2006 Over/Under

Numbers. Numbers. When push comes to shove, it's all about the numbers, isn't it? Sometimes they're a bit over the norm. Sometimes they're a bit under it. Sometimes they push right up against the average.

Therefore, it's time for Backspin and Tennisrulz head honcho Pierre Cantin to weigh in with some theories on a few of the more pressing WTA issues of 2006, as well as a few not-so-pressing ones. Over, under or push... we decide:

The number of...

Ridiculous Venus Williams excuses for losses (3)...Backspin: Over/Pierre Cantin: Over
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Serena Williams injuries (2)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Slam titles won by a Williams sister (1)...B: Push/PC: Under


Weeks Kim Clijsters will be ranked #1 (22, of a 45-week season)...B: Under/PC: Under
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Weeks Lindsay Davenport will be ranked #1 (22)...B: Over/PC: Under
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Weeks someone other than Clijsters or Davenport will be #1 (11)...B: Under/PC: Over
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Weeks #42 Vera Zvonareva will spend in the Top 20 (10)...B: Under/PC: Under


Singles titles won by Jennifer Capriati (1)...B: Push/PC: Under
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Singles titles won by Martina Hingis (1)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Doubles titles won by Martina Navratilova (2)...B: Over/PC: Under


Jelena Dokic total slam match wins (4)...B: Over/PC: Under
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Damir Dokic rants in Serbian press (2)...B: Under/PC: Under


Sania Mirza effigy-burning incidents (1)...B: Push/PC: Over


Americans under 25 in WTA singles finals (1)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Times replay will be used in U.S. Open women's final (1)...B: Push/PC: Under


Singles titles won by Czechs (8)...B: Over/PC: Under
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Singles titles won by Russians (9)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Singles titles won by Chinese (2)...B: Under/PC: Over


Justine Henin-Hardenne wins over Kim Clijsters (1)...B: Push/PC: Over
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Kim Clijsters wins over Justine Henin-Hardenne (1)...B: Over/PC: Over


Weeks Cara Black will be ranked #1 in doubles (22, of 45-week season)...B: Under/PC: Push
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Weeks Samantha Stosur will be ranked #1 in doubles (22)...B: Over/PC: Push


WTA matches played by Monica Seles (1)...B: Under/PC: Under
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WTA doubles matches played by Anna Kournikova (2)...B: Over/PC: Under


Singles titles won by Nicole Vaidisova (4)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Singles titles won by Anna-Lena Groenefeld (1)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Singles titles won by Nadia Petrova (1)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Singles titles won by Daniela Hantuchova (1)...B: Under/PC: Push


#1 vs. #2 match-ups (2, after there were zero in '05)...B: Over/PC: Over


Singles titles won by players age 30-or-over (7)...B: Over/PC: Over
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Singles titles won by players age 18-or-under (7)...B: Over/PC: Under


Slam finals appearances by Mary Pierce (2)...B: Under/PC: Under
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Slam finals appearances by Amelie Mauresmo (1)...B: Push/PC: Push
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Slam SF-or-better results by Maria Sharapova (2)...B: Under/PC: Push


It should be interesting to grade out this pre-season exam when things are all said and done, huh? Place your bets...now!

All for now.

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NEXT: "2006 Dumpers & Slumpers"... Christmas cheer, Christmas schmeer -- let's take a look at who's going to get a few lumps of coal in their stocking in '06.