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Strengths and weaknesses of leading women at US Open
London, Aug 19: A brief look at the strengths and weaknesses of the leading women after the US Open seeds were announced.
London, Aug 19: A brief look at the strengths and weaknesses of the leading women after the US Open seeds were announced.
1-Kim Clijsters (Belgium): The gritty baseliner has been in
brilliant form all year and claimed the world number one ranking
earlier this month after winning her sixth title of the season.
Mentally tough and with solid groundstrokes to match, she is
desperate to make her grand slam breakthrough and this could
prove to be her best chance to land some major silverware.
2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium): With her all-court game, she could add the US Open title to her French open success. Fluid and languid, Henin-Hardenne plays the game with a grace and poise and proved her critics wrong by overwhelming Serena en route to her Paris win. A beautiful backhand is supported by an accurate serve and crisp volleys.
3-Lindsay Davenport (US): US Open champion in 1998, Davenport has a huge forehand and stinging serve which makes her a dangerous prospect. Sidelined for much of 2002 with injuries, she still managed to reach the semis last year but her mobility remains a weakness.
4-Venus Williams (US): Doubts remain about Venus's fitness as she has been sidelined with an abdominal strain since losing the Wimbledon final to her sister Serena last month. A fully fit Venus could wipe away the opposition with her thunderbolt serve and will be looking to add to her two US Open crowns.
5-Amelie Mauresmo (France): Proved that her big groundstrokes and hefty serve could do damage when she enjoyed a surprise run through to the semi-finals last year. Appears to thrive away from the expectation of playing on home soil and could do well again this year.
6-Jennifer Capriati (US): One of the game's heavyweight hitters, Capriati intimidates opponents from the start but has been searching in vain to end her 19-month title drought. The New York-born player is always a crowd favourite at the Open but two semi-final appearances remain her best result. Her lack of confidence could lead to an early downfall.
7-Anastasia Myskina (Russia): Speedy around the court and with a thunderous forehand, Myskina has gradually made inroads on the WTA tour. Although yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals at the slams, she has displayed enough to suggest she could mature into a class act.
8-Chanda Rubin (US): An attacking serve-volleyer, Rubin's unfamiliar style can cause problems. She is more than capable of producing a few shocks but needs to put in a solid performance if she is to improve on her three fourth round showings.
9-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia): Tall and lean, she is a great touch player and can beat anyone on her day. Has the ability to win on the big occasion, as she proved by beating Martina Hingis to win Indian wells last year, but is struggling to come out of slump.
10-Magdalena Maleeva (Bulgaria): A baseline-hugging player, she reached the quarter-finals of the open back in 1992 on her third visit. Artful and crafty around the court, she is a stylish player and should do well in the early rounds before meeting a power player.
11-Elena Dementieva (Russia): A consistent baseliner who has failed to live up to her form of 2000 when she reached the US Open semi-finals. Prone to lapses in concentration but plays with great power from the back.
12-Conchita Martinez (Spain): The 1994 Wimbledon champion has worked her way back after being plagued by injuries last season. With her powerful backcourt game, she has the ability to reach the second week.
13-Vera Zvonareva (Russia): Reached the third round on her Open debut last year. A natural baseliner, she enjoys playing on hard court. By reaching the French Open quarter-finals, she showed she has the ability and temperament to go far in the draw.
14-Amanda Coetzer (South Africa): Making her 15th visit to flushing meadows but is unlikely to go very far.
15-Ai Sugiyama (Japan): Has the tools to slug it out from the back of the court as she displayed in overcoming Clijsters in Scottsdale to end a five-year title drought. But Sugiyama lacks the stamina to progress beyond the first week.
16-Elena Bovina (Russia): Reached the quarter-finals last year but has failed to repeat that form this year. Her powerful forehand will need to be on target if she is live up to her seeding.
2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium): With her all-court game, she could add the US Open title to her French open success. Fluid and languid, Henin-Hardenne plays the game with a grace and poise and proved her critics wrong by overwhelming Serena en route to her Paris win. A beautiful backhand is supported by an accurate serve and crisp volleys.
3-Lindsay Davenport (US): US Open champion in 1998, Davenport has a huge forehand and stinging serve which makes her a dangerous prospect. Sidelined for much of 2002 with injuries, she still managed to reach the semis last year but her mobility remains a weakness.
4-Venus Williams (US): Doubts remain about Venus's fitness as she has been sidelined with an abdominal strain since losing the Wimbledon final to her sister Serena last month. A fully fit Venus could wipe away the opposition with her thunderbolt serve and will be looking to add to her two US Open crowns.
5-Amelie Mauresmo (France): Proved that her big groundstrokes and hefty serve could do damage when she enjoyed a surprise run through to the semi-finals last year. Appears to thrive away from the expectation of playing on home soil and could do well again this year.
6-Jennifer Capriati (US): One of the game's heavyweight hitters, Capriati intimidates opponents from the start but has been searching in vain to end her 19-month title drought. The New York-born player is always a crowd favourite at the Open but two semi-final appearances remain her best result. Her lack of confidence could lead to an early downfall.
7-Anastasia Myskina (Russia): Speedy around the court and with a thunderous forehand, Myskina has gradually made inroads on the WTA tour. Although yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals at the slams, she has displayed enough to suggest she could mature into a class act.
8-Chanda Rubin (US): An attacking serve-volleyer, Rubin's unfamiliar style can cause problems. She is more than capable of producing a few shocks but needs to put in a solid performance if she is to improve on her three fourth round showings.
9-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia): Tall and lean, she is a great touch player and can beat anyone on her day. Has the ability to win on the big occasion, as she proved by beating Martina Hingis to win Indian wells last year, but is struggling to come out of slump.
10-Magdalena Maleeva (Bulgaria): A baseline-hugging player, she reached the quarter-finals of the open back in 1992 on her third visit. Artful and crafty around the court, she is a stylish player and should do well in the early rounds before meeting a power player.
11-Elena Dementieva (Russia): A consistent baseliner who has failed to live up to her form of 2000 when she reached the US Open semi-finals. Prone to lapses in concentration but plays with great power from the back.
12-Conchita Martinez (Spain): The 1994 Wimbledon champion has worked her way back after being plagued by injuries last season. With her powerful backcourt game, she has the ability to reach the second week.
13-Vera Zvonareva (Russia): Reached the third round on her Open debut last year. A natural baseliner, she enjoys playing on hard court. By reaching the French Open quarter-finals, she showed she has the ability and temperament to go far in the draw.
14-Amanda Coetzer (South Africa): Making her 15th visit to flushing meadows but is unlikely to go very far.
15-Ai Sugiyama (Japan): Has the tools to slug it out from the back of the court as she displayed in overcoming Clijsters in Scottsdale to end a five-year title drought. But Sugiyama lacks the stamina to progress beyond the first week.
16-Elena Bovina (Russia): Reached the quarter-finals last year but has failed to repeat that form this year. Her powerful forehand will need to be on target if she is live up to her seeding.
Bureau Report