Aasim Shaffi

With Justine Henin out the picture, the bid for this year’s French Open is wide open. Maria Sharapova’s much improved clay court game will be put to the test as she leads the pack as the no.1 seed, with feisty opposition behind.
 
Can Serena keep it up to conquest?                

The top three of women’s tennis all fell at the QF stage of the first Grandslam of the year. They all have different stories but leave a big question mark.
 

Congratulations are in order as Maria Sharapova blasted her way to her third Grandslam crown. The victim this time was Serbian sensation Ana Ivanovic, but the real sensation this time round was Maria as she tamed the rising start in straight sets. So how did she beat Ana Ivanovic and what were the key factors that once again put here back into the winning circle.
 
 

The Australian Open has pulled out a few surprises. As the Williams sisters will both go neck to neck against the mighty Serbians and Justine Henin will try to tame an unlucky Maria Sharapova early on.
 
The top title contenders for the Australian Open look keen to start off the first Grandslam of the year, however the draw has put a devious twist on things.
 

The American has stormed through the doubles and singles field in Hong Kong. Among her victims are Russia’s ruthless Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva.
 
Despite nudges towards Venus Williams’ hamstring, it’s pretty obvious that the American comes into the first Grandslam of the year as a heavy favourite.
 

The ruthless Russian created a stir in the 2006 French Open; even Justine Henin couldn’t stop her. Although the dream didn’t come true, can Nadia Petrova call up her best to claim a long-awaited Grandslam title?
 
We have already seen that Petrova has the weapons to look like a Grandslam favourite. Her serve scorches down with a might thump and goes deep. She can hit aces out wide and down the line.
 

A highly anticipated star-studded field will surely make 2008 a season to remember. The top contenders will be Justine Henin, the Williams sisters, Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport.
 

She may be another promising youngster but when it comes down to it, only the best of them will become elites of the game. So is French fantasy, Tatiana Golovin a future champion?
 
Tatiana’s style of play is impressive to say the least. Her serve comes down with a mighty thump and has its own unique rhythm. It usually plays out flat but can go deep and short.
 

The American made a surprise return to the tour and sent shockwaves through the lower tier tournaments. With a full time return plaguing her mind, Lindsay Davenport is taking aim to kick Justine Henin off her high horse.
 
It’s pretty obvious that Lindsay Davenport will climb back into the top 10, but encounters with the likes of the Williams sisters and Justine Henin, will pitch big against the American giant. So what weapons could she use to win another Grandslam and break a sturdy opposition?
 

She broke barriers in 2007, making her career debut in the top five as well as reaching her first Grandslam semi-final. Yet she still continues to be hindered and dragged down from her ever so recurring tantrums.
 
In 2006 Anna Chakvetadze became the surprise winner of the Kremlin cup, coming on top of all her Russian compatriots. The sheer talent looked promising for a great 2007, which turned out to be a superb season. So how did she work her way to the top five and how dangerous is her temper?