Just thought I’d start a thread of the players to watch on the WTA tour. I'm hoping most will turn out to be top 20 players at the very least and a few in particular could even make the top 10. There are probably more talented players out there than some of the girls that make my list but I'm a fan of these ones. I doubt too many will be interested but here goes. I should point out that my rankings go in order of where they are currently ranked, not in how I see them panning out. I might even get around to doing an ATP version if anyone cares!
1. Agnieszka Radwanska:
* Current Ranking: 16
* Country: Poland
* Age: 19
Bio: She’s already reached a career high ranking of 16 and has had an outstanding first quarter of the season. As I said earlier in the year she’s fearless, so incredibly strong mentally and will keep going for her shots regardless of the situation. She’s got great ground strokes and one of the best drop shots you’ll see. She’s got a very bright future and while she might not reach the top of the game, there’s no reason to suggest why she can’t be a strong contender in the Slams for many years. I’m a massive fan of this girl, I'd like to say she's got top 10 potential and she's already close, but whether she'll reach this mark is touch and go. But with Bartoli currently in 9th spot, I shouldn't fear.
Prediction: Top 10
2. Viktoria Azarenka:
* Current Ranking: 28
* Country: Belarus
* Age: 18
Bio: Ever since her days on the junior circuit, Azarenka has been earmarked as a player to watch. She hits the ball with immense power and some label her a ball basher but she is more advanced than that. She has the game to be a top 5 player but there’s one thing holding her back, her temperament. All too often she loses her cool and she is very easily distracted and as a result her game suffers. However when on song she is a pleasure to watch and thee aren’t many better ball strikers. She is improving her all court game as she continues to play doubles. Should be top 15 in the near future but this all depends on whether she can improve her temperament.
Prediction: Top 10
3. Lucie Safarova
* Current Ranking: 39
* Country: Czech Republic
* Age: 21
Bio: Safarova started out like a house on fire in 2007 as she reached the QF’s of the Australian Open. She then reached the finals at Paris, losing to Petrova She then made the 4th Round of the French Open, again beating Mauresmo. However towards the end of 2007 and so far this year she has been well below her best. She is one of the tours biggest hitters and being a left hander she can be very difficult to match up against. When on song she can beat anyone and she has already beaten players like Henin, Mauresmo, Hantuchova, Kuznetsova and more. One huge talent, she just needs to improve her durability and consistency to be as good as she can. She can be a world beater one minute, and be ordinary the next.
Prediction: Top 15
4. Tamira Paszek:
* Current Ranking: 42
* Country: Austria
* Age: 17
Bio: Most on here would be aware of her game, if not her game then something else. She has stumbled a bit this season but she’s still extremely young and will be a great player. She too is another one of these fearless youngsters and she can hit winners from anywhere on the court. Needs to work on her serve and she needs to be mindful of her fitness but if she continues to develop she’ll be in the top 10 before too long simply because of her weapons.
Prediction: Top 10
5. Caroline Wozniacki:
* Current Ranking: 43
* Country: Denmark
* Age: 17
Bio: Caroline is one of the more established players on this list and she is already near the required ranking to be a seed at the Slams. She reached the 4th Round of the Australian Open and in doing so she troubled Ivanovic. Lovely striker of the ball and at the tender age of 17 she is one of the best athletes in the game. She moves around the court so well and can retrieve almost anything. She was a top performer on the junior circuit, winning the junior Wimbledon title in 2008. Despite 2008 well and truly being her breakout year, she has suffered some heavy defeats at the hands of the tours heavy hitters. She will need to gain strength which will enable her to match it with these players. Definitely one to keep an eye on and I think she has top 5 potential.
Prediction: Top 5
6. Ioana Raluca Olaru
* Current Ranking: 71
* Country: Romania
* Age: 19
Bio: Olaru is slowing moving up the rankings and we can expect a successful clay court season from the young Romanian. She has a game that adapts exceptionally well to the clay and she reached the 3rd Round in her first appearance at the French Open, losing to Ivanovic. The junior Roland Garros finalist in 2006, she needs to add muscle and some power to her shots but when she does she could hit the top 30.
Prediction: Top 30
7. Sorana Cirstea:
* Current Ranking: 88
* Country: Romania
* Age: 17
Bio: Tremendous talent and one that could be a top 10 player in the future. She troubled Ivanovic in the 1st Round of the Australian Open and had she held her nerves a little better she would’ve taken the first set. Great ball striker as she generates terrific racquet head speed. Can out power anyone on the tour but she needs to work on her concentration and her shot selection. Possibly the most talented of anyone on this list, and the best looking too as there is something special about her.
Prediction: Top 5
8. Sabine Lisicki:
* Current Ranking: 137
* Country: Germany
* Age: 18
Bio: Already claimed some big scalps by reaching the 3rd Round of the Australian Open, eventually losing to Wozniacki a tight 3 setter. In the early stages of her career she has already beaten much higher ranked players in Safina and Davenport. Germany’s big hope for the future is currently in the 3rd round of the Miami Tier 1 tournament which will boost her ranking significantly.
Prediction: Top 25
9. Viktoria Kutuzova:
* Current Ranking: 181
* Country: Ukraine
* Age: 19
Bio: Shouldn’t be that low in the rankings. She has really fallen down the list after she made some inroads in 2006, reaching the 2nd Round of the French Open and stretching Dementieva to 3 sets. At her best she is a potential top 50 player but unfortunately injuries and a lack of confidence has stalled her progress. Whether she will overcome these hurdles is anyone’s guess.
Prediction: Top 50
10. Jessica Moore:
* Current Ranking: 238
* Country: Australia
* Age: 17
Bio: Had to squeeze an Aussie onto the list didn’t I? But in saying that, I do believe she has a fair bit of potential and in a few years time will be the highest ranked Aussie player. Technically sound, Moore hits well off both sides and she has a more than acceptable serve which you can’t say for many of the women these days. She has a solid game, and once she improves her vollies and adds some strength and power to her game she could be a great prospect for Australian tennis. I've said top 50; she's got a long way to go but the signs look good.
Prediction: Top 50
1. Agnieszka Radwanska:
* Current Ranking: 16
* Country: Poland
* Age: 19
Bio: She’s already reached a career high ranking of 16 and has had an outstanding first quarter of the season. As I said earlier in the year she’s fearless, so incredibly strong mentally and will keep going for her shots regardless of the situation. She’s got great ground strokes and one of the best drop shots you’ll see. She’s got a very bright future and while she might not reach the top of the game, there’s no reason to suggest why she can’t be a strong contender in the Slams for many years. I’m a massive fan of this girl, I'd like to say she's got top 10 potential and she's already close, but whether she'll reach this mark is touch and go. But with Bartoli currently in 9th spot, I shouldn't fear.
Prediction: Top 10
2. Viktoria Azarenka:
* Current Ranking: 28
* Country: Belarus
* Age: 18
Bio: Ever since her days on the junior circuit, Azarenka has been earmarked as a player to watch. She hits the ball with immense power and some label her a ball basher but she is more advanced than that. She has the game to be a top 5 player but there’s one thing holding her back, her temperament. All too often she loses her cool and she is very easily distracted and as a result her game suffers. However when on song she is a pleasure to watch and thee aren’t many better ball strikers. She is improving her all court game as she continues to play doubles. Should be top 15 in the near future but this all depends on whether she can improve her temperament.
Prediction: Top 10
3. Lucie Safarova
* Current Ranking: 39
* Country: Czech Republic
* Age: 21
Bio: Safarova started out like a house on fire in 2007 as she reached the QF’s of the Australian Open. She then reached the finals at Paris, losing to Petrova She then made the 4th Round of the French Open, again beating Mauresmo. However towards the end of 2007 and so far this year she has been well below her best. She is one of the tours biggest hitters and being a left hander she can be very difficult to match up against. When on song she can beat anyone and she has already beaten players like Henin, Mauresmo, Hantuchova, Kuznetsova and more. One huge talent, she just needs to improve her durability and consistency to be as good as she can. She can be a world beater one minute, and be ordinary the next.
Prediction: Top 15
4. Tamira Paszek:
* Current Ranking: 42
* Country: Austria
* Age: 17
Bio: Most on here would be aware of her game, if not her game then something else. She has stumbled a bit this season but she’s still extremely young and will be a great player. She too is another one of these fearless youngsters and she can hit winners from anywhere on the court. Needs to work on her serve and she needs to be mindful of her fitness but if she continues to develop she’ll be in the top 10 before too long simply because of her weapons.
Prediction: Top 10
5. Caroline Wozniacki:
* Current Ranking: 43
* Country: Denmark
* Age: 17
Bio: Caroline is one of the more established players on this list and she is already near the required ranking to be a seed at the Slams. She reached the 4th Round of the Australian Open and in doing so she troubled Ivanovic. Lovely striker of the ball and at the tender age of 17 she is one of the best athletes in the game. She moves around the court so well and can retrieve almost anything. She was a top performer on the junior circuit, winning the junior Wimbledon title in 2008. Despite 2008 well and truly being her breakout year, she has suffered some heavy defeats at the hands of the tours heavy hitters. She will need to gain strength which will enable her to match it with these players. Definitely one to keep an eye on and I think she has top 5 potential.
Prediction: Top 5
6. Ioana Raluca Olaru
* Current Ranking: 71
* Country: Romania
* Age: 19
Bio: Olaru is slowing moving up the rankings and we can expect a successful clay court season from the young Romanian. She has a game that adapts exceptionally well to the clay and she reached the 3rd Round in her first appearance at the French Open, losing to Ivanovic. The junior Roland Garros finalist in 2006, she needs to add muscle and some power to her shots but when she does she could hit the top 30.
Prediction: Top 30
7. Sorana Cirstea:
* Current Ranking: 88
* Country: Romania
* Age: 17
Bio: Tremendous talent and one that could be a top 10 player in the future. She troubled Ivanovic in the 1st Round of the Australian Open and had she held her nerves a little better she would’ve taken the first set. Great ball striker as she generates terrific racquet head speed. Can out power anyone on the tour but she needs to work on her concentration and her shot selection. Possibly the most talented of anyone on this list, and the best looking too as there is something special about her.
Prediction: Top 5
8. Sabine Lisicki:
* Current Ranking: 137
* Country: Germany
* Age: 18
Bio: Already claimed some big scalps by reaching the 3rd Round of the Australian Open, eventually losing to Wozniacki a tight 3 setter. In the early stages of her career she has already beaten much higher ranked players in Safina and Davenport. Germany’s big hope for the future is currently in the 3rd round of the Miami Tier 1 tournament which will boost her ranking significantly.
Prediction: Top 25
9. Viktoria Kutuzova:
* Current Ranking: 181
* Country: Ukraine
* Age: 19
Bio: Shouldn’t be that low in the rankings. She has really fallen down the list after she made some inroads in 2006, reaching the 2nd Round of the French Open and stretching Dementieva to 3 sets. At her best she is a potential top 50 player but unfortunately injuries and a lack of confidence has stalled her progress. Whether she will overcome these hurdles is anyone’s guess.
Prediction: Top 50
10. Jessica Moore:
* Current Ranking: 238
* Country: Australia
* Age: 17
Bio: Had to squeeze an Aussie onto the list didn’t I? But in saying that, I do believe she has a fair bit of potential and in a few years time will be the highest ranked Aussie player. Technically sound, Moore hits well off both sides and she has a more than acceptable serve which you can’t say for many of the women these days. She has a solid game, and once she improves her vollies and adds some strength and power to her game she could be a great prospect for Australian tennis. I've said top 50; she's got a long way to go but the signs look good.
Prediction: Top 50
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