Tennis

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5

T E N N I S . C O M

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INSIDE: Will this be the year

Genie Bouchard wins a Slam title?

PAGE 4

Roger Federer faces a major

new challenge PAGE 34

A tournament unlike any youve ever seen before

PAGE 40

Eight men with the potential to make

serious noise in 2015 PAGE 50

Eugenie!

2015PREVIEW

ISSUE

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AP

2015 SEASON PREVIEW ISSUEWTA PLAYER PREVIEWS

ATP PLAYER PREVIEWS 368

Plus:TOURNAMENT GUIDE P.53

2 C H R I S S I E S V I E W

4 F I V E B U R N I N G

Q U E S T I O N S ( W TA )

32 F I V E B U R N I N G

Q U E S T I O N S ( AT P )

40 T O U R N A M E N T

O F C H A M P I O N S

B R A C K E T S

80 2015 AT P & W TA

S C H E D U L E S

O N E S T O W AT C H W TA P. 28 AT P P. 50

P. P.SO

WW

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Theres always speculation over which player is going to capture a rst Slam, and Eugenie Bouchard is going to be a popular choice. I think Bouchards gameher aggression, temperament and big-match resultsscreams potential major champ. But for a couple of reasons it wont happen in 2015. First, while she was consistent at the Slams, she had nine opening-round losses at other tournaments; she needs to be steadier on a weekly basis. Then theres the sophomore slump: Her success means shes going from the hunter to the hunted. History says this added pressure proves too challenging an adjustment. Bouchards time will come, but it may take another season of maturation.

It would help Bouchard, and her cohorts, if Serena Williams took a step back. However, I think Serena has another two highly productive years in her. Now a savvy veteran, she knows her physical limitations and has surrounded herself with a smart team. But the mental drive to continually compete at the highest level comes from within, and as long as she stays motivated, she will continue to reign. Unlike other past champions in the twilights of their careers, Serena still doesnt have a signi cant younger rivala Monica to her Ste that can match her. Unless someone bubbles up, her ercest opponent will continue to be her place in history.

That leaves the rest of the eld to navigate through Serenas wake. Im most intrigued by which of the players who had previously reached the mountain top will be able to make the arduous climb again. My pick is Caroline

At the start of every season, pundits in every sport love to play the prognosti-cation game. It gives us the chance to make bold assumptions with the luxury of not having to be correct. As the say-ing goes: Prediction is very difficult, especially if its about the future. In this issue, several of our writers take stabs at answering some of the compelling questions facing the pro tours heading into 2015. I decided to join the fun by offering predictions on the storylines that most piqued my interest.

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Chris EvertPartner, Tennis Magazine

Wozniacki. Other than Serena, she showed the best form at the end of 2014. I liked the elevated aggression she added to her game, and she seemed to be over the bumps in her personal life. Plus, not having a Slam title on her resume, Wozniacki still has something to prove.

The Big 4 on the mens side dont have that problem. For them, its a question of sustaining their excellence, but I think this year their stranglehold on the game will continue to loosen. I have little doubt Novak Djokovic will add to his trophy collection, as his game looks as impressive as ever. But Rafael Nadal has been battling the injury bug; Andy Murray has also struggled physically and with his form; and Roger Federer, still playing great ball, will nonetheless be a year older. Younger players like Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori will continue to show growth and make further inroads at the Grand Slams.

So Im predicting less predictability in 2015. Murky forecasting to be sure, but the best stories usually end up being the ones we never saw coming.

GuessworkChrissies View


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AP

M C G R O G A N : It usually takes years of consistently strong playand coming up just short at the Slamsfor a player to be saddled with this question. But Eugenie Bouchards 2014 campaign was so good that its not only fair to ask if shes ready, its the biggest question of them all. And one thats very di cult to answer.

Youd think that its only a matter of time before a 20-year-old who reached an Australian Open semi nal, French Open semi nal and Wimbledon nal breaks through for a title. The losses were learning experiences, although Bouchard was beaten badly by Petra Kvitova, 63, 60 at Wimbledon, which took a little luster o her accomplishments. Of greater concern, however, is her lack of consistency.

The Tennis ROUNDTABLE

Peter BodoS E N I O R W R I T E R

2015 Player of the Year:Serena WilliamsBiggest Breakthrough:Eugenie BouchardBiggest Disappointment:Sloane Stephens

Stephen TignorS E N I O R W R I T E R

2015 Player of the Year:Serena WilliamsBiggest Breakthrough:Simona HalepBiggest Disappointment:Sloane Stephens

Ed McGroganS E N I O R E D I T O R

2015 Player of the Year:Petra KvitovaBiggest Breakthrough:Madison KeysBiggest Disappointment:Caroline Wozniacki

Nina PanticA S S O C I A T E E D I T O R

2015 Player of the Year:Caroline WozniackiBiggest Breakthrough:Simona HalepBiggest Disappointment:Agnieszka Radwanska

O U R P A N E L D E B A T E S F I V E B U R N I N G Q U E S T I O N S F O R T H E N E W S E A S O N

2015 Predictions

IS GENIE BOUCHARDREADY TO

WIN A MAJOR?

Bouchards 2014 record was 4523, and she won just one title. She hits at and doesnt leave herself much room for error, yet its hard to say she owns a nishing shot. At times Genie seems wise beyond her years; at others she seems to wilt under the spotlight.

I hope Bouchard is standing in that spotlight, hoisting a major trophy, someday. Shes a likable player and could be one of the tours leaders in the post-Serena era. But shes not a nished product, and she should expect greater resistance and added pressure after taking the tour by storm. I see Bouchard winning more titles in 2015just not a major one.

T I G N O R : At rst glance, judging from her 2014 results, youd have to say yes. She already knows how to beat the players she should beat at the Slams, and now shell know what to expect in the later rounds. One slip-up from Serena Williams, which we know can happen, and Bouchard goes to the top of the contenders list.

Yet I dont think shell win a Slam

WTA SEASON PREVIEW 2015

No. 1


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this year; a sophomore slump seems almost as likely. Thats not because Bouchard isnt the real thingher exemplary mental approach alone should make her a contender for years. But her serve still needs work and, more important, so does her record against the games other top players: Shes 412 versus the women who made it to the 2014 year-end championships. Those are the same women shell be facing in the later rounds at the Slams. Plus, theres that little thing called pressure. Bouchards rise came without much in the way of expectations; now the WTA is hoping she can become the games next face, its next Chris Evert. Those are big expectations.

B O D O : Bouchards 2014 breakout was the most impressive in womens tennis since the debut of the Williams sisters. Now comes the hard part: Closing the deal. Her three great results at the majors took tennis by storm, as did the commercial appeal of this young Canadian. But Bouchard also left a trail of questions in her wake after a so-so post-Wimbledon period.

Bouchard picked up her only title at Nrnberg, a minor event at which she beat nobody ranked higher than No. 52. She was also a dismal 24 at the four Premier Mandatory events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing. Thats a truly strange statistic, especially when you review her perfor-mances at the more critical majors. More likely, she had trouble getting fully motivated at sub-Slam events.

For that reason, I think Bouchard canand willwin a major this year. Her aggressive, at, high-risk style is ideally suited to todays game, and she has a knack for winning that cannot be taught. The great danger for her now is having been

showered with too much, too soon, in the way of attention and remuneration.

P A N T I C : While Bouchard was the steadiest WTA player at the majors, she notched just ve wins over Top 10 players the entire season and isnt quite ready to hoist a Grand Slam trophy. There will be an intense amount of pressure for Bouchard to defend all the points she racked up at the Slams, starting right away in Aus-tralia. If she doesnt reach the semi -nals, look for critics to pounce. And dont forget how she absolutely froze in the home spotlight at the Rogers Cup, where she lost 60, 26, 60 to 113th-ranked quali er Shelby Rogers.

Bouchard spent 2014 as a rising star and underdog, free to go for broke while taking a fairy-tale ride to the top. She even picked up stu ed animals along her merry way. All that changes now that shes the highest-ranked Canadian ever. Bouchard has a solid grasp on handling the spotlight of the cameras, but she still must prove that she can handle a major moment on the court.

ITS NOT ONLY FAIR TO ASK IF SHES READY, ITS THE BIGGEST QUESTION OF THEM ALL.


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three Slams early. It should inspire her to make her marks this year, starting in Australia. A motivated Williams almost always wins, as she showed by mowing through the draw at Flushing Meadows. Bottom line: If Serena wants it, she usually gets itas long as Alize Cornet is nowhere to be found.

M C G R O G A N : Theres been a lot of talk about Williams health, and for good reason. Serena is like Rafael Nadal: At their physical peaks, their games are a visible level above everyone elses. But if I may venture into the technical realm, its imperative that Williams serves accurately in Melbourneor anywhere she playsif shes to win. The stroke remains her biggest advantage over the eld, but when the point lasts longer than three shots, the gap narrows considerably between the 18-time Slam champ and her opponent. She still holds the edge, of course, but none of her three major conquerors in 2014 (Iva-novic, Garbine Muguruza and Cornet) pulled the big upsets with their serves.

No.2T I G N O R : Serena once dominated

Down Under. She has ve titles there, and she has said that she loves few things more than starting the season with a win in Melbourne. So its strange that, in the three years since she has returned to No. 1, she has done it without an Australian Open title. In each of those years, Serena was contending with an ailment. That could mean she needs to train harder in the o -season to get sharp right away, or it could mean she needs to rest more to stay healthy. Or it could mean she just needs to be luckier. Regardless, getting her body right is the rst step to return-ing to the winners podium.

B O D O : Only one person stands between Serena and another title in Oz, and thats Serena. Last year, her fourth-round loss to Ana Ivanovic set the tone for most of her Slam year, in which she struggled until the last moment, saving her season with a win at the US Open.

Williams four-year drought Down Under ought to give her some extra incentivenot that she will need it on the hard courts so suited to her game. Of course, shes 33 and has been incremen-tally more injury prone with the passing years. But if she can keep herself healthy and avoid lapses of focus, shell win it all.

P A N T I C : Given Serenas stellar, gritty performance at the WTA Finals, the veteran American shows no signs of losing interest in competition. Ups and downs regarding health are nothing new for Williams, but 2014 was the rst year in quite some time that she bowed out of

WHAT DOES S E R E N A W I L L I A M S NEEDTO DO TO WIN HER FIRST

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TITLE SINCE 2010?


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M C G R O G A N : Yes. The Big 4 have been great for tennis, but what more can they really give us? Im not asking for more; its simply a testament to their dominance. And as painful as it is to admit, its gotten somewhat repeti-tive. The WTA o ers up much more unknowns at the moment. While a classic match involving Nole, Rafa or Roger can scale to greater heights, in terms of day-to-day intrigue, I give the WTA the edge.

B O D O : They might, but that isnt necessarily a good thing, not unless you put drama above demonstrations of consistent excellence. Entertain-ing isnt synonymous with great or even artful, after all. Thats the ip

side of all the competitive WTA events and matches we saw in 2014.

T I G N O R : The best argument for equal pay at the majors is to look at entertainment value: Who provides more over the two weeks? In recent years, it has been pretty, well, equal. The women have dominated the rst-week headlines, o ering up drama, surprise and new story lines. Then, in the later rounds of the second week, the ATPs big guns typically come to life. That blend of early excitement from the women and late star power from the men was in evidence through much of 2014, and Im hoping we see more of the same from both tours Down Under.

WILL THE WOMEN BE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN

THE MEN DOWN UNDER?

WHICH FORMER NO. 1 WILL PERFORM BEST IN MELBOURNE AND BEYOND: AZARENKA, IVANOVIC, SHARAPOVA OR WOZNIACKI?

No. 5

No. 3

B O D O : I give Caroline Wozniacki the best shot to win in Oz. Shes started the new year with a good head of steam, thanks to the momentum with which she nished 2014 and the con dence boost she must have earned from having run the New York City Marathon in an impressive time of 3 hours and 26 minutes. Look for her to tap into that athleticism and continue a resurgence that began last spring, not long after the break-up of her engagement with runaway groom Rory McIlroy.

M C G R O G A N : Maria Sharapova. Shes re ned her game since shoulder surgery and brings an edge to the court that only Serena can surpass. She is a threat to win on any surface, allowing her to go deep more often.

T I G N O R : Of these four, Victoria Azarenka presents the most intriguing case. She has always started the year well, but she has never started it after a full season of injuries, which is what shell be doing in 2015. But Ill take Wozniacki. The medium-paced hard courts suit her counter-punching game, and now that shes back among the top 8 seeds, she should have a manageable draw.

P A N T I C : Of those four, Wozniacki has shown the most steady improvement and has the fewest health concerns. The Danes ex- anc did her a favor last year by forcing her to focus more on her career and herself. Maybe shell thank him in her championship speech.

P A N T I C : Outside of the Williams sisters, there are 10 U.S. women in the Top 100. While several of them have shown potential in the past, none have been able to sustain success for any considerable length of time. Theres a good chance that one of them can emerge at some point in 2015, but Id be surprised if theres an American besides Serena still playing into the Australian Opens second week.

T I G N O R : Most Likely to Succeed is Madison Keys. At No. 30, Keys began this year ranked ahead of Sloane Stephens, and her gunslinging game gives her a chance to upset anyone. But the 19-year-olds problem will be putting together the ve back-to-back wins she needs to reach the semi nals. She has yet to show that kind of consistency at a major to this point in her young career.

B O D O : If an American were to win Down Under, her name will only be Williams. Keys has taken over the mantle of U.S. heiress apparent from the slumping Stephens, and Alison Riske, Varvara Lepchenko and Coco Vandeweghe are promising works in progress. But theres a big di erence between being a solid pro and a Grand Slam champion, as the American women surely realize.

IS THERE A YOUNG AMERICAN WHO CAN EMERGE THE WAY SLOANE STEPHENS DID IN REACHING THE 2013 AUSTRALIAN OPEN SEMIFINALS?

No.4


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The essential question in womens tennis for the foreseeable future is this: How will it end for Serena? Shell turn 34 in the fall, an advanced age for any tennis

player. But so far there have been few signs of decline, and its hard to say exactly how hers will begin. Will a younger player surpass her? Theres no one on the horizon. Will she lose a step? Her unmatched con dence and determination can make up for that. Will she get tired of the sport? Shes more committed to it now than she was in her 20s, and she has more career goals in her sights, including passing Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 majors and catching Ste Graf at 22.

Watching her outclass opponents when shes at her best, its not hard to imagine Williams still contending for majors three years from now.

But as we found out last year, being No. 1 is not the same as winning every match. Much of Serenas 2014 season was a disappointment to her, as she lost early at three of the four majors. A mysterious physical ailment also took her out of the Wimbledon doubles. There will likely be moments of vulnerability from Serena in 2015, and then there will be moments when, as she did at the US Open last year, she says, Enough!

Serenas advancing age, and the inevitable decline that comes with it, will be pitted against her determination to keep moving up the all-time Grand Slam ladder. With her, determination usually wins.

Serena Williams

BEST CASE SCENARIO

W TA 2 0 1 5 S TA R T I N GR A N K I N G :

2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 52-8C O U N T RY: United States 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 7 2014 WINNINGS: $9,317,298

No.CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L

VS. MARIA SHARAPOVA 16 2

VS. SIMONA HALEP 4 1

VS. PETRA KVITOVA 5 0

VS. ANA IVANOVIC 8 1

VS. AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 8 0

VS. EUGENIE BOUCHARD 2 0

VS. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI 10 1

VS. ANGELIQUE KERBER 5 1

VS. DOMINIKA CIBULKOVA 4 0

VS. EKATERINA MAKAROVA 4 1

VS. FLAVIA PENNETTA 6 0

Serena will have her off-days, physical struggles and maybe even a slump or two. But the thought of passing Chrissie and Martina and getting closer to Graf on the all-time Slam list should drive her to win at least one major, if not two. Different players have challenged her in recent years, but no one has come close to matching her.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOAt 33, even a top player doesnt know how shell feel or play from day to day, or whether her next injury will be her last. While she nished No. 1 in 2014, Serena had her share of bad days, and three of them came at the majors. She wasnt as dominant as she was in 2013; that could be a sign of more trouble to come.

1

S W I N G S : R I G H T- H A N D E D

B I R T H DAT E : S E P T E M B E R 2 6, 1 9 8 1

B I R T H P L AC E : S AG I N AW, M I C H I G A N

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 9

T U R N E D P R O : 1 9 9 5

C A R E E R- H I G H R A N K I N G : N o . 1

Y E A R- E N D R A N K I N G S

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP

Graf at 22. , p y ,

says, Enonougugh!h!

All WTA profiles written by S T E P H E N T I G N O R8 tennis.com Jan/Feb 2015WorldMags.netWorldMags.net

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How many lives does Maria Sharapova have as a player? After a decades worth of winners, double faults, shrieks, injuries, coaching changes, clenched

sts and Grand Slam titles, she must be up to her fth or sixth by now. But the 27-year-old keeps coming back. Sharapova started 2014 trying out a new coaching team, and trying to shake o an old shoulder problem. After getting out of the gates slowly, she ended it at No. 2 in the world, and she won her fth major title, in Paris, in the grittiest performance of the season on either tour.

Yet much like Serena Williams in 2014, it was hard to feel con dent in Sharapova from one tournament to the next, and even one day to the next. She melted down in the round of 16 at three of the majors, and struggled against the tours best players at the WTA Finals. Once again, her best results came on clay, in Madrid and Paris. Sharapova should be commended for turning herself into a bona de dirtballer in the middle of the career, but has the shift adversely a ected her on other surfaces? She hasnt won a Slam outside of Roland Garros since 2008.

Her hunger hasnt diminished, and shell be the woman to beat on clay. The big question will be whether Sharapova can find success again on other surfaces now that shes in her late 20s.

Maria Sharapova

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 49-13C O U N T RY: Russia 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 4 2014 WINNINGS: $5,839,357


VS. SERENA WILLIAMS 2 16











Sharapova had her share of downs along with the ups in 2014. But this season she should bene t from a years worth of work with coach Sven Groeneveld; theyve already won a Slam together.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOShe has always had her bad days, but when Sharapova was off in 2014, she was really off, and no amount of grit and ght could save her. That could, after a dozen years on tour, be an early sign of decline.

2


B I R T H DAT E : A P R I L 1 9, 1 9 87

B I R T H P L AC E : N YAG A N , R U S S I A

H E I G H T: 6 - F O OT- 2

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 1



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

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psince 2008.

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The freshest game on tour last year came from a slightly surprising source: An undersized, 23-year-old Romanian who began the 2013 season ranked No. 47, but nished the

2014 season all the way up at No. 3. Simona Halep is just 5-foot-6, but she makes up for her lack of leverage with smooth movement and clean ball-striking. Shes a natural in every part of the game; no one makes changing the direction of the ball look so easy.

Haleps 2014 was a series of tests, and she passed them all. In

February, with her title in Doha, she showed that she could win a quality event. In June, with her runner-up nish at the French Open, she showed that she could go deep at a major. In October, with her blowout win over Serena Williams in Singapore, she showed that she can beat anyone on a given day. Her rst test of 2015 will be whether she can win a Grand Slam; but even if it doesnt happen this year, Haleps youth and all-around skills should take her to the top of the class in the near future.

Halep will show us how far a natural can go in todays power game. She can be out-slugged, but she moves too well and hits too cleanly to stay down for long.

Simona Halep

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 46-16C O U N T RY: Romania 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 2 2014 WINNINGS: $4,519,763













Halep had her ups and downs in 2014, but after beating Serena in round-robin play and reaching the Singapore nal in October, she should come into the new year with con dence despite losing 63, 60 to Serena in that tournaments nal. If Halep does play with con dence, shell be among the favorites at each of the rst three majors, and especially on the Parisian clay.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOShell no longer be working with coach Wim Fissette, who guided her through her breakout season. And now that the top players have seen and faced her, theyll make adjustments. Whether Halep has the tactical help she needs to combat them remains to be seen.

3


B I R T H DAT E : S E P T E M B E R 27, 1 9 9 1

B I R T H P L AC E : CONSTANTA, ROMANIA

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 6

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 6



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP

, p p

WORSTASE CENARIO

hell no longer be orking with coach im Fissette, who

uided her through er breakout

ason. And now at the top players

ave seen andced her, theyll ake adjustments. hether Halep hase tactical help she

eeds to combat em remains be seen.


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She might not be the best in the world, but she is the Queen of the All England Club. While every player tries to bring her best to Wimbledon, no one transforms

herself over the course of the fortnight quite like Petra Kvitova, the champion in 2011 and 2014. The question now for the Czech, who at 24 is entering her prime, is whether shell ever be able to play the same way anywhere else. She has never reached a nal at any of the other majors.

Kvitovas go-for-broke ground strokes and skidding lefty serve are tailor-made for grass, but the biggest di erence in her game at Wimbledon is her attitude: Last year, she refused to let herself lose a close early-round match against Venus Williams, and she sprinted to the nish line against Eugenie Bouchard in the nal. In the past, Kvitova has left that single-mindedness behind: After winning Wimbledon in 2011, she looked ready to take over No. 1; instead, she nished the next season at No. 8.

The power is there, and after two Wimbledon titles, the belief should be as well. No one would be surprised if she won two majors in 2015; no one would be surprised if she didnt win any tournaments at all.

Petra Kvitova

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 43-16C O U N T RY: Czech Rep. 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 3 2014 WINNINGS: $5,203,236













Now that Kvitova knows her rst Wimbledon win was no uke, she should also realize that shes good enough to win big elsewhere. There have been chal-lengers to Serena Williams in recent years, but none with Kvitovas crushing power. Wimbledon is de nitely possible again, but so is a whole lot more if she believes it.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOFrom match to match, set to set, game to game, you never know if youre going to get Good Petra or Bad Petraperhaps no player in history has been so up and down. If a player hasnt ful lled her poten-tial by 24, what are the chances she ever will?

4

S W I N G S : L E F T- H A N D E D

B I R T H DAT E : M A R C H 8, 1 9 9 0

B I R T H P L AC E : B I LOV E C , C Z E C H R E P.

H E I G H T: 6 - F O OT

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 6



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP

take over No. 1; instead, she nished the next season at No. 8


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What was the biggest WTA surprise of 2014? The Slam struggles of Serena Williams? The rise of Simona Halep and Eugenie Bouchard? Few anticipated those develop-

ments, but its fair to say that even fewer would have predicted that Ana Ivanovic, at 27, would nish the season at No. 5, with four titles to her name. It was her rst year-end appearance in the Top 10 since her Slam-winning days of 2008. After half a careers worth of busted comebacks, she made this one stick.

Some of the credit, she said, goes to the Serbian coaches she hired: She felt comfortable with them, but not so comfortable

that she didnt make yet another coaching change by the end of the season. On court, Ivanovic got back to doing what she does best, attacking early and often with her forehand, and she didnt let her famously wayward service toss do her in. This former French Open champion and world No. 1 has always had the ball-striking skills; it was a matter of getting out of her own way and letting them work. The only aw in her season was her performance at the majors: Her best result was a quarter nal run in Australia. But after 2014, we can no longer bet against her xing that problem either.

Ivanovic rediscovered her A-game in 2014; now well see how long she can keep it, and how far it can take her.

Ana Ivanovic

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 58-17C O U N T RY: Serbia 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 4 2014 WINNINGS: $2,317,649













Ivanovic was steady throughout 2014; she didnt let her losses turn into slumps. That bodes well for her continued resurgence this season. A second Grand Slam title would seem to be a stretch, but a semi nal or even a nal wouldnt.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOShell be 28 at the end of 2015; has her con dence come back just a little too late for her to make full use of it? Another misguided coaching change and her old doubts could come to haunt her again.

5


B I R T H DAT E : N OV E M B E R 6, 1 9 87

B I R T H P L AC E : B E LG R A D E , S E R B I A

H E I G H T: 6 - F O OT

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 3



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

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o comfortable xing that problem either.


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Its beginning to be now-or-never time for the quiet killer known around the WTA as The Ninja. Agnieszka Radwanska, who will be 26 in March, reached a

Wimbledon nal in 2012, reached the semis there in 2013 and matched that result at the Australian Open in 2014. But is that as far as this consummate nesse player believes she can go? Aga won just one title in 2014, in Montreal, failed to reach the quarters at the last three majors and, worst of all, by early October had been surpassed in the rankings for the rst time by two younger players, Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard.

Is there anything the Pole, who has a lollipop second serve and a terminal lack of pace, can do? In some ways, she has already done more with her career during this power era than most would have expected. If a big hitter is on her game, Radwanska will always be at a severe disadvantage. Perhaps the best we can hope for is that she stays where she is, in the Top 10, giving us her uniquely artistic take on tennis. Her best shots are so brilliant and unlikely, all we can do is laugh. Grand Slam champion or not, tennis can always use a player like that.

Radwanska is edging toward veteran status. With the next generation passing her by, its looking as if her days as a major-title threat may be gone. Her days as a tennis genius, however, arent over yet.

Agnieszka Radwanska

BEST CASE SCENARIO

2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 47-22C O U N T RY: Poland 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 1 2014 WINNINGS: $3,195,411

CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L












Radwanska has gone deep at majors and nearly reached No. 1 in the world in 2012. But that was before the latest youth movement; Aga starts 2015 not only ranked behind Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, but also behind Halep and just one spot ahead of Bouchard, all of whom can overpower her. At this point, a Slam semi and a Top 5 nish would spell success.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOHer 2014 season was her weakest in recent years. Has she lost con dence? Is her retrieving game too dif cult to continue into her late 20s? Right now, as good as she remains, its hard to see a road upward for Radwanska.


B I R T H DAT E : M A R C H 6, 1 9 8 9

B I R T H P L AC E : K R A KOW, P O L A N D

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 8

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 5



No.

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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Bouchard. like that.

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Its tough to nd fault with what Eugenie Bouchard has accomplished at age 20. Shes been a Wimbledon nalist, a semi nalist at the Australian Open and French

Open, and a Top 10 player. She plays an intelligent, ambitious game thats beyond both her years and her natural ball-striking talent. Theres obviously substance beneath her hype.

Yet all of her achievements so far have come with the bene t of low expectations. How will she do now that the expectations

are sky high? Last August, The New York Times Magazine put her on its cover, under the headline: Eugenie Bouchard could be the future of womens tennis. All she has to do is win.

Did we see the start of a sophomore slump at the WTA Finals, where Bouchard was blown o the court? Shes probably too heady a player to take a nosedive in 2015, but the next step, beat-ing the worlds best, may be one shes not quite ready to take.

Bouchard says she wants it all now: big wins, major titles, a top ranking and stardom. But with bigger hitters still in front of her, the 20-year-old may have to wait her turn for a year or two.

Eugenie Bouchard

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 45-23C O U N T RY: Canada 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 1 2014 WINNINGS: $3,220,929













Nobody loves a challenge like Genie, and she responds well to them. So you would think that her dismal end-of-year perfor-mance in Singapore would inspire her to work on her weaknessesin particular her servein the off-season. If any of the other big names fal-ter at the majors, the resilient Bouchard will likely be there to take advantage.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOThe dreaded sophomore slump. Bouchard, whose serve can be suspect and who isnt the smoothest of hitters, can go off the rails, and the pressure for the future of womens tennis to stay on them will be intense. A temporary step back wouldnt be surprising.

7


B I R T H DAT E : F E B R UA RY 2 5, 1 9 9 4

B I R T H P L AC E : M O N T R E A L , Q U E B E C

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 1 0

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 9



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP

hat the expectations ing the world s best, may be one she s not quite ready to take.

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o8


Talk about a roller-coaster year. A loss in Caroline Wozniackis personal lifeher anc, Rory McIlroy, broke o their engagement in Maycoincided with a

big gain in her professional life. In danger of falling out of the Top 20 before the break-up, she rebounded to reach the US Open nal, nish the season No. 8 and nish her rst marathon in a stunningly fast time (3:26). The only reason Wozniacki didnt go further at the end of the year was that she kept running into, and losing close matches to, her friend Serena Williams.

It had appeared that Wozniackis best years were behind hershe nished No. 1 in 2010 and 2011, before dropping to No. 10 in 2012 and 2013. Now, at 24, it looks like shes in her prime again. Not only did she start going deep at tournaments, she started beating players who had seemingly passed her by; Wozniacki nished with wins over Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Petra Kvitova in Singapore. Look for her to rise a little more in the rankings to start 2015; she doesnt have a lot of points to defend early in the year.

A rededicated Woznaicki showed that she can still compete at the top of the sport in 2014. Her best years no longer appear to be behind her; at 24, shes in her prime again.

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 49-19C O U N T RY: Denmark 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 1 2014 WINNINGS: $3,372,350













Granted, Wozniacki was a Slam-less No. 1, but she also held that position for two years, so she knows how to win consistently, and she showed at the end of 2014 that she can still hang with todays more power-ful top players. Finally settling on a coachher father, of courseshould also help. With her renewed desire, the Top 5 awaits.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOThe results from late last year were posi-tive, but Wozniacki still suffers from a power de ciency against her peers. She had actually begun to talk about retirement before her break-up with McIlroy; does she still have the desire to make tennis her life again over the long haul?

8


B I R T H DAT E : J U LY 11 , 1 9 9 0

B I R T H P L AC E : O D E N S E , D E N M A R K

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 1 0

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 5



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP

p y y


Caroline Wozniacki


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The German should probably avoid any mid-season trips to Australia in 2015. This past April, Angelique Kerber joined her Fed Cup teammates for a tie in Brisbane; they

won the battle that weekend, but Kerber lost the war with jet lag over the next month, when she went out in the rst round of three clay-court events. If she had avoided that slump, her year would have looked much better, and she almost certainly would have quali ed for her third straight year-end championship.

Outside of her spring swoon, Kerber was her usual steady

self, routinely reaching the quarter nals or better at tourna-ments. But as with Agnieszka Radwanska, this wasnt a year of progress for Kerber; the two retrievers, each rmly in their mid-20s, were swept aside by two younger, more o ensive-minded players in Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard; the Canadian stopped Kerber at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Was this is a sign that defense doesnt win titles, or at least earn high rankings, anymore on the womens side? Well nd out more in Kerbers 2015 campaign.

Kerber will likely hold steady near the top of the second tier, but the WTA could be on the verge of passing by her defensive style.

Angelique Kerber

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 47-24C O U N T RY: Germany 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 0 2014 WINNINGS: $1,862,585













Kerbers game doesnt deviate much, in style or quality. You know shell play dogged defense and make her share of quarters and semis. In 2015, a lot may depend on the staying power of last years breakout performers, Halep and Bouchard. If they falter, she should move back into the Top 8 or higher.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOIn 2012, Kerber was swept into the Top 10 in a defensive wave that included Radwanska and Sara Errani. In 2014, a subsequent, more offensive wave threatened to send all three back down the rankings again. Well see if that new wave continues, and if more young players can join it.

9


B I R T H DAT E : J A N UA RY 1 8, 1 9 8 8

B I R T H P L AC E : B R E M E N , G E R M A N Y

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 8

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 3



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP


steady We ll nd out more in Kerber s 2015 campaign.


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First came the feast, then the famine for Dominika Cibulkova in 2014. She began the year by reaching her maiden Grand Slam nal, in Australia; winning a

tournament in Acapulco; and reaching the quarter nals in Indian Wells and the semis in Miami. At the last event, she also cracked the Top 10 for the rst time. Domi said she had always wanted to do it, just to say she had been there once. Its good she made the most of the opportunity, because it was all downhill from there. After Wimbledon, Cibulkova played

10 tournaments and lost in the rst round of seven of them. Cibulkova overplayed early; she wasnt used to going so

deep at each event she entered. But its also likely that her season was the tennis equivalent of a market correction. The 25-year-old Slovakian has always been precipitously hit-or-miss; until 2014, she was better at pulling surprise, one-time upsets than she was at moving up in the rankings. Hopefully a little rest in the o -season will give her some of her trademark high energy back.

It was a tale of two seasons for Cibulkova in 2014. Shell need to combine the confidence she gained from the first half with the lessons she learned from the second half to put it all together again.

Dominika Cibulkova

BEST CASE SCENARIO

2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 33-24C O U N T RY: Slovakia 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 1 2014 WINNINGS: $1,998,734

CAREER HEAD-TO-HEAD W L












The best case is that the rst Domi we saw in 2014 was the real Domithe one who xed her serve, reined in her errors, beat Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska in Mel-bourne, and looked ready, at 24, to join the big girls. Maybe with some smarter scheduling, she can get that Domi to hang around a little longer.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOBy the end of 2014, a couple of new faces, in Simona Halep and Eugenie Bouchard, and a couple of familiar ones, in Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic, had sprinted past Cibulkova in the rankings. It will be tough to catch up to all of them. Theres only so much a player can do at 5-foot-3, and Domi may have done all she could last year.


B I R T H DAT E : M AY 6, 1 9 8 9

B I R T H P L AC E : BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 3

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 4

C A R E E R- H I G H R A N K I N G : N o . 1 0


No.

10Y E A R- E N D R A N K I N G S

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

ayed her trademark high energy back.

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The unsung Russian had a career season in 2014. At 26, she achieved one long-held goal by reaching her rst Grand Slam semi nal, at the US Open. In the

process, Ekaterina Makarova single-handedly revived The Macarena, which rattled through Arthur Ashe Stadium after each of her wins (this was likely not a goal of hers). By the end of the year, Makarova had come within a hairs breadth of another mark, one that hadnt been on her radar at the start of the season: She nished just short of the Top 10.

Will this semi-breakthrough be a springboard for more success, or has Makarova topped out her talent? Its likely the former. With her lefty spin and sense of court craftShe reads the game well, more than one top player has said of Makarovathere should be more success in store. She has always had the game to beat top players, including Serena Williams; now she knows she can do it consistently over the course of a Slam and a season. The place to start: winning smaller events. Makarova has just two titles to her name.

This low-key lefty surprised herself with her success in 2014; to rise higher, shell need to believe she can do even more.

Ekaterina Makarova

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 41-21C O U N T RY: Russia 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 1 2014 WINNINGS: $2,345,310













It has been a long, steady, heady climb for this smart player, so theres little reason to think shes a ash in the pan. But she also doesnt have the type of power that could lead to a major-title run. Instead, qualify-ing for the year-end championships in Singapore would seem to be a plau-sible goal.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOShes solid and tricky to face, but the top rungs of the WTA are still reserved for its power playersall four majors in 2014 were won by big hitters. Makarova, for all of her assets, is not a big hitter.

11


B I R T H DAT E : J U N E 7, 1 9 8 8

B I R T H P L AC E : M O S C OW, R U S S I A

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 11

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 4



2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP


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If youre going to win one tournament, make it a good one: That might be the lesson Flavia Pennetta learned from her 2014 season. The 32-year-old Italians

lone title was the Premier Mandatory event at Indian Wells in March. Not only did it earn her half of her roughly $2 million in prize money for the year, it kept her ranking a oat, even as the waters got choppy later in the season. The win seemed to surprise Pennetta as much as it did everyone else; after years of injury and inconsistency, she had been on

the verge of hanging up her racquet for good the previous year. Inconsistency returned in 2014, but Pennetta was more

than a one-tournament wonder. You could say she saved her best for the biggest stages. She reached the quarter nals at the Australian Open and US Open, and closed on an up note with a runner-up nish at the Tournament of Champions in So a, a season-ending event for the second tier. At this stage, Pennetta can probably live with that kind of result, and another season like 2014.

Even past 30, Pennetta is savvy enough to reach second weeks at majors. But shell need to defend points early and keep her ranking up as the year progresses.

Flavia Pennetta

BEST CASE SCENARIO


2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 33-20C O U N T RY: Italy 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 1 2014 WINNINGS: $2,388,245













Pennettas high ranking will be a boon to start: Shes seeded in the Top 16 at the Australian Open, which could help this veteran do what she does best: Sneak into Grand Slam quarter nals. If she has a good result there and at Indian Wells, she can avoid a rankings tumble.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOIf she doesnt have decent results in Melbourne and Indian Wells, Pennetta will take that tumble, and may be matched against better players in earlier rounds for the rest of the year. Thats not what a woman who turns 33 in February wants to do.

12


B I R T H DAT E : F E B R UA RY 2 5, 1 9 8 2

B I R T H P L AC E : B R I N D I S I , I TA LY

H E I G H T: 5 - F O OT- 8

T U R N E D P R O : 2 0 0 0

C A R E E R- H I G H R A N K I N G : N o . 1 0


2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

AP

4


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ANDREAPETKOVIC

The WTA was lled with resurgences in 2014 Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki and, a little farther down the totem pole, Andrea Petkovic. The 27-year-old German reached the Top 10 three years ago, before a series of injuries to her back, ankle and knee relegated her to the sidelines for the better part of two yearsit even had her thinking about retirement in 2013. A year later, Petkovic showed that she can still compete with the best when shes injury-free. She won three titles, reached the French Open semi nals, led Germany to the Fed Cup nal and nearly climbed back into the Top 10. She also ended the season with a title at the Tournament of Champions in So a. The only thing she didnt do was bring back the Petko-dance after her victories. (Shes grown up now, it seems; too bad.)

LUCIESAFAROVA

Whats the opposite of a diva? On the WTA tour, it would be Lucie Safarova, perhaps the least-talked-about very good player in tennis. The 27-year-old Czech has nished in the Top 30 each of the last four seasons, and she reached a career-high No. 14 in 2014. One of the games best big-match players, the hard-hitting lefty reached the round of 16 at the French Open and US Open, the semi nals at Wimbledon, and held a match point on eventual champion Li Na at the Australian Open. She nished the year by helping her country win the Fed Cup.

On the one hand, it would be nice to predict that Safarova, one of the most likable players on tour, will build on that con-sistency and momentum and have a breakout year in 2015. On the other hand, shell turn 28 in February, and its possible that window has already closed.

GARBIEMUGURUZA

It became evident early on in 2014 that a new womens star was about to take the stage. Last January, 20-year-old Garbie Muguruza came out of the qualifying at Hobart to win eight matches, all in straight sets, for the title. The Spaniard had been on fans radar as a teenager before a foot injury sidelined her in 2013. Now she was back, and ready to start realizing her potential.

Muguruza is a 6-footer who hits with the compact, two-handed urgency of Jennifer Capriati. By seasons end, she had used that game to crack the Top 20 for the rst time. She also sealed her rising-star status by pulling off the most stunning result of the year, a 62, 62 demolition of Serena Williams at the French Open. Muguruza had dry spells after that, but she also successfully demonstrated just how high her upside is.

ALIZECORNET

Alize Cornet is one of the more expressive players on the womens tour; perhaps only Serena delivers a higher rate of drama per second on court. Cornet provided more than just theatrics as a 24-year-old in 2014; she also produced big wins and consistent results.

Three of Cornets big victories last season came at the expense of Serena, and she backed up those shockersby nishing in the Top 20 for the rst time since 2008. While she lacks killer power, Cornet has a nicely nuanced game. Historically, her problem has been nerves; The key in 2014, she said, was that she nally learned not to think. Now that a potentially mature Cornet is entering her prime, well see how long she can keep from thinking, and how far that approach can take her.

WTA ONES TO WATCHE I G H T P L AY E R S T O K E E P A N E Y E O N I N 2 0 1 5

LUCIE ZE


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BELINDABENCIC

Last years US Open was tennis version of Millennials Ball: Youngsters Nick Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem and Aleksandra Krunic made their presence known and reveled in the New York spotlight. But the role of Cinderella was reserved for Belinda Bencic. The 17-year-old reached the quarters, beat former nalist Jelena Jankovic in front of a night crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium and showed off a future Top 5 game.

The 5-foot-9 Swiss, who says she learned everything I know from her coach, Melanie Molitor, plays with power and loves to take big cuts with hertwo-handed backhand. And like Molitors daughter, Martina Hingis, Bencic also has a sixth sense for the game. She ended 2014 at a career-high No. 32; the next step for this emotional youngster is to learn to deal with adversity better. She has plenty of time to work on it.

VENUSWILLIAMS

In 2014, the games elder American stateswoman cel-ebrated the 20th anniversary of her tour debut. But while Venus Williams occasionally shows signs of slowing down, she hasnt lost her love for tennis or the tour. Shes still as stony and stoic during matches, and still as noticeably joyful in victory.

Venus went 3214 in 2014, won her 45th career title and nished in the Top 20 for the rst time in four years. And she wasnt as far as it might have seemed from winning her sixth Wimbledon; in the third round, Williams gave eventual champ Petra Kvitova her biggest scare of the fortnight. Venus did all of this while continuing to battle an immune-de ciency syndrome day to day and match to match. Look for her drive to continue: She says she wants another crack at her favorite event, the Olympics, in 2016.

MADISONKEYS

The 19-year-old Illinois native and USTA product emerged last year as the next in a long line of U.S. tennis hope-fuls. She won her rst pro title, at Eastbourne in June, and by the fall had passed Sloane Ste-phens to become the top U.S. woman not named Williams.

For all of those young hopes, Venus and Serena remain this countrys two best players. Is Madison Keys the player who can change that? A basketball players daughter, the 6-footer has two of the basic require-ments, a big serve and a big forehandfew women can match her power with either shot. But she has yet to nd a way to harness that power consistently; she either goes big or goes home. While its possible she could belt her way to a Wimbledon title with that style, Keys wont reach the Top 10 until she learns to play in something other than fth gear.

SLOANESTEPHENS

Sloane Stephens has been One to Watch for a couple of years now, ever since she beat Serena at the 2013 Australian Open. But while Stephens has enjoyed some success at the Slams, in part because of favorable draws, she has also suffered her share of one-sided losses and motivational meltdowns. As her ranking dropped from No. 12 to No. 37, there were times when her passion for the game was called into question, including after her loss in the second round of the 2014 US Open to 96th-ranked Johanna Larsson.

Yet Stephens arguably still has the brightest future among all of the U.S. hopefuls. Shes still only 21, still has the same easy power and athleticism that shes always had, and still possesses the valuable experience her peers have yet to achieve. The Sloane saga has many more acts to come.


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Age treated both Connors and the tournament well. He would win the title twice more and reach the U.S. Open semis at 39; the tournament, which would eventually call the Indian Wells Tennis Garden home, would go on to become the most attended in the world outside of the four Majors. Its not hard to see why. With the top men and women competing annually, the tournaments roll of champions reads like an all-time fantasy tennis roster: Martina Navratilova, Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, and Roger Federerto name a few.

But theres more to the BNP Paribas Open than just Championship Weekend. From the Qualifying rounds to the nals, the atmosphere, amenities, and experience are unlike any other in tennis. At what other event can you watch your favorite players compete in bustling stadiums, practice on intimate side courts, and let loosewithout racquetson the open green space? Pick-up soccer games between tennis pros are as common as a sunny day in the

rst Thursday evening session, which also bene ts The Champions Volunteer Foundation. USTA members can receive 30 percent off regular-priced Loge seats in Stadium 1 between March 11-19, 2015.

And thats just whats at the Indian Wells Tennis Gardenthe surrounding area is a destination all its own. Play world-class golf at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, which was ranked in the Top 20 Best Courses You Can Play, enjoy luxurious spa treatments at resorts throughout the area, and savor quintessential California culture in nearby Palm Desert and Palm Springs, which boasts diverse shopping, restaurants, and other local landmarks. More than 431,000 peoplethe attendance at last years BNP Paribas Opencant be wrong.

Over the past 40 years, the BNP Paribas Open has grown into one of the worlds top sporting events and anchors an experience that off ers something for everyone. Whether youre a veteran visitor or making your rst trip, this years tournament will amaze, and the region will inspire. If you cant make it, the BNP Paribas Open, held March 9-22, will be televised on Tennis Channel and ESPN. But if youre ready to see why we love 40, call 1-800-999-1585 or head to bnpparibasopen.com for more ticket information and details.

15-40: A score, and a story. In 2015, the BNP Paribas Open will celebrate its 40th anniversary. It all began in 1976, when Jimmy Connors won a small tennis tournament that had just moved to Palm Springs. The 24-year-old was in many ways an ideal champion for the edgling event: Connors would rede ne the way tennis would be played, much like the event would rede ne the way tennis would be enjoyed in California.

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Coachella Valley. The same goes for world-class food: Nobu, The Chop House, and Pieros PizzaVino are located inside the gleaming Stadium 2. Dotted with palm trees and framed by mountains, Indian Wells is truly a one-of-a-kind venue.

Speaking of unique, no one does doubles like the BNP Paribas Open. Top singles stars such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer have taken part in the doubles draw several times, giving fans another chance to watch the greats of the game up close. And this year, its possible to take it all in, from rst ball to last, from the same seat. Its called the Daily Double, a ticket package that off ers a singular, picture-perfect perspective for both the day and evening sessions.

In total, over 3,625 new seats have been added for the 2015 BNP Paribas Open, bringing the total to 45,110. Tickets for Stadium 1, which has been out tted with eight new video screens to enhance the visual experience, start at just $15 for the


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Order online at bnpparibasopen.com and print tickets at home. Daily Doubles, Evening Sessions, & Group Packages Also Available.

For more information visit bnpparibasopen.com or call 877-LOVE-10S (877-568-3107).

Day and Evening Session Tickets Available

MARCH 9-22, 2015

CELEBRATING OUR

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B O D O : I have a two-word answer: Roger Federer. Its not so much that Federer has endorsed Grigor Dimitrov, the 23-year-old Bulgarian who nally made an impression last year. The important detail is that Federer didnt win his rst major until he was almost 22. Great champions sometimes take their time hitting their stride. Not all prodigies are destined, like Boris Becker or Mats Wilander, to win Grand Slam titles as teenagers.

Dimitrov had won just one title before last season, but he added three more in 2014, giving us con rmation that hes getting more comfortable playing under

The Tennis ROUNDTABLEO U R P A N E L D E B A T E S F I V E B U R N I N G Q U E S T I O N S F O R T H E N E W S E A S O N

IS GRIGORDIMITROV FOR

REAL?

pressure and in big moments. Those three titles also represented the most common surfaces used on the pro tour, clay (Bucharest), hard (Acapulco) and grass (Queens Club). Dimitrov is demonstrating a versatility that will make him a threat on any surface, at any time. Hes here to stay.

M C G R O G A N : Ill take your Federer analogy one step further, Pete. Like the all-time great, Dimitrov passes the eye test, an assessment that cant be quan-ti ed by statistics, wins or titles. Dimi-trov will move the numbers on all of those measures, but you dont need advanced analytics to realize what the youngster does so well. His backhand not only looks good, but it ies through the court on any surface, as you point out. That stroke has tended to overshadow Dimitrovs other formidable shots: He makes awless contact with his forehand and he can serve into the 130-m.p.h. range. He plays good defense when necessary and has a coach, Roger Rasheed, who will accept nothing less than a fanatical devotion to tness.

ATP SEASON PREVIEW 2015

No. 1

Peter BodoS E N I O R W R I T E R

2015 Player of the Year:Kei NishikoriBiggest Breakthrough:Marin CilicBiggest Disappointment:David Ferrer

Stephen TignorS E N I O R W R I T E R

2015 Player of the Year:Novak Djokovic Biggest Breakthrough:Kei Nishikori Biggest Disappointment:Jerzy Janowicz

Ed McGroganS E N I O R E D I T O R

2015 Player of the Year:Novak DjokovicBiggest Breakthrough:Milos Raonic Biggest Disappointment:Roger Federer

Nina PanticA S S O C I A T E E D I T O R

2015 Player of the Year:Novak DjokovicBiggest Breakthrough:Grigor Dimitrov Biggest Disappointment:Gael Mon ls

2015 Predictions


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There is brawn behind Dimitrovs beautiful game, and I see 2015 as the next chapter of his evolution into one of this generations great players.

T I G N O R : It depends on what the meaning of real is here. Dimitrov is undeniably a star and an appealing new attraction for the sport. On the court, his game will keep the explosive, attacking, one-handed tradition of his hero, Federer, alive for years to come. O the court, he has made a name for himself as Maria Sharapovas boyfriend and Nikes next meal ticket.

If real means becoming a Grand Slam champion or future No. 1, though, the verdict is not in. In 2014, Dimitrov reached his rst Grand Slam semi nal and cracked the Top 10, but he faded down the stretch, and nished the year well behind two other young guns, Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic. He also lacks the unstoppable weaponbomb serve, killer forehandthat most major champs have relied on when theyve needed it. The most serious problem for Dimitrov, though, may be age. Speci -cally, those of Rafael Nadal (28), Andy Murray (27) and Novak Djokovic (27). Theyre also going to be at the tops of their gamesand in young Dimitrovs wayfor a few more years to come.

P A N T I C : Hes as real as his relationship with Sharapova. Knocking out crowd favorite Murray in the Wimbledon quarter nals showed impressive matu-rity, and in doing so he surely earned some new fans of his own. Dimitrov can resemble Gael Mon ls with his ability to pull o remarkable shots with stylish air, and he has a level of smoothness that has fueled much loftier compari-sons. Despite Dimitrov distancing himself from the Baby Fed nickname, it doesnt hurt being mentioned along-side one of the greats in any context.

The problem with Dimitrov is that he notched just four Top 10 wins this year. He went 5018 in 2014, but to become a Top 5 player hell need to beat the players in front of him more often. At 6-foot-3, Dimitrov has the build to go with his strong game, and he should contend for bigger titles in 2015. Maybe his girlfriends success will give him some extra motivation.

T I G N O R : Virtually every time Djokovic, Federer, Nadal or Mur-ray has su ered a set-back in recent years, there have been whis-pers about cracks in the Big 4. In 2014, those whispers threatened to turn into a scream, with two rst-time mens major champions, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic. Yet if you read between the Slams, you

can see that while the Big 4 no longer win every-thing, they remain the players to beat. Djokovic, Federer and Nadal nished No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and Murray wasnt far behind at No. 6. They also won two Slams, seven of the nine Masters 1000 events and the ATP World Tour Finals. By seasons end, the younger generation looked out of gas, while

the old guard rolled on. They shouldnt stop anytime soon: Of the four, only Federer is over 30.

P A N T I C : To me, the era ended last year. Murray struggled badly against his fellow Big 4 mem-bers, piling up an 09 record in 2014. Federers dominance has been dissipating, and Nadals injuries have resulted in

HAVE WE REACHED THEEND OF THE BIG 4 ERA?

No.2


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AP

longer and longer layo s. Now, its left in the capable hands of Djokovic to run whats left of the Big 4 show.

B O D O : This tennis trust is proving to be harder to bust than some assumed last year, when Nadal was out of commission and Murray was struggling, ranked outside the

Top 10 for the rst time since 2008. With a 618 record, Djokovic was almost as good in 2014 as in his celebrated 2011 season, and Federer more or less picked up the Big 4 slack created by Murray, moving from as low as No. 8 to very nearly No. 1. Federer forced Djokovic to wait until the last

tournament of the year to clinch the top spotby which time Murray was back near the Top 5. Mark Twain might have anticipated the fate of the Big 4 when he famously remarked, Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

M C G R O G A N : The Big 4 era is over only

if youre considering Slams won in 2014and nothing else. By any other measure, the Big 4 are still the big men on court. They split the Slam titles with two interlopers, but they still accounted for nine of the 16 semi nal berths at the majors (the one youre forgetting: Murrays semi nal run at Roland

Garros). And as Steve pointed out, they combined to win seven of nine Masters tour-naments, plus the year-ending championships. Thats still dominance, utter or not, and itll take more than an occasional surge from the second tier before anyone outside the Big 4 breaks up this quality quartet.

e ects or vulnerabilities remain follow-ing the back injury he su ered at the end of 2014. If Melbournes notoriously hot conditions loom as a factor, Federer must avoid getting into long, tiring matches during the rst week. One signi cant and recently added tactic will help his quest and conserve energy: a willingness to move forward and end points quickly.

P A N T I C : Build a time machine. It might seem dramatic, but despite his second-place nish at Wimbledon, time is not in Federers favor. Every passing year is making it harder for him to stave o the e ects of ageparticularly his back, which will continue to be a ques-tion mark. Theres no doubt hes still a contender to go deep into the second week, but getting past an in-form Djokovic or a returning Nadal, on top of two long weeks playing best-of- ve-set matches, is likely asking too much. Everyone knows the wrinkles of time cant truly be stopped.

T I G N O R : Each year since 2010, Federer has come to Melbourne fresh, lifted his fans hopes with some vintage early-round playIts like 2006 all over again, they gushand then fallen back down to earth in the semis against either Nadal (2012, 2014), Djokovic (2011) or Murray (2013).

For Federer to win his fth title, he needs to do what he almost always doesget himself to the semisand hope that someone else knocks Nadal o before he has to face him. Rafa has won their last ve matches while losing just one set. If Rafa loses, Roger becomes the co-favorite with Djokovic.

No.3M C G R O G A N : If you were told that Federer would play a fth set in the Wimbledon nal and could beat Cilic and Nishikori for a US Open title, how many Slams would you have pegged him to win: One or two? Federer failed to capture either major during a year in which a lot went right for him. His opponents played great, but in both cases, Federer didnt play at his best when he had to. As strange as it is to say, the 17-time Slam champ must learn to deal with the pressure if hes to win it all.

B O D O : First of all, he needs to do all he can to mitigate whatever lingering

WHAT DOES ROGER FEDERERNEED TO DO TO WIN HIS

FIRST AUSTRALIAN OPENTITLE SINCE 2010?


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M C G R O G A N : I dont think so, because I sense Novak Djokovic realizes the opportunity he has in front of him. Hes in the prime of his career, his two biggest rivals ended last year with injuries and two major personal mile-stonesmarriage and the birth of his rst childare behind him. His aim coming into 2015 should be nothing less than the Grand Slamhes that good and is capable of achieving the feat.

P A N T I C : If we were to see a maiden major champion on the mens side again, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori,

two leaders of the next generation, are the best bets. But Nishikoris durability is an issue, despite a run of ve-set marathons at last years US Open; Raonic, who lives and dies with his serve, has never beaten Nadal or Djokovic. The better odds are that the Australian Open will distill into a con-test between the men at the very top.

B O D O : Its unlikely that anyone can repeat what Stan Wawrinka did last year. He has established himself as an elite pro and is one of ve top-tier contenders who have won at least

WILL THIS BE THE SECONDSTRAIGHT YEAR WELL SEE A FIRST-TIME SLAM WINNERAT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN?

one major. Perhaps youve heard of the other four.

Djokovic nished 2014 on a roll, and given his record Down Under, he will be motivated to prove that he still owns the years rst Slam. Also, Nadal will be fresh, Federer is resurgent and Murray has been to three Australian Open nals, losing each time. The chances of all those men stumbling out is slim.

T I G N O R : The Australian Open once had a reputation for surprises among the men: Petr Korda won in 1997, Thomas Johannson won in 2002, and Marcos Baghdatis and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached their only major nals in Mel-bourne in 2006 and 08, respectively. But as with everything else in the ATP, the Aussie Open turned into another play-ground for the Big 4. Then Wawrinka brought the madness back to Melbourne.

As the new season begins, Oz has the makings of a return to form and sanity. Nadal will be starting fresh; Djokovic will be hungry to win Down Under again; Federer should have renewed con -dence. And all of them should be pre-pared for anything after Stans stunner.

No. 4

M C G R O G A N : Success does not have to mean title. It can be CiCi Bellis at last years US Open, or Nick Kyrgios at Wim-bledon. One win over a big player would do it for me. And this type of success is certainly attainable. U.S. tennis fans should enjoy the Aussie Open like they do another distinctly American tournament, March Madness, and

look for One Shining Moment.

B O D O : Its a painful question to have to answer, but Im a believer in the tried-and-true second week theory. That being, unless youre one of the top four seeds, making it into the second week of a Slam means that you can call your tourna-ment a success.

P A N T I C : Last years Australian Open was nothing short of disastrous for the U.S. men. John Isner retired in the rst round, and just two of 12 Americans made it as far as the third round (Donald Young and Sam Querrey). But the bar being set so low isnt all bad going into 2015. Theres still pressure to perform, but not the ominous

pressure to defend points. A showing past the third round would spell success, for now.

T I G N O R : The crisis in U.S. tennis is much more acute and imme-diate among male singles players than anywhere else. Serena Williams will be the favorite to win the womens title, while Bob and Mike Bryan will be the favorites to

win in doubles. If they both live up to those billings, I dont think you can call it an unsuccessful tourna-ment from a U.S. perspective.

Still, this is a year of possibility for Jack Sock. The 22-year-old won big in doubles at Wimbledon in 2014; in Melbourne, well start to see how hard he has worked to match that success in singles.

WHAT CONSTITUTESSUCCESS FOR U.S.TENNIS IN MELBOURNE?

5No.


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No3 No1 No1 No2 No1

Since Novak Djokovics career year of 2011, in which he won 64 of his rst 66 matches and three Grand Slam titles, his results have been less astounding but

still outstanding. Take his 2014 season. He won seven tourna-ments, including Wimbledon and the ATP World Tour Finals, and nished the year with a sterling 618 record. Against the three other Grand Slam champions and year-end No. 2, Roger Federer, Djokovic went a cumulative 75.

Two matches kept Djokovic from coming close to matching that career year: a 97 in-the- fth heartbreaker of a loss to Stan Wawrinka at the Australian Open and a disappointing four-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in the nal of the tournament the Serb most wanted to win, the French Open. The losses added to Djokovics heavily chronicled battle with the mental aspects of closing a big win. But he would win the war, nishing 2014 with a seventh Slam title, and at No. 1 for the third time in his career.

Expect Djokovic to sustain his high level of consistency. Hes gotten off to good starts with success at the Australian Open prior to last year; dont be surprised if the four-time champion revives that tradition in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic

BEST CASE SCENARIO

AT P 2 0 1 5 S TA R T I N GR A N K I N G :

2 0 1 4 R E C O R D : 61-8C O U N T RY: Serbia 2 0 1 4 T I T L E S : 7 2014 WINNINGS: $14,250,527


VS. ROGER FEDERER 17 19

VS. RAFAEL NADAL 19 23

VS. STAN WAWRINKA 16 3

VS. KEI NISHIKORI 3 2

VS. ANDY MURRAY 15 8

VS. TOMAS BERDYCH 17 2

VS. MILOS RAONIC 4 0

VS. MARIN CILIC 11 0

VS. DAVID FERRER 13 5

VS. GRIGOR DIMITROV 5 1

VS. JO-WILFRIED TSONGA 13 6

It can be summed up in two words: Roland Garros. Its too early to call the French Open Djokovics great white whale, but that title is the only thing that has kept him from joining Federer and Nadal in the career Grand Slam club. If Djokovic nally secures that trophy, all other things will pale in signi cance.

Bottom Line

WORSTCASE SCENARIOWhile its true that Djokovic lost ve of six Grand Slam nals before he won Wimbledon last July, reading too much into his apparently min-ute loss of motivation or con dence would be silly. The big enemy for Djokovic, a new husband and dad, could well be complacency borne of his own satis-faction and happiness.

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