BV: The Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat-load of New-and-Improved Predictions, Pt.II

The merry world traveler, Tennisrulz.com's Pierre Cantin, has managed to find a convenient alcove from which to relay his new predictions about the WTA landscape. So, without further ado..


==THE YEAR-END RANKINGS PREDICTIONS==
==Take 3==
(January prediction/pre-2Q prediction)

#1-15.
1. Justine Henin (2/1)
...seems clearer every time she steps on court, she is the only and I really mean only, top player who is consistent throughout tournaments AND surfaces
2. Maria Sharapova (1/2)
...a distant 2nd, but she'll make it thanks to a strong US Open Series run
3. Jelena Jankovic (7/8)
...not that many points to defend really, she'll be back for the hard court series and will no doubt qualify for YEC this year
4. Serena Williams (-/6)
...a guess perhaps, and it sure depends on her health situation, but hopefully for tennis she can make a run in NYC
5. Svetlana Kuznetsova (3/3)
...continues to fly under the radar.
6. Ana Ivanovic (8/-)
...a Tier 1 title to defend but she'll make a strong finish
7. Amelie Mauresmo (5/4)
...when is the last time we saw her ranked so low?
8. Nicole Vaidisova (6/5)
...bound to get her act together sooner or later...I know, I know... been saying that for a while
9. Marion Bartoli (-/-)
...could new confidence help her break into the top 10?
10. Anna Chakvetadze (-/-)
...still going strong but is having trouble gaining that extra gear.
11. Nadia Petrova (10/9)
...Nadia outside of the top 10... Todd?? Hello??? Helllllllloooo? Ok, I know I'm right, sorry.
12. Martina Hingis (4/7)
...not playing consistently and struggling a bit with injuries...seems deja vu somehow
13. Daniela Hantuchova (-/12)
...what a collapse she had in Wimbledon, can she recover?
14. Venus Williams (-/-)
...wish I could put her higher up, but you know the story.
15. Dinara Safina (-/-)
...been very quiet this year, can she get back in contention for the top 10?



==NORTH AMERICAN HARD COURT SEASON==

NORTH AMERICAN SUCCESS IS MOST IMPORTANT TO: Maria Sharapova
...though not great yet, doubts about Maria are slowly growing and she will want to put those to rest right away and especially regain her confidence after many injury problems...

NORTH AMERICAN SUCCESS IS LEAST IMPORTANT TO: Justine Henin
...she seems destined to finish #1 no matter what happens...

MOST LIKELY POISED FOR GREATNESS?: Nicole Vaidisova
...just needs a bit of confidence and poise (very important)

MOST LIKELY LURCHING TOWARD DISASTER?: Nadia Petrova
...ok, I am perhaps slightly exagerating but think of it, some people saw her as the #3 player in the world and she now more looks like an average top 20 player.



All right, a few highlights from this most recent Volley: we're in agreement on Justine (we've been pretty consistent on that) and the Dynamova (Pierre's new ranking brings him in line with me now), but he's sticking with Jankovic over Ivanovic, while I'm currently going the opposite way. Unless Sharapova, our dual #1 pick at the start of the season, defends her U.S. Open title it looks like the "Kuznetsova Curse" has struck yet again. Oh, and of course, Backspin is still sticking with Nadia for a Top 10 finish, even if she has been sliding down the prediction scale as the year has gone along.


All for now.

============================

ALSO: Backspin Volley: Todd's take