Women’s game has lost its buzz
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 1:52 PM
I watched defending French Open champion Ana Ivanovic stumble through a first-round win in Paris, and it triggered the thought of what has happened to the women’s game?
Just six years ago, there was Serena, Venus, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, and Amelie Mauresmo. Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova were on their way. The game was rich with rivalry, and the Grand Slams were wars of attrition.
The culmination was the U.S. Open semifinals that year, played in a special Friday night session created due to rain. Clijsters won the first match while Henin and Capriati played the second best women’s match I have ever seen in the nightcap.
At the same time, the men were caught in the tail end of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Lleyton Hewitt capitalized to become No. 1, but that summer, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick arrived to begin the renaissance.
Now, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray join Federer and Roddick to make the men as deep and as entertaining as the 2003 women. And the ladies have fallen into disrepair.
There is no buzz unless the Serena and Venus are involved. It would surprise few if any one of 8-10 women took this French Open title. Problem is that only a winner named Williams garners any attention. (Clarification: Sharapova would command headlines, but she is just returning from a nine-month injury hiatus and is no threat to contend).
Last June, I left Paris thinking the women had found a new flag bearer. Armed with a wicked forehand, spirited back story and engaging smile, Ivanovic in one weekend captured her first Grand Slam title and the No. 1 ranking. But since, her game has unraveled. Now there is a shaky toss, erratic backhand, and volatile confidence. Ivanovic can still beat many, but any talk of a title defense at Roland Garros is quite premature.
If no Ana, then who? Dinara Safina is now ranked No. 1, but Serena is still the sport’s queen. If she is ready to handle the seven-match grind on red clay, Serena is the favorite for her 11th Grand Slam title. If not, take the field for it would not surprise one iota if anyone from the Jelena Jankovic-Kuznetsova-Elena Dementieva-Vera Zvonareva-Victoria Azarenka-Caroline Wozniacki jumble celebrated two Saturdays hence. And that isn’t going to help the current state of the women’s game.
Lauren Embree was the USTA women’s wildcard playoff winner and made her Grand Slam debut Sunday. It was brief, a quick loss to Nadia Petrova. But Embree’s playoff success was interesting as she won two of the three matches when opponents defaulted.
Donald Young has slipped. A direct entry last year, he didn’t even try to play the qualies this year. But Young may (and we use that word with emphasis) may be gaining some enlightenment. He has contacted the USTA for help, and recently arrived at the Carson, Calif. training center, unaccompanied. To those in the know, that’s a positive sign.
