2008 US Open - Women’s Breakdown - Top 10

Top 10 Seeds

Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
 
Height: 6′1″
Weight:  152 lbs.
D.O.B:  11/06/1987
Turned Pro: 2003
Current Ranking: 1
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: Indian Wells and Roland Garros
2007 US Open: Fourth Round
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Since winning the French Open, Ivanovic has struggled a bit, losing in third round at both Wimbledon and Montreal. She also had to pull out of the Olympics with a thumb injury that may hamper her chances in New York. She lost her #1 ranking for a week, but has it back once again coming into the Open. The question is: How long can she stay there?
 
When Ivanovic’s forehand and serve are working she can compete against anyone on the Tour and will win a majority of the time. . She has already won a big hard court title this year at Indian Wells and went to the finals of the Australian Open. Her game fits very well into the faster surfaces, and with her excellent movement she is very difficult to beat. If she is healthy and focused she is a real threat to win the tournament.
 
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
 
Height:  5′9″
Weight:  130 lbs.
D.O.B:  02/28/1985
Turned Pro: 2000
Current Ranking: 2
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: Rome
2007 US Open: Quarterfinals
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Jankovic claimed the #1 spot for the first time in her career, but it was very short lived (just one week). She is now back at #2 after falling in the quarterfinals of the Olympics. She clearly isn’t playing the best tennis of her career, but she is still a top contender in this tournament.
 
When on the court, Jankovic cannot get into a defensive position when serving. She must break serve and hit deep groundstrokes, including more of her great two-handed-backhand-down-the-line shot. Winning a Grand Slam demands that you control play and go for your shots, you cannot rely on your opponent’s to miss all the time!
 
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
 
Height:  5′8″
Weight:  161 lbs.
D.O.B:  06/27/1985
Turned Pro:  2000
Current Ranking: 3
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: None
2007 US Open: Finals
 
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
It is amazing to think that Kuznetsova hasn’t won a title since last August at New Haven when Agnes Szavay retired in the finals. With a player as talented as herself, you would think she would find herself in the winner’s circle at least once in the last year. Despite that, she always plays at a high level because of her athletic movement and balance. She tries to be offensive and hits with little spin.
 
Kuznetsova is a former champion and finalist here, so I would put her right up at the top of the list of real contenders. I feel she must show a little more emotion and confidence out on the court, and I look for Kuznetsova to be playing well into the second week.
 
Serena Williams (USA)
 
Height:  5′9″
Weight:  150 lbs.
D.O. B:  09/26/1981
Turned Pro: 1995
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 4
2008 Titles: Bangalore, Miami, and Charleston
2007 US Open: Quarterfinals
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Serena’s knee has been acting up all summer, causing her to pull out of a couple tournaments. She did play in the Olympics where she reached the quarters before falling to Dementieva in three sets. Not a bad result, but she had her sites set on the Gold.
 
The biggest problem with the knee is that it doesn’t allow her to reach the impossible balls and come up with winners or defensive deep strokes as she has done throughout her career. I am confident that Serena will be ready for the US Open and display her passion for winning. If she is healthy, she will be playing on the final weekend!
 
Elena Dementieva (RUS)
 
Height:  5′11″
Weight:  141 lbs.
D.O.B:  10/15/1981
Turned Pro: 1998
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 5
2008 Titles: Beijing Olympics, Dubai
2007 US Open: 3rd Round
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Dementieva has had an excellent year, and it jut got a lot better with the Gold Medal in Beijing! She has also reached the finals of three other tournaments (winning one), and the quarters or semis of six others. Her fitness, movement, and groundstrokes are excellent, and her serve is much improved. She is like a brick wall on the baseline, nothing gets past her. When she keeps her unforced errors down, watch out!!
 
Dementieva is like the Nikolay Davydenko of the women’s tour. She is always ranked in the top five or six but still has yet to win a Grand Slam. She has been to the finals of two (including the 2004 US Open), and her consistency cannot be questioned. I don’t feel her serve hurts her that much and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see her in the semis contending for the title.
 
Dinara Safina (RUS)
 
Height: 5′11″
Weight:  154 lbs.
D.O. B:  04/27/1986
Turned Pro: 2000
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 7
2008 Titles: Berlin, Los Angeles, and Montreal
2007 US Open: 4th Round
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Safina has become the new darling of the WTA Tour. Without a question she is playing the best tennis of anyone right now (and has been since about May). She just lost in the finals of the Olympics, and before that she won two hard court titles in a row in LA and Montreal.
 
The biggest difference in her game has been finding a consistent approach. Before, Safina would reach the semis of a tournament and then lose in the first round of the next. Now, she is consistently contending in every tournament she plays. She will be the pick by a many of the pundits to be a true contender to capture the title, and I liker her chances too.
 
P.S. Safina’s offensive forehand and backhand are a problem for her opponents!
 
Venus Williams (USA)
 
Height: 6′1″
Weight:  160 lbs.
D.O. B:  06/17/1980
Turned Pro: 1994
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 8
2008 Titles: Wimbledon
2007 US Open: Semifinals
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Venus is truly and all-court player, and her game is beautiful to watch. She is comfortable at the net, back at the baseline and everywhere else on the court. At times she makes several unforced errors from the forehand side and that can be a problem. If she can keep the errors down she is a top favorite to be in the finals.
 
Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
 
 
Height: 5′7″
Weight:  130 lbs.
D.O. B:  09/07/1984
Turned Pro: 2000
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 9
2008 Titles: Prague
2007 US Open: 3rd Round
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
It seems like Zvonareva has been around forever, but in all reality she is only 23-years old. She is having her best year on tour since 2004, but has yet to do anything at the Grand Slams. Like Chakvetadze, she played at Stanford, LA, and Montreal, but her results weren’t good. She went 1-3 in those tournaments. She did reach the semis of the Olympics though, so that is a good sign.
 
Zvonareva’s best surface is definitely clay. Her one title this year came on clay, and the only Grand Slam she has reached the quarters in was the French Open. Having said that, she has demonstrated that she can win on the hard courts too. She went to the finals in Doha, the quarters at Indian Wells and the semis in Miami. Zvonareva needs to recapture some of that magic in Flushing Meadows.
 
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
 
Height: 5′8″
Weight:  123 lbs.
D.O. B:  03/06/1989
Turned Pro: 2005
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Current Ranking: 10
2008 Titles: Eastbourne, Istanbul, and Pattaya City
2007 US Open: 4th Round
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
Radwanska moved into the top ten earlier this month for the first time in her career. She has already won three titles this year on three different surfaces, and has been to the quarters of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Needless to say, she is having her best year on the WTA Tour.
 
Radwanska plays a smart game. She doesn’t hit as hard as everyone else and doesn’t have a big sonic serve. She plays great defense, moves well, and doesn’t make any errors at all. Her style of tennis is great to watch and should be an example to all young players. This is one player that I think could make some serious noise.
 
Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)
 
Height: 5′7″
Weight:  128 lbs.
D.O.B:  03/05/1987
Turned Pro: 2003
Current Ranking: 11
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
2008 Titles: Paris
2007 US Open: Semifinals
 
Nick’s Thoughts:
After a great year in 2007, Chakvetadze has had a forgettable one in 2008. Her ranking has dropped to out of the top 10 and she hasn’t been past the fourth round of a Grand Slam this year. Last year she went to the quarters of both the Australian Open and French Open and the semis at the US Open. When I watch her play this year I am confused. For a few points she looks fantastic, and then on other points you scratch your head. How can she go from 100% to 0% with nothing in between?

Go Back