2013 BSA's: Player Lists
Lists have always been a stock and trade component of Backspin, and that's never more the case than with the annual Backspin Awards.
The final "Ms. Backspin" standings (w/ the performance/match/rankings recaps) won't show up in this space until next week. Of course, the only real question there will revolve around the placement of the players ranked after a certain seventeen-time major champion.
Naturally, you know who that is. Right?
Anyway, here are 2013's player lists (and a recap of past BSA winners):
*RISERS*
1. Simona Halep, ROU
2. Hsieh Su-Wei/Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
3. Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
4. Agnieszka Radwanska, POL
5. Angelique Kerber, GER
6. Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua, AUS/AUS
7. Sabine Lisicki, GER
8. Sara Errani, ITA
9. Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
10. Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP
11. Raquel Kops-Jones/Abigail Spears, USA/USA
12. Elena Vesnina, RUS
13. Maria Kirilenko, RUS
14. Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
15. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
16. Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka, CZE/CZE
17. Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
18. Bojana Jovanovski, SRB
19. Stefanie Voegele, SUI
20. Zhang Shuai, CHN
21. Mona Barthel, GER
22. Kaia Kanepi, EST
23. Marina Erakovic, NZL
24. Sorana Cirstea, ROU
25. Monica Niculescu, ROU
26. Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Sania Mirza, USA/IND
27. Alize Cornet, FRA
28. Petra Cetkovska, CZE
29. Andrea Hlavackova, CZE
30. Magdalena Rybarikova, SVK
31. Petra Martic, CRO
32. Kazakh Fed Cup Team
33. Julia Goerges, GER
34. Vania King, USA
35. Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU
36. Lucie Hradecka, CZE
37. Urszula Radwanska, POL
38. Polona Hercog, SLO
39. Varvara Lepchenko, USA
40. Ayumi Morita, JPN
41. Johanna Larsson, SWE
42. Misaki Doi, JPN
43. Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ
44. Chan Hao-Ching/Chan Yung-Jan, TPE/TPE
45. Caroline Garcia, FRA
HM- Coco Vandeweghe, USA
*FRESH FACES*
1t. Sloane Stephens, USA
1t. Eugenie Bouchard, CAN
3. Elina Svitolina, UKR
4. Ashleigh Barty, AUS
5. Annika Beck, GER
6. Camila Giorgi, ITA
7. Garbine Muguruza, ESP
8. Jamie Hampton, USA
9. Madison Keys, USA
10. Laura Robson, GBR
11. Alison Riske, USA
12. Monica Puig, PUR
13. Karolina Pliskova, CZE
14. Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
15. Anna Schmiedlova, SVK
16. Karolina Pliskova/Kristyna Pliskova, CZE/CZE
17. Mariana Duque-Marino, COL
18. Michelle Larcher de Brito, POR
19. Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, ESP
20. Vicky Duval, USA
21. Timea Babos, HUN
22. Donna Vekic, CRO
23. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor, ESP
24. Canadian Fed Cup Team
25. Katarzyna Piter, POL
26. Aleksandra Krunic, SRB
27. Kristyna Pliskova, CZE
28. Kurumi Nara, JPN
29. Montserrat Gonzalez, PAR
30. Wang Qiang, CHN
31. Alexandra Cadantu, ROU
32. Ons Jabeur, TUN
33. Kiki Bertens, NED
34. Lauren Davis, USA
35. Zheng Saisai, CHN
36. Ksenia Pervak, KAZ
37. Duan Ying-Ying, CHN
38. Sharon Fichman, CAN
39. Mallory Burdette, USA
40. Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
41. Carina Witthoeft, GER
42. Jana Cepelova, SVK
43. Richel Hogenkamp, NED
44. Chanel Simmonds, RSA
45. Johanna Konta, GBR
46. Lesia Tsurenko, UKR
47. Maryna Zanevska, UKR
48. An-Sophie Mestach, BEL
49. Oksana Kalashnikova, GEO
50. Ana-Sofia Sanchez, MEX
51. Gabriela Dabrowski, CAN
52. Zarina Diyas, KAZ
53. Daria Gavrilova, RUS
54. Grace Min, USA
55. Alison van Ulytvanck, BEL
56. Ines Ibbou, ALG
57. Marcela Zacarius, MEX
58. Jessica Pegula, USA
59. Amanda Mueller, USA
60. Ximena Hermoso, MEX
*UP-AND-COMERS, JUNIORS & NCAA*
1. Belinda Bencic, SUI
2. Ana Konjuh, CRO
3. Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
4. Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
5. Katerina Siniakova, CZE
6. Nicole Gibbs, USA (NCAA Champion/Stanford Univ.)
7. Antonia Lottner, GER
8. Louisa Chirico, USA
9. Tornado Alicia Black, USA
10. Elise Mertens, BEL
11. Russian Jr. Fed Cup Team
12. Taylor Townsend, USA
13. Anett Kontaveit, EST
14. Mayo Hibi, JPN
15. Jelena Ostapenko, LAT
16. Ana Konjuh/Carol Zhao, CRO/CAN
17. Allie Kiick, USA
18. Elizaveta Kulichkova, RUS
19. Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
20. Ipek Soylu, TUR
21, Anett Kontaveit/Jelena Ostapenko, EST/LAT
22. Sachia Vickery, USA
23. Christina Makarova, USA
24. Kristina Schmiedlova, UKR
25. Jamie Loeb, USA
26. Sara Sorribes-Tormo, ESP
27. Darya Kasatkina, RUS
28. Usue Arconada, USA
29. Iryna Shymanovich, BLR
30. Anhelina Kalinina, UKR
31. Jasmine Paolini, ITA
32. Ivana Jorovic, SRB
33. Victoria Rodriguez, MEX
34. Petra Uberalova, SVK
35. Anna Danilina, KAZ
36. Renata Zarazua, MEX
37. Ilka Csoregi, ROU
38. Australian Jr. Fed Cup Team
39. Ioana Ducu, ROU
40. Barbara Haas, AUT
41. CiCi Bellis, USA
42. Fiona Ferro, FRA
43. Jana Fett, CRO
44. Domenica Gonzalez, ECU
45. Carol Zhao, CAN
46. Brooke Austin, USA
47. Sabrina Santamaria/Kaitlyn Christian, USA/USA (NCAA Champions/Univ. of Southern Cal.)
48. Harriet Dart, GBR
49. Maria Bouzcova, CZE
50. Kaitlyn McCarthy, USA
HM- Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
*SURPRISES*
1. Karin Knapp, ITA
2. Julia Glushko, ISR
3. Paula Ormaechea, ARG
4. Teliana Pereira, BRA
5. Silvia Soler-Espinosa, ESP
6. Maria Joao Koehler, POR
7. Patricia Mayr-Achleitner, AUT
8. Reka-Luca Jani!... Reka-Luca Jani!... Reka-Luca Jani!, HUN
9. Shelby Rogers, USA
10. Mandy Minella, LUX
11. Valeria Savinykh, RUS
12. Sandra Klemenschits/Andreja Klepac, AUT/SLO
13. Danka Kovinic, MNE
14. Brazilian Fed Cup Team
15. Shuko Aoyama/Chanelle Scheepers, JPN/RSA
16. Irina Buryachok, UKR
17. Lyudmyla Kichenok, UKR
18. Olga Govortsova, BLR
19. Kristina Kucova, SVK
20. Stephanie Vogt, LIE
21. Estrella Cabeza-Candela, ESP
22. Dinah Pfizenmaier, GER
23. Nina Bratchikova, RUS
24. Vesna Dolonc, SRB
25. Nastassja Burnett, FRA
26. Luksika Kumkhum, THA
27. Nadiya Kichenok, UKR
28. Lisa-Maria Moser, AUT
29. Magda Linette, POL
30. Tadeja Majeric, SLO
31. Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
32. Stephanie Foretz-Gacon, FRA
33. Zuzana Kucova, SVK
34. Maria Sanchez, USA
35. Kateryna Kozlova, UKR
36. Ayu-Fani Damayanti, INA
37. Clothilde de Bernardi, FRA
38. Tereza Mrdeza, CRO
39. Varatchaya Wongteanchi/Varunya Wongeanchi, THA
40. Eri Hozumi, JPN
HM- Tetyana Arefyeva, UKR & Kerrie Cartwright, BAH
*VETERANS*
1. Serena Willliams, USA
2. Li Na, CHN
3. Marion Bartoli, FRA
3. Maria Sharapova, RUS
4. Jelena Jankovic, SRB
5. Roberta Vinci, ITA
6. Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
7. Samantha Stosur, AUS
Maria Kirilenko, RUS
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
9. Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
10. Cara Black, ZIM
11. Nadia Petrova/Katarina Srebotnik, RUS/SLO
12. Francesca Schiavone, ITA
Lucie Safarova, CZE
13. Anabel Medina-Garrigues, ESP
14. Yvonne Meusburger, AUT
15. Flavia Pennetta, ITA
16. Ana Ivanovic, SRB
17. Sania Mirza, IND
18. Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Sania Mirza, USA/IND
19. Jelena Jankovic/Katarina Srebotnik, SRB/SLO
20. Martina Hingis, SUI (WTT)
21. Venus Williams, USA
22. Kimiko Date-Krumm, JPN
23. Lisa Raymond, USA
24. Shahar Peer, ISR
25. Zheng Jie, CHN
26. Klara Zakopalova, CZE
27. Lourdes Dominguez-Lino, ESP
28. Vera Dushevina, RUS
29. Chanelle Scheepers, RSA
30. Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Kveta Peschke, GER/CZE
31. Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
32. Galina Voskoboeva, KAZ
33. Casey Dellacqua, AUS
34. Mandy Minella, LUX
35. Sofia Arvidsson/Johanna Larsson, SWE/SWE
HM- Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, CRO & Virginie Razzano, FRA
*COMEBACK PLAYERS*
1. Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2. Alisa Kleybanova, RUS
3. Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
4. Andrea Petkovic, GER
5. Flavia Pennetta, ITA
6. Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
7. Cara Black, ZIM
8. Petra Kvitova, CZE
9. Alize Cornet, FRA
10. Kaia Kanepi, EST
11. Ana Ivanovic, SRB
12. Petra Martic, CRO
13. Vera Dushevina, RUS
14. Vania King, USA
15. Shahar Peer, ISR
16. Arantxa Rus, NED
17. Alexandra Dulgheru, ROU
18. Olga Puchkova, RUS
19. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
20. Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
21. Martina Hingis, SUI
22. Christina McHale, USA
23. Michaella Krajicek, NED
24. Asia Muhmmad, USA
25. Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova, CZE
26. Aleksandra Wozniak, CAN
27. Catalina Castano, COL
28. Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
29. Sesil Karatantcheva, KAZ
30. Evgeniya Rodina, RUS
HM- Lauren Albanese, USA & Swedish Fed Cup Team
*DOUBLES*
1. Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2. Hsieh Su-Wei/Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
3. Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
4. Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
5. Sania Mirza, IND
6. Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua, AUS/AUS
7. Nadia Petrova/Katarina Srebotnik, RUS/SLO
8. Andrea Hlavackova, CZE
9. Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka, CZE/CZE
10. Anabel Medina-Garrigues, ESP
11. Lucie Hradecka, CZE
12. Cara Black, ZIM
13. Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
14. Raquel Kops-Jones/Abigail Spears, USA/USA
15. Shuko Aoyama, JPN
16. Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Sania Mirza, USA/IND
17. Timea Babos/Mandy Minella, HUN/LUX
18. Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Kveta Peschke, GER/CZE
19. Kimiko Date-Krumm, JPN
20. Sandra Klemenschits/Andreja Klepac, AUT/SLO
21. Jarmila Gajdosova, AUS (mixed)
22. Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, ESP
23. Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ
24. Anastasia Rodionova, AUS
25. Sharon Fichman, CAN
*TEAMS*
1. Hsieh Su-Wei/Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
2. Italian Fed Cup Team
3. Washington Kastles (WTT)
3. Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
4. Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
5. Ashleigh Barty/Casey Dellacqua, AUS/AUS
6. Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
7. Kristina Mladenovic/Daniel Nestor, FRA/CAN (mixed)
8. Raquel Kops-Jones/Abigail Spears, USA/USA
9. Russian Jr. Fed Cup Team
10. Spanish Hopman Cup Team
11. Stanford Cardinal Team (NCAA Team Champions)
12. Andrea Hlavackova/Max Mirnyi, CZE/BLR (mixed)
13. Russian Fed Cup Team
14. Jelena Jankovic/Katarina Srebotnik, SRB/SLO
15. Karolina Pliskova/Kristyna Pliskova, CZE/CZE
16. Lucie Hradecka/Frantisek Cermak, CZE/CZE
17. Jarmila Gajdosova/Matthew Edben, AUS/AUS (mixed)
18. Agnieszka Radwanska/Urszula Radwanska, POL/POL
19. Sofia Arvidsson/Johanna Larsson, Swedish FC
20. Sabrina Santamaria/Kaitlyn Christian, USA/USA (NCAA Champions/Univ. of Southern Cal.)
HM- Erika Sema/Yurika Sema, JPN/JPN & Ana Konjuh/Carol Zhao, CRO/CAN
*DOWN*
1. Nadia Petrova, RUS
2. Serena Williams/Venus Williams, USA/USA
3. Maria Kirilenko, RUS (after the Top 10)
4. Tamira Paszek, AUT
5. Liezel Huber, USA
6. Laura Robson, GBR
7. Russian Fed Cup Team (off-court)
8. Sloane Stephens, USA (in non-slam events)
9. Slovak Fed Cup Team
10. Serbian Fed Cup Team
11. Heather Watson, GBR
12. Jarmila Gajdosova, AUS (singles)
13. Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez, ESP
14. Vera Zvonareva, RUS
15. Jelena Dokic, AUS
HM- Samantha Stosur, AUS (avoiding a Top 2 "Down" finish w/ great close to '13)
**HARD COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2005 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2006 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2008 Serena Williams, USA
2009 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2010 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2013 Serena Williams, USA
**CLAY COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2005 Justine Henin-Hardenne, BEL
2006 Nadia Petrova, RUS
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2008 Dinara Safina, RUS
2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2010 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2011 Li Na, CHN
2012 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2013 Serena Williams, USA
**GRASS COURT PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2005 Venus Williams, USA
2006 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2007 Venus Williams, USA
2008 Venus Williams, USA
2009 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA
**INDOOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS**
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS
2005 Mary Pierce, FRA
2006 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2009 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2010 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Angelique Kerber, GER
2013 Serena Williams, USA
*"RISING PLAYER" WINNERS*
2002 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2003 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2004 Maria Sharapova & Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS/RUS
2005 Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
2006 Nadia Petrova, RUS
2007 Jelena Jankovic & Ana Ivanovic, SRB/SRB
2008 Dinara Safina, RUS
2009 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2011 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2012 Agnieszka Radwanska, POL
2013 Simona Halep, ROU
*"FRESH FACE" WINNERS*
2002 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2003 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2004 Tatiana Golovin, FRA
2005 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2006 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2007 Agnes Szavay, HUN
2008 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2009 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2010 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
2011 Monica Niculescu, ROU
2012 Laura Robson, GBR
2013 Sloane Stephens, USA & Eugenie Bouchard, CAN
*"UP & COMING" WINNERS*
2002 Vera Zvonareva, RUS
2003 Vera Dushevina, RUS
2004 Maria Kirilenko & Nicole Vaidisova, RUS/CZE
2005 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2006 Olga Puchkova, RUS
2007 Tamira Paszek, AUT
2008 Michelle Larcher de Brito & A.Pavlyuchenkova, POR/RUS
2009 Melanie Oudin, USA
2010 Alisa Kleybanova, RUS
2011 Caroline Garcia, FRA
2012 Taylor Townsend & Eugenie Bouchard, USA/CAN
2013 Belinda Bencic, SUI
*"SURPRISE" WINNERS*
2002 Anna Smashnova, ISR
2003 Anca Barna, GER
2004 Claudine Schaul, LUX
2005 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2006 Severine Bremond, FRA
2007 Sybille Bammer, AUT
2008 Aleksandra Wozniak, CAN
2009 Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
2010 Vania King/Yaroslava Shvedova, USA/KAZ
2011 Galina Voskoboeva, KAZ
2012 Sara Errani, ITA
2013 Karin Knapp, ITA
*"COMEBACK" WINNERS*
2002 Chanda Rubin, USA
2003 Lina Krasnoroutskaya, RUS
2004 Mary Pierce, FRA
2005 Venus Williams, USA
2006 Martina Hingis, SUI
2007 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2008 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2009 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2010 Justine Henin, BEL
2011 Sabine Lisicki, GER
2012 Hsieh Su-Wei, TPE
2013 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
*"VETERAN" WINNERS*
2002 Monica Seles, USA
2003 Ai Sugiyama, JPN
2004 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2005 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2006 Martina Hingis, SUI
2007 Venus Williams, USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2011 Li Na, CHN
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Serena Williams, USA
*"DOWN" WINNERS*
2002 Meghann Shaughnessy, USA
2003 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2004 Jelena Dokic, SRB
2005 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2006 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2007 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2008 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2009 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2010 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2011 Venus Williams, USA
2012 Vera Zvonareva, RUS
2013 Nadia Petrova, RUS
*"DOUBLES" WINNERS*
2003 Martina Navratilova, USA
2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual, ESP
2005 Cara Black, ZIM
2006 Lisa Raymond, USA
2007 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Nuria Llagostera-Vives/Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez, ESP/ESP
2010 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2011 Liezel Huber, USA
2012 Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2013 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
*"TEAM OF THE YEAR" WINNERS*
2003 Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez, ESP/ARG
2004 Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez, ESP/ARG
2005 Serena Williams/Venus Williams, USA/USA
2006 Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur, USA/AUS
2007 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2008 Cara Black/Liezel Huber, ZIM/USA
2009 Italian Fed Cup Team
2010 Gisela Dulko/Flavia Pennetta, ARG/ITA
2011 Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik, CZE/SLO
2012 Czech Fed Cup Team
2013 Hsieh Su-Wei/Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
All for now.
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 1:32 AM
11 Comments:
i can't decide about eugenie bouchard and sloane stephens... I tend to think sloane had the better year...but she also didn't make a final, but genie did. and genie is technically a "fresher face" than sloane.
tricky tricky.
Great photo of the Pliskova sisters--and a classic photo of QC!
It's funny with Sloane, Eric. You look at the numbers and you say "fresh face, breakout player." But you look at Sloane herself, and the sum doesn't equal the parts.
Eric-
I just had a hard time graduating Stephens up to "Riser" from "Fresh Face" (where she was #3 last year, while Bouchard was tied w/ Townsend for #1 on the "Up & Comers/Juniors" list for '12) when she didn't reach a final, so I just split the difference and had them tie. It'll be interesting to compare their season in '14.
I probably would have had Stephens somewhere around #8-12 if I'd put her on "Rising."
Diane-
Yeah, I saw that pic of JJ and, well, I just HAD to use it. :)
Oh, and does anyone else think that photo of Gibbs looks like "someone else" who I won't mention, so as not to lead you TOO much?
Gibbs' picture actually reminds me of TWO people who shall not be mentioned, but who faced twice in 2006 Slam finals. Her face reminds me of the winner of these two match-ups, while the general style reminds me of the loser.
Hmmm, I was thinking of the latter, but I see where you're coming from on the former, as well. I think the eyes DO sort of have it there. ;)
She doesn't "look like" her, but that shoulder turn, along with the cap, does give one a flash of recognition.
I was wondering what the matching tattoos were on the Pliskova girls.
I think I would have put Sloane as number 2 on Risers. She and Halep have been the breakout stars of the season.
I would have put Azarenka, Rad, and Kvitova on the Veterans list. Todd, how old do you have to be to be on that list lol?
Diane - I think Sloane is really interesting. Her personality rubs me the wrong way at times...And I get frustrated when she checks out of matches. But her game is huge. I wasn't joking when I said that she makes Serena's game look antiquated -- she can just blow someone off the court with her forehand. Doesn't matter about the point preparation, speed of opponent, or how steady the other player is. (I still don't understand the mechanics of her swing.) That's exciting to see. Also, I kind of like how she's just trying to be herself and have her own career. I think that's a healthy way to approach things -- without too many expectations; without living up to the spectre of others. There's no reason to add that type of pressure. Is she a future champion? Don't know. Is she only in it for the fame? Don't know.
But again, it's refreshing that there's a player who comes from means and didn't grow up in a swimming pool playing without gravity etc. etc.
You know, I used to have a rule that once a player turned 20 (or the season after she turned 20) she'd move off the "FF" and graduate to the "Riser" lists. But then players started breaking through later, and few teens made big jumps, the last few years, so it's sort of muddled now. I guess I just try to balance the lists, and I thought Stephens should be on the high end of one of them with her slam SF and near-Top 10 ranking, so I kept her in the "FF." That'll change next season... she'll either appear in "Riser" or "Down," or considering her history, maybe even both. :)
Apparently, the tattoos are just some random symbol. One of the sisters said this in an interview when asked about them: "It doesn’t mean anything, I just have it with my sister, the same one. And my father, too."
I just think that Sloane is maturing more slowly than some of her counterparts. One hopes that her level of maturity will increase fairly soon and she'll be able to focus better. I get the impression she doesn't want to do the work.
Her forehand is indeed really something, though (and what a pity, given the way things turned out) no one's forehand thrills me quite like Sania Mirza's. But--as Ana Ivo can tell you--a really good forehand does not a top player make (well, at least over the long haul).
Sloane has other things going for her, though, including those considerable doubles skills. Again, if I were her coach, she'd be entered in doubles again and again.
Molik seems to have taken that course of action with Stosur in the closing events of '13, and it appears to have helped her singles results, too. I wonder how often that gameplan will carry over into 2014, though?
Hmmm, I guess the Russians just want to get out of Italy as quickly as possible, considering Kleybanova -- seemingly their only real chance at a match win this weekend -- has been left off the singles schedule. Apparently, the idea is that she hasn't played much on clay in her comeback. But, still, she'd seem to a better bet to win a match than Khromacheva, who's replaced her in Saturday's match vs. Errani. :-\
In the case of Sloane, I think playing doubles would help her by forcing her to be responsible for another person. You can't mess around in doubles--someone is counting on you.
Fed Cup is so ridiculous at this point. I haven't even bought my pass for the weekend, and maybe I won't.
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