BACKSPIN SPECIAL: Pierre's 2006 Prediction Blowout

by Pierre Cantin

Here are my 25 predictions...I wish I could have put more time on this but it came in the middle of lots of things, among others getting ready for Australia!:)

1-Nicole Vaidisova will have many ups and downs, but overall she'll be the big breakthrough of 2006 with a Top 10 ranking and a big run in a slam
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2-Kim Clijsters will dominate the rankings and play more matches than any other Top 10 player
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3-At the end of 2006, 4 Americans will be in the top 50, one more than in 2005
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4-Lindsay Davenport will concentrate on grand slams and thus slip a bit in the rankings
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5-Elena Dementieva will get her serve together somewhat and win a first career Tier 1 event
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6-Martina Hingis will surprise doubters as she moves towards the Top 20. However, she will struggle with the top players who can be consistent and more powerful.
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7-Martina will however win a first slam title in years, as she will win a doubles title.
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8-Jennifer Capriati will not return until the clay court season, at which point she will not be able to get her game into gear until the US hardcourts season this summer. A Top 30 finish for Capriati.
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9-Sania Mirza will struggle with consistency again, she will have a few good wins but never move past the 3rd round in slams. A Top 30 finish however!
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10-The WTA tour will have 8 different finalists in 2006 in the 4 slam finals.
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11-Jelena Dokic will slowly but surely improve her prospects and once she has expired her maximum number of wild cards, she'll return to ITF events with moderate success and will finish the year just slightly in the Top 100.
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12-Russians will continue to be the main story but with Czechs, Belgians and others taking an increasing part. Russia will have only 3 Top 10 players but 8 players will compose the Top 20.
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13-Fed Cup will finally have a boost in popularity with at one point the Waffles joining forces to provide Belgium a first Fed Cup title! (how nice would that be!)
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14-Amelie Mauresmo will be the most consistent slam player in 2006, with 1 quarter, 2 semis and one TITLE...yes you read that right.
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15-China and Czech Republic will start to crowd the Top 100 a bit more but unlike Czech Republic, China will realise the big step between the Top 100 and Top 50 is a bit too much too handle
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16-Germany will finally have a top 20 player, although Anna-Lena Groenefeld will not break the Top 15 and will not win any titles.
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17-Vera Zvonareva will profit from little attention as she moves back in the Top 20, but will crumble against Top 10 players.
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18-Mary Pierce will continue to impress and while she will not maintain her #5 ranking, she will win 2 titles and finish in the Top 10
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19-Maria Sharapova will be the most dominant Russian thanks to an improved return game as well as a solid more "spinned" 2nd serve. She will win 4 titles including a 2nd Wimbledon!
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20-Serena Williams will struggle with injuries but she will make a few big runs and will win 4 titles including 1 slam!
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21-Venus will have an interesting year, the highlight however being that loss to Sharapova in the Wimbledon final! She will win 4 titles but 3 of those will be smaller events.
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22-Justine will make a return to the top of the game and while she will not play as much as Kim Clijsters, she will have much success and will win her only slam final, the 2006 US Open!
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23-Despite her desire to go out with a slam, Lindsay will announce her retirement following a tough loss in the US Open final, she will end the season and will win the YEC.
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24-Viktoriya Kutuzova will make lots of stories and will enter the Top 40 before she turns 18.
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25-Poland will finally get a Top 50 player in Marta Domachowska, who will continue to improve as she wins a first career title in 2006.
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