2009 Year End Review The Women, No.’s 11-20, Bartoli, Sharapova,
Clijsters & More
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net In good health, Maria should win Slam No. 4.
This continues a review of the women’s and men’s top 30s.
Notice that there is only one teenager amongst the women ranked No. 11-20,
a very unusual development.
11 MARION BARTOLI: A solid year for France’s most
accomplished tennis-playing impressionist painter. She may not be as good
as she thinks she is on court, but off court, there’s no more interesting
personality on tour.
12 FLAVIA PENNETTA: This veteran has improved more than
any other during the past two years. She’s in much better shape,
finally believes in her offense and is more comfortable with who she is.
Don’t count her out of a Slam final.
13 SAMANTHA STOSUR: It’s taken almost too long
for the Aussie to improve her singles game and if she can add a little
more pop to her backhand, make better use of the net and not go on walkabouts
against the elite players, she’ll be threat to win a major in 2010.
She’s love to do it Down Under.
14 MARIA SHARAPOVA: If you look at how much better the
three-time Slam champ played in last two and half months of her comeback
compared to her first two and half, you’ll realize that if she can
stay healthy in 2010, she’s near lock to win a Slam, because she’s
a better all around player now.
15 NA LI: Just when we thought that the Chinese veteran
was going to give way to her other ambitious countrywomen, she stood strong
and reasonable healthy for much of 2009. She’ll never win a Slam,
but don’t count her out of the top 10.
16 YANINA WICKMAYER: Without question, the Belgian teen
is the biggest surprise entrant into the top 20, but now her career has
been derailed with her doping suspension. We may never see how good she
can be.
17 FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Didn’t have countrywoman
Pennetta’s year, but it’s truly enjoyable to watch the Italian
play when she’s motivated because she brings true variety and passion
to the game.
18 KIM CLIJSTERS: While it wasn’t surprising that
she came back technically a better player, it was a little stunning to
see how much more mentally composed the new mom is. Just watch the Belgian
finish 2010 in the top 3.
19 VIRGINIE RAZZANO: This French veteran has always been
a bit under-rated. She occasionally has the power and ambition to knock
off the game’s elite, but she remains erratic.
20 NADIA PETROVA: Given what she went through in 2009
off-season physically, this isn’t a bad finish for the thoughtful
Russian, but if she doesn’t stay healthy step it up next year, she’ll
never win a Slam.
