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Courting the elite

So much for Venus Williams' dream of getting down to business in the land Down Under. The once-dominant star on the women's tennis tour had hoped to start off the new year on a healthy note and take aim at her first Australian Open championship when the event begins today. But after an injury-plagued season in 2006 that saw her ranking plummet to No. 48, Williams has pulled out of the first Grand Slam on the 2007 calendar with an aggravated injury to her left wrist.

By DAVE SCHEIBER
Published January 14, 2007

Women (WTA) 

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, ranked 12th, got plenty of attention Wednesday when she upset No. 3 Amelie Mauresmo of France 7-5, 6-0 in the quarterfinals at Sydney. Jankovic had beaten fifth-seeded (and No. 7-ranked) Martina Hingis in the first round and Australia's Samantha Stosur in the second to win her eighth straight match. She's coming off her first top-20 finish in 2006, after starting the year 1-10 then going 44-17.

Maria Sharapova has become a most familiar face, and not just because of a heavily aired TV spot endorsing Canon cameras. The Bradenton resident finished last season on a roll, winning her second career Grand Slam at the U.S. Open along with four other singles titles, and posted a 59-9 singles mark. That helped Sharapova improve from fourth in the rankings to No. 2 by year's end and amass $3,799,501 in prize money. With Justine Henin-Hardenne out, the door is open for the 19-year-old from Siberia to make a run at No. 1.

Kim Clijsters of Belgium completed her fifth top-five season in '06 and even enjoyed the top spot for a while. But Clijsters, currently No. 5, keeps making noise that this will be her final season at only 23. She began her pro career in 1997 and has been a top tour draw with a 413-100 singles record. But Clijsters has also been worn down by a series of injuries since 2003. Yet Friday, she beat Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 in the Sydney International final.

Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic has drawn comparisons to a young Sharapova. At 6-1 and only 17, she has already built a 122-39 record since turning pro in 2003. Vaidisova enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2006 with her first Grand Slam semifinal appearance, winning her first career singles title and finishing the year ranked No. 10.

At least the five-time Grand Slam singles champion is in good company. Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne has withdrawn for personal reasons. On the men's side, two top-ranked players also are banged up, No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko. Both withdrew from the Sydney International - Nadal with a groin injury and Davydenko with a foot problem - but will compete in the Open.

In the meantime, mark down these Grand Slam dates: Australian Open (today through Jan. 28), French Open (May 27-June 9), Wimbledon (June 25-July 7) and U.S. Open (Aug. 27-Sept. 9). And here are some of the names to watch as pro tennis bounces into a new season.

Men (ATP)

Roger Federer is still the man, and that's not likely to change this season. In 2006, he finished first in the rankings for the third straight year, won three Grand Slams for the second time in three years and bagged an ATP-record 12 singles titles along the way.

The only real question is whether Spain's Rafael Nadal, who won five titles (four against Federer), will continue to challenge the Swiss superstar for top-dog status. The muscular lefty was 59-12 in singles play while finishing No. 2, and became the first player since Andre Agassi in 1994-95 to finish second in back-to-back seasons. He was best on clay, finishing 26-0 and beating Federer for the French Open title. It's a rivalry worth watching.

Tampa resident James Blake had a career season last year. He won five titles on four continents competing in eight finals. He finished No. 5 in the rankings and as the top American for the first time. Saturday, he won the Sydney International for the second straight year. In 40 years, only Pete Sampras (1993-94) and Lleyton Hewitt (2000-01 and 2004-05) have successfully defended their title at tennis' third-oldest tournament.

Andy Roddick, the second-ranked American at No. 6, continues to be a consistent force on the tour. Last year, he finished in the top 10 for the fifth straight year and reached a Grand Slam final for the fourth season in a row. He has won at least one title every year since 2001.

[Last modified January 13, 2007, 23:28:40]