work. The only flaw in her season was her
career's worth of busted comebacks, she made this one stick. performance at the majors: Her best result was a quarterfinal
Some of the credit, she said, goes to the Serbian coaches she run in Australia. But after 2014, we can no longer bet against her
hired: She felt comfortable with them, but not so comfortable fixing that problem either.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Ivanovic was steady She'll be 28 at the
throughout 2014; end of 2015; has her
she didn't let her confidence come
losses turn into back just a little
slumps. That too late for her to
bodes well for make full use of it?
her continued Another misguided
resurgence this coaching change
season. A second and her old doubts
Grand Slam title could come to haunt
would seem to her again.
be a stretch, but a
semifinal or even
a final wouldn't.
Bottom Line AP
Ivanovic rediscovered her A-game in 2014; now we'll see how long she can keep it, and how
far it can take her.
16 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
47-22
WorldMags.net Poland 2014 RECORD:
RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
COUNTRY: 2014 TITLES: 1 2014 WINNINGS: $3,195,411 WTA 2015
SWINGS: 5 - F O O T- 8 STARTING
BIRTHDATE: CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L RANKING:
BIRTHPLACE:
MARCH 6, 1989 TURNED PRO: 2005 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 0 8 No.
No14
KRAKOW, POLAND CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 2 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 2 11 6
2010
VS. SIMONA HALEP 4 3
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 2 5
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 7 3
No4 No5 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 1 0
No8 No6 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 4 7
VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 5 4
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 5 3
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 4 2
2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 4 3
Agnieszka Radwanska
It's beginning to be now-or-never time for the quiet Is there anything the Pole, who has a lollipop second serve
killer known around the WTA as The Ninja. Agnieszka and a terminal lack of pace, can do? In some ways, she has
Radwanska, who will be 26 in March, reached a already done more with her career during this power era than
Wimbledon final in 2012, reached the semis there in 2013 and most would have expected. If a big hitter is on her game,
matched that result at the Australian Open in 2014. But is that Radwanska will always be at a severe disadvantage. Perhaps
as far as this consummate finesse player believes she can go? the best we can hope for is that she stays where she is, in the
Aga won just one title in 2014, in Montreal, failed to reach the Top 10, giving us her uniquely artistic take on tennis. Her
quarters at the last three majors and, worst of all, by early best shots are so brilliant and unlikely, all we can do is laugh.
October had been surpassed in the rankings for the first time Grand Slam champion or not, tennis can always use a player
by two younger players, Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard. like that.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Radwanska has gone Her 2014 season
deep at majors and was her weakest in
nearly reached No. 1 recent years. Has
in the world in 2012. she lost confidence?
But that was before Is her retrieving
the latest youth game too difficult
movement; Aga to continue into
starts 2015 not her late 20s? Right
only ranked behind now, as good as she
Serena Williams and remains, it's hard to
Maria Sharapova, see a road upward
but also behind for Radwanska.
Halep and just
one spot ahead of
Bouchard, all of
whom can overpower
her. At this point,
a Slam semi and a
Top 5 finish would
spell success.
Bottom Line
Radwanska is edging toward veteran status. With the next generation passing her by, it's looking as
if her days as a major-title threat may be gone. Her days as a tennis genius, however, aren't over yet.
WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T Jan/Feb 2015 tennis.com 17
WTA 2015 Canada 2014 RECORD: 45-23 2014 TITLES: 1 2014 WINNINGS: $3,220,929
STARTING
RANKING: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY: L
No.
SWINGS:
7 5-FOOT-10 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W
BIRTHDATE: FEBRUARY 25, 1994 TURNED PRO: 2009 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 0 2
BIRTHPLACE: MONTREAL, QUEBEC CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 5 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 0 3
VS. SIMONA HALEP 1 2
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 0 3
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 2 1
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 0 1
No32 No7 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 1 0
No302 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 2 1
No538 No144 VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 0 0
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 0 2
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 0 0
Eugenie Bouchard
It's tough to find fault with what Eugenie Bouchard are sky high? Last August, The New York Times Magazine
has accomplished at age 20. She's been a Wimbledon put her on its cover, under the headline: Eugenie Bouchard
finalist, a semifinalist at the Australian Open and French could be the future of women's tennis. All she has to
Open, and a Top 10 player. She plays an intelligent, ambitious
game that's beyond both her years and her natural ball-striking do is win.
talent. There's obviously substance beneath her hype.
Yet all of her achievements so far have come with the benefit Did we see the start of a sophomore slump at the WTA Finals,
of low expectations. How will she do now that the expectations where Bouchard was blown off the court? She's probably too
heady a player to take a nosedive in 2015, but the next step, beat-
ing the world's best, may be one she's not quite ready to take.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Nobody loves a The dreaded
challenge like Genie, sophomore slump.
and she responds Bouchard, whose
well to them. So serve can be suspect
you would think and who isn't the
that her dismal smoothest of
end-of-year perfor- hitters, can go off
mance in Singapore the rails, and the
would inspire her pressure for "the
to work on her future of women's
weaknesses--in tennis" to stay on
particular her them will be intense.
serve--in the off- A temporary step
season. If any of the back wouldn't
other big names fal- be surprising.
ter at the majors, the
resilient Bouchard
will likely be there
to take advantage.
Bottom Line AP
Bouchard says she wants it all now: big wins, major titles, a top ranking and stardom. But with
bigger hitters still in front of her, the 20-year-old may have to wait her turn for a year or two.
18 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
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WTA 2015 Denmark 2014 RECORD: 49-19 2014 TITLES: 1 2014 WINNINGS: $3,372,350
STARTING
RANKING: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY:
No.
SWINGS:
8 5-FOOT-10 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L
BIRTHDATE: JULY 11, 1990 TURNED PRO: 2005 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 1 10
BIRTHPLACE: ODENSE, DENMARK CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 1 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 4 5
VS. SIMONA HALEP 1 1
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 5 4
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 2 5
No1 No1 VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 7 4
No10 No10 No8 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 0 1
VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 4 5
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 9 3
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 7 0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 6 1
Caroline Wozniacki
Talk about a roller-coaster year. A loss in Caroline It had appeared that Wozniacki's best years were behind
Wozniacki's personal life--her fianc�, Rory McIlroy, her--she finished No. 1 in 2010 and 2011, before dropping to
broke off their engagement in May--coincided with a No. 10 in 2012 and 2013. Now, at 24, it looks like she's in her
big gain in her professional life. In danger of falling out of the prime again. Not only did she start going deep at tournaments,
Top 20 before the break-up, she rebounded to reach the US Open she started beating players who had seemingly passed her by;
final, finish the season No. 8 and finish her first marathon in a Wozniacki finished with wins over Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka
stunningly fast time (3:26). The only reason Wozniacki didn't Radwanska and Petra Kvitova in Singapore. Look for her to rise
go further at the end of the year was that she kept running into, a little more in the rankings to start 2015; she doesn't have a lot
and losing close matches to, her friend Serena Williams. of points to defend early in the year.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Granted, Wozniacki The results from late
was a Slam-less last year were posi-
No. 1, but she also tive, but Wozniacki
held that position still suffers from a
for two years, so she power deficiency
knows how to win against her peers.
consistently, and She had actually
she showed at the begun to talk about
end of 2014 that she retirement before
can still hang with her break-up with
today's more power- McIlroy; does she
ful top players. still have the desire
Finally settling on a to make tennis her
coach--her father, life again over the
of course--should long haul?
also help. With her
renewed desire, the
Top 5 awaits.
Bottom Line AP
A rededicated Woznaicki showed that she can still compete at the top of the sport in 2014.
Her best years no longer appear to be behind her; at 24, she's in her prime again.
20 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
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WTA 2015 Germany 2014 RECORD: 47-24 2014 TITLES: 0 2014 WINNINGS: $1,862,585
STARTING
RANKING: LEFT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY: L
No.
SWINGS:
9 5-FOOT-8 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W
BIRTHDATE: JANUARY 18, 1988 TURNED PRO: 2003 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 1 5
BIRTHPLACE: BREMEN, GERMANY CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 5 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 2 4
VS. SIMONA HALEP 0 2
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 2 4
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 2 5
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 4 5
No5 No9 No10 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 1 2
No47 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 5 4
No32 VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 3 4
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 6 4
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 2 3
Angelique Kerber
The German should probably avoid any mid-season trips self, routinely reaching the quarterfinals or better at tourna-
to Australia in 2015. This past April, Angelique Kerber ments. But as with Agnieszka Radwanska, this wasn't a year of
joined her Fed Cup teammates for a tie in Brisbane; they progress for Kerber; the two retrievers, each firmly in their
won the battle that weekend, but Kerber lost the war with jet lag mid-20s, were swept aside by two younger, more offensive-
over the next month, when she went out in the first round of minded players in Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard;
three clay-court events. If she had avoided that slump, her year the Canadian stopped Kerber at both the French Open and
would have looked much better, and she almost certainly would Wimbledon. Was this is a sign that defense doesn't win titles,
have qualified for her third straight year-end championship. or at least earn high rankings, anymore on the women's side?
Outside of her spring swoon, Kerber was her usual steady We'll find out more in Kerber's 2015 campaign.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Kerber's game In 2012, Kerber
doesn't deviate was swept into the
much, in style or Top 10 in a defensive
quality. You know wave that included
she'll play dogged Radwanska and Sara
defense and make Errani. In 2014, a
her share of quarters subsequent, more
and semis. In 2015, offensive wave
a lot may depend on threatened to send
the staying power of all three back down
last year's breakout the rankings again.
performers, Halep We'll see if that new
and Bouchard. wave continues,
If they falter, she and if more young
should move back players can join it.
into the Top 8 or
higher.
Bottom Line AP
Kerber will likely hold steady near the top of the second tier, but the WTA could be on the
verge of passing by her defensive style.
22 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
33-24 1 2014 WINNINGS: $1,998,734
COUNTRY: WorldMags.net Slovakia 2014 RECORD: WTA 2015
RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT: STARTING
SWINGS: 2014 TITLES: CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L RANKING:
BIRTHDATE: 5 - F O O T- 3
No.
MAY 6, 1989 TURNED PRO: 2004 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 0 4
10
BIRTHPLACE: BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 10 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 3 3
VS. SIMONA HALEP 3 1
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 2 4
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 2 2
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 3 5
No15 No11 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 0 0
No18 No23 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 3 9
No31 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 4 3
VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 3 0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 1 5
Dominika Cibulkova
First came the feast, then the famine for Dominika 10 tournaments and lost in the first round of seven of them.
Cibulkova in 2014. She began the year by reaching her Cibulkova overplayed early; she wasn't used to going so
maiden Grand Slam final, in Australia; winning a
tournament in Acapulco; and reaching the quarterfinals in deep at each event she entered. But it's also likely that her
Indian Wells and the semis in Miami. At the last event, she also season was the tennis equivalent of a market correction.
cracked the Top 10 for the first time. Domi said she had always The 25-year-old Slovakian has always been precipitously
wanted to do it, just to say she had been there once. It's good hit-or-miss; until 2014, she was better at pulling surprise,
she made the most of the opportunity, because it was all one-time upsets than she was at moving up in the rankings.
downhill from there. After Wimbledon, Cibulkova played Hopefully a little rest in the off-season will give her some of
her trademark high energy back.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
The best case is that By the end of 2014,
the first Domi we a couple of new
saw in 2014 was faces, in Simona
the real Domi--the Halep and Eugenie
one who fixed her Bouchard, and a
serve, reined in couple of familiar
her errors, beat ones, in Caroline
Maria Sharapova Wozniacki and
and Agnieszka Ana Ivanovic, had
Radwanska in Mel- sprinted past
bourne, and looked Cibulkova in the
ready, at 24, to join rankings. It will be
the big girls. Maybe tough to catch up to
with some smarter all of them. There's
scheduling, she only so much a
can get that Domi player can do at
to hang around a 5-foot-3, and Domi
little longer. may have done all
she could last year.
Bottom Line
It was a tale of two seasons for Cibulkova in 2014. She'll need to combine the confidence she gained
from the first half with the lessons she learned from the second half to put it all together again.
WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T Jan/Feb 2015 tennis.com 23
WTA 2015 Russia 2014 RECORD: 41-21 2014 TITLES: 1 2014 WINNINGS: $2,345,310
STARTING
RANKING: LEFT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY:
No.
SWINGS:
11 5-FOOT-11 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L
BIRTHDATE: JUNE 7, 1988 TURNED PRO: 2004 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 1 4
BIRTHPLACE: MOSCOW, RUSSIA CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 11 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 0 5
VS. SIMONA HALEP 0 1
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 2 4
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 1 1
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 2 4
No12 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 2 0
No50 No52 No20 No24 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 0 7
VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 4 6
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 0 3
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 1 1
Ekaterina Makarova
The unsung Russian had a career season in 2014. Will this semi-breakthrough be a springboard for more
At 26, she achieved one long-held goal by reaching success, or has Makarova topped out her talent? It's likely the
her first Grand Slam semifinal, at the US Open. In the former. With her lefty spin and sense of court craft--"She
process, Ekaterina Makarova single-handedly revived "The reads the game well," more than one top player has said of
Macarena," which rattled through Arthur Ashe Stadium after Makarova--there should be more success in store. She has
each of her wins (this was likely not a goal of hers). By the end of always had the game to beat top players, including Serena
the year, Makarova had come within a hair's breadth of another Williams; now she knows she can do it consistently over the
mark, one that hadn't been on her radar at the start of the course of a Slam and a season. The place to start: winning
season: She finished just short of the Top 10. smaller events. Makarova has just two titles to her name.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
It has been a long, She's solid and
steady, heady climb tricky to face, but
for this smart player, the top rungs of the
so there's little WTA are still
reason to think she's reserved for its
a flash in the pan. power players--all
But she also doesn't four majors in 2014
have the type of were won by big
power that could hitters. Makarova,
lead to a major-title for all of her assets,
run. Instead, qualify- is not a big hitter.
ing for the year-end
championships in
Singapore would
seem to be a plau-
sible goal.
Bottom Line AP
This low-key lefty surprised herself with her success in 2014; to rise higher, she'll need to believe
she can do even more.
24 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WTA 2015 Italy 2014 RECORD: 33-20 2014 TITLES: 1 2014 WINNINGS: $2,388,245
STARTING
RANKING: RIGHT-HANDED HEIGHT:
WorldMags.net COUNTRY:
No.
SWINGS:
12 5-FOOT-8 CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L
BIRTHDATE: FEBRUARY 25, 1982 TURNED PRO: 2000 VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 0 6
BIRTHPLACE: BRINDISI, ITALY CAREER-HIGH RANKING: No. 10 VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 2 2
VS. SIMONA HALEP 3 0
YEAR-END RANKINGS VS. PETRA KVITOVA 3 3
VS. ANA IVANOVIC 0 5
VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 3 4
No13 VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 0 0
No24 No20 No45 VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 1 6
No31 VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 3 2
VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 5 1
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 1 1
Flavia Pennetta
If you're going to win one tournament, make it a the verge of hanging up her racquet for good the previous year.
good one: That might be the lesson Flavia Pennetta Inconsistency returned in 2014, but Pennetta was more
learned from her 2014 season. The 32-year-old Italian's
lone title was the Premier Mandatory event at Indian Wells in than a one-tournament wonder. You could say she saved her
March. Not only did it earn her half of her roughly $2 million best for the biggest stages. She reached the quarterfinals at
in prize money for the year, it kept her ranking afloat, the Australian Open and US Open, and closed on an up note
even as the waters got choppy later in the season. The win with a runner-up finish at the Tournament of Champions in
seemed to surprise Pennetta as much as it did everyone else; Sofia, a season-ending event for the second tier. At this stage,
after years of injury and inconsistency, she had been on Pennetta can probably live with that kind of result, and
another season like 2014.
BEST WORST
CASE CASE
SCENARIO SCENARIO
Pennetta's high If she doesn't have
ranking will be a decent results in
boon to start: She's Melbourne and
seeded in the Top 16 Indian Wells,
at the Australian Pennetta will take
Open, which could that tumble, and
help this veteran do may be matched
what she does best: against better
Sneak into Grand players in earlier
Slam quarterfinals. rounds for the rest of
If she has a good the year. That's not
result there and at what a woman who
Indian Wells, she turns 33 in February
can avoid a rankings wants to do.
tumble.
Bottom Line AP
Even past 30, Pennetta is savvy enough to reach second weeks at majors. But she'll need to defend
points early and keep her ranking up as the year progresses.
26 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015 WorldMags.net + S I G N U P N O W F O R O U R F R E E W E E K L Y D I G I T A L M A G A Z I N E A T T E N N I S T U E S D A Y . N E T