carolina garcia – TennisReporters.net

No. 5: Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka can be very fierce and rip the ball,with her massive forehand and her hard backhand. This year, the Belarussian collapsed a good amount, never really stepping up in the majors. In the WTA Finals, she turned it around. She was very close with Caroline Garcia. But, when it was right there, the Frenchwoman would go for her shots with a lot of depth and creativity. While Sabalenka looked very good and ready to extend it to a third set, she made some odd errors. Ouch. However, she did reach the top 2. If she can reset her decisions, on court and off, then she certainly may reach a Grand Slam final. But to do it next year? Only if she can steady her serves, and not throw in so many double faults, and also go to the net more often. She has to improve, simple as that.

No. 4: Caroline Garcia
The now cool veteran Garcia was never broken in the year’s final match, beating the powerful Sabalenka 7-6(4), 6-4 to win the WTA Finals for the first time. Mentally, she was super focused, and she dashed all over the place. That was pretty surprising because 10 years ago she looked very decent, but she was not excellent all the time. On court, she could be intense, but other times, she would mentally walk away. But, not now, as this year, in the past three months, she looked very stalwart. She finally realized that if she pushed herself with her forehand, backhand and her terrific first serve, then she could beat anyone. She was very calm, and very effective. Next year, No. 4 Garcia has a chance to win a Grand Slam. Still, the Frenchwoman can be spotty in singles. In 2023 Slams, it would be a big step her for her to reach a final.

No. 3: Jessica Pegula
American Pegula finished the year ranked No. 3, but at times she could be unsettled on court. The 28-year-old finally won a huge tournament, when she captured Guadalajara over Maria Sakkari/ In the WTA Finals, she did not win against three other opponents. A few years ago, Pegula was outside of the top 60, and she was somewhat consistent, but she was not aggressive enough. Then she had decided that, win or lose, she has a real chance to jump on the ball, she would go for the lines. But that can be risky. Pegula has yet to reach the semifinals at a Grand Slam, but she could do that next year. However, in order to do it, she has to throw in some new shots and continue attacking.

No. 2: Ons Jabeur
For many years, the Tunisian was pretty good, but she couldn’t find the right balance. This year, though, she finally improved a lot. The 28- year-old has been almost spectacular with some incredible spin. She can run for a long time grind it. She won Madrid and Berlin. It looked like she was ready to win a Grand Slam for the first time. But, at Wimbledon and the US Open, she did not focus enough, losing against Elena Rybakina in three sets, and then, Iga Świątek blasted her. At the biggest events, Jabeur can be very uptight. In 2023, at the hardcourts, in Australia, she has to breath all the time.

No. 1: Iga Świątek
Świątek came up into the top spot this year by winning almost everything, beating the heck out of them. The Pole snared at Roland Garros, for the second time, and then won the US Open for the first time. Also, this year, she grabbed eight titles. It was for sure that she was the best player, hands down. Almost each point, she will go for it, when she striking her serve or she can attack on the return immediately. She will put her legs very close on the ground, which is known problem, and then she would swing viciously. How about this? Before she came to Roland Garros, she won Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome. On the hardcourts and on the clay. She has lost a few sets, but not many. The 21-year-old found the lines all the time. Yes, it was a great year, but if she wants to be one of the best players ever, then she has to win many more Grand Slam titles, such as Venus Williams (who is still playing) and has won seven titles. And let’s not even think that she can win 22 Grand Slams,like Serena Williams did. But outside of that, if Świątek continues to be No. 1, then for sure, she can win the 2023 Australian Open, as well as Wimbledon.

TennisReporters.net will review 2017’s top 30 women and men, our annual feature.

No. 6: Elina Svitolina
Let’s talk about how strong she is! This year, for the first time, the 23-year-old took a very long deep breath and went for it. In Toronto in August, she upset Venus Williams, Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep and Caro Wozniacki, all players who have risen to No. 1. She also won Rome and three other titles. Then we all knew that she is an excellent player. Even though she practices all the time, however, she can get frustrated and despondent. She can get nervous at the Grand Slams. But, in 2018, I think she will to continue to mature and without a doubt, be right there deep in the majors.

No. 7: Jelena Ostapenko
The youngest player in the top 10, she is so incredibly powerful and never backs off. She hits as hard as she can, from both her forehand and her backhand. She is so aggressive, amazing aggressive. That is why she won Roland Garros, never getting nervous and totally locking it in. However, she can over-hit it and isn’t patient enough. She has a ton of winners, and also, some bad errors, too. I would think though, she will get better each year. For sure, if she’s healthy, she will win another Grand Slam in 2018.

No. 8 Carolina Garcia
The Frenchwoman was up and down most of the year. In the fall, she rose up, beating just about everyone. She won Wuhan and Beijing, beating Angie Kerber, Svitolina, Petra Kvitova and Halep. In the WTA Finals, she upended Wozniacki before going down against the veteran Venus Williams. It has taken Garcia more than a few years to get very good, but finally, this strong and fast player moved forward and she decided it was just fine to hit at the lines. And she did. Though unpredictable, she can stay in the top 10, or even go further in 2018.

No. 9: Johanna Konta
The Brit looked fantastic in the first half of the year, winning Sydney and Miami, and then she reached the semis at Wimbledon, beating Garcia and Halep. Then, she began to check out, losing against the great Venus in the Wimbledon semis. After that, she had nothing left. She was tired and she wasn’t thinking anymore. The big upside is that she cracked the top 10 and she beat a number of very good players. The bad thing is that she can lose focus on the court. She will to continue to fight and fight some more. One way or another, she will go deep in 2018. And win a Grand Slam for the first time? Hmmm

No. 10: CoCo Vandeweghe
The huge-hitting American finally came into her own, as she showed patience, got into great shape, and reduced her anger. Ten years ago, five years ago, even three years ago, she was ready to fade. But now, she is more mature and smarter. She has said that she can win a Grand Slam and become No. 1. OK, let’s see if she can pull it off in 2018. She is close now.

TennisReporters.net’s top 32 in 2022: women 5-1

2017 top players: women’s 6-10