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Week 41: A separation of
labor
 By
Todd Spiker
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TENNISRULZ WTA REPORT
by Todd Spiker
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WEEK 41: A Separation of Labor
Shocking results again were a way of life on the WTA tour last week in
Filderstadt. The likes of Capriati, Dokic, Henin, Myskina, Hingis, Maleeva and
Rubin all bowed out in the early going.
But, in the end, a great deal was learned... and it could rule the non-Williams
results for what's left of this 2002 season. While many of their Top 10
counterparts falter down the stretch, Kim Clijsters and Daniela Hantuchova are
rising to the occasion.
Both survived the carnage in Germany to meet in the final, with Clijsters
finally managing to gain her second singles title of what has been a tough
"year-after" season for the Waffle... and Hantuchova finally coming through with
the follow-up appearance in a singles final after failing to do so since winning
in Indian Wells in March.
As the Sisters remain off the tour until the WTA Championships, it might be
these two who make the noise until L.A. Clijsters returned to the Top 5 on
Monday, while Hantuchova made her initial appearance in the Top 10.
Get ready, we could see a rematch this week in Zurich.
FILDERSTADT
S: Kim Clijsters d. Daniela Hantuchova
D: Davenport/Raymond d. Shaughnessy/Suarez
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kim Clijsters
...the Waffle's suffered through arm problems since January, but she finally
seems to have hit her stride. At least you kind of get that idea after she
pulls off a string of wins like she did in Filderstadt, where she knocked off
#12 Anastasia Myskina, Iva Majoli, #10 Lindsay Davenport, #4 Amelie Mauresmo and
#9 Daniela Hantuchova. Just a hunch.
RISERS: Daniela Hantuchova & Elena Dementieva
..."Miss Russian Regression" finally rediscovered her game this week and managed
a return to the Top 20 after a one-week absence. By the way, this makes the
12th straight week at least one Russian has won one of these weekly awards.
Meanwhile, Hantuchova actually put together a good week at a tournament that
wasn't a slam or Tier I. It's that kind of newfound consistency that will make
her current Top 10 standing in BOTH singles and doubles -- joining Hingis and
Dokic in having the rare simultaneous honor at some point in 2002 -- a common
thing for her as the seasons go by.
SURPRISE: Alexandra Stevenson
...Stevenson started 2002 off on such a positive note. She defeated Jennifer
Capriati in Sydney in January, then made the Memphis final in February. She's
been the invisible girl ever since. But this week's second win over Capriati
may ignite a final push for a Top 20 ranking for the season.
VETERAN: Anne Kremer
...Kremer, too, started off the season very well only to see her results drop
off like a cartoon coyote over the side of a cliff. Her win over recently
red-hot Maggie Maleeva at least brought back a few good memories.
NEW FACE: Myriam Casanova
...Yeah, I know Casanova's won a title this year and might not qualify as a
"new" face. But her victory over Henin, her first big win since winning that
title in Brussels in July, deserves some recognition.
DOWNER: Jelena Dokic
...Dokic was ranked #4 a few weeks ago, but that was before she went winless in
the brief indoor carpet season. Then, she opened the indoor hardcourt section
of the year by dropping her fourth consecutive match... a new career low-point.
She's now #6, and might fall ever farther before the end of the season.
1.QF - Clijsters d. Davenport
...Davenport opens her three-for-three 2001 title defenses by failing to make
the SF in Germany. While so many of the rising teens have trouble with
Davenport, Clijsters seems to have discovered the secret formula.
2.2r - Stevenson d. Capriati
...From the woodwork, she emerges. Stevenson defeated Capriati in Week 2, as
well... but that seems like a decade ago now. Maybe Stevenson will regain her
on-court confidence with this result.
3.Final - Clijsters d. Hantuchova
...might end up being the two hottest players down the stretch, at least until
the Sisters arrive in L.A.
4.2r - Tatiana Panova d. Dokic
...Dokic was 2-0 and held a 24-8 games edge over Panova going in. After the 1st
set, the games edge was 30-9. Then Dokic lost 12 of the final 17 games to drop
her fourth straight singles match.
5.2r - Dementieva d. Hingis
...and then she was gone. After this, Hingis pulled out of the rest of her 2002
tournament commitments as she fell from the Top 10 for the first time since
1996.
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*SINGLES TOP 20*
1.Serena Williams...6099
2.Venus Williams...4844
3.Jennifer Capriati...3706
4.Amelie Mauresmo...3121
5.Kim Clijsters...2995
6.Jelena Dokic...2800
7.Monica Seles...2786
8.Justine Henin...2775
9.Daniela Hantuchova...2595.7
10.Lindsay Davenport...2582
11.Martina Hingis...2348
12.Anastasia Myskina...1845
13.Chanda Rubin...1685
14.Silvia Farina Elia...1617
15.Maggie Maleeva...1586
16.Anna Smashnova...1395.50
17.Sandrine Testud...1390
18.Elena Dementieva...1386
19.Patty Schnyder...1337
20.Amanda Coetzer...1330
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*2002 - TEENS WITH SINGLES TITLES*
2...Kim Clijsters (19)
2...Jelena Dokic (19)
2...Elena Bovina (19)
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova (17)
*2002 DOUBLES TITLES*
10...Lisa Raymond
8...Rennae Stubbs
8...Paola Suarez
8...Virginia Ruano-Pascual
*MOST SINGLES TITLES - 2001/02*
13...Venus Williams (6/7)
11...Serena Williams (3/8)
7...Lindsay Davenport (7/0)
6...Monica Seles (4/2)
6...Amelie Mauresmo (4/2)
5...Kim Clijsters (3/2)
5...Jelena Dokic (3/2)
5...Martina Hingis (3/2)
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PREDICTIONS - WEEK 42
Zurich, Switzerland (Hardcourt-Tier I)
F: Hantuchova def. Clijsters
...The Slovak wins the Filderstadt rematch.
Bratislava, Slovakia (Hardcourt-Tier V)
F: Talaja def. Tulyaganova
...unless Tulyaganova can maintain her momentum from her Asian Games title.
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*TDS COMBINED SINGLES/DOUBLES TOP 20*
1.Serena Williams...297
2.Venus Williams...255
3.Jennifer Capriati...165
4.Monica Seles...140
5.Jelena Dokic...128
6.Amelie Mauresmo...120.5
7.Justine Henin...118
8.Martina Hingis...113.5
9.Daniela Hantuchova...106
10.Kim Clijsters...102.5
11.Anna Smashnova...90
12.Lisa Raymond...76
13t.Chanda Rubin...66
13t.Paola Suarez...66
15t.Lindsay Davenport...63
15t.Elena Bovina...63
17t.Elena Dementieva...55.5
17t.Svetlana Kuznetsova...55.5
19.Anastasia Myskina...55
20.Arantxa Sanchez Vicario...49.5
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