The Tennis season is nearing the end with the Year-end Championships coming in just a few short weeks. I thought I'd take a look at some of the players who I think may make a breakthrough next season. For some it may mean a breakthrough into the top echelon of players while others it might just be a rise from the lower tiered events to the more prominent tournaments.
Flavia Pennetta, Italy - While the youth movement continues to be the story this year in Women's Tennis, Pennetta, at age 26, is bucking the trend. She is enjoying a career high ranking at #14 in the world and may be playing in the year-end Championships in Doha. It has been a banner year for the Italian player - 2 singles and 1 doubles title, a 48-23 singles record and earnings over $700,000. A big highlight was reaching the Quarterfinals of a Grand Slam (US Open) for the first time in her career. Expect this player to continue the hot streak into the new season and crack the Top 10 for the first time in her career.
Aleksandra Wozniak, Canada - It has been a long time since Canada has had a player ranked at the top. Wozniak has already enjoyed a breakthrough year this season - rising 100 rank points to be currently ranked at #36 in the world. Her coming out party took place this year at the Bank of West tournament where she beat top players Francesca Schiavone, Marion Bartoli and former #1 player Serena Williams en route to her first career WTA title. Expect this player to crack the top-20 and win more than 1 title next year.
Bethanie Mattek, USA - Mattek has had a great season. She is currently ranked a career high #42 which is a huge improvement over her #114 ranking she ended 2007 with. She won 2 doubles titles and an ITF singles title this year. Her greatest highlight this year was making it to the 4th Round at Wimbledon - by far her best showing at a Grand Slam. She can thank her coaches for helping her get into the best shape of her career. Expect this player to break into the top 30 by before the French Open next year.
Mashona Washington, USA - Now that her big brother, MaliVia, is retired from the sport, it is Mashona's turn to shine for US Tennis. Once a career high #50 in 2004, Washington encountered a number of injuries that stalled her promising career. In fact, she ended 2007 only ranked #861. After a solid year on the ITF circuit, she has her ranking back up to #335. She once played on the US Fed Cup team back in 2006 and I expect that 2009 might be her year to play for the US again. I expect her to get her ranking back under 200 by the French Open and hope to see her qualifying for the Grand Slams again.
Flavia Pennetta, Italy - While the youth movement continues to be the story this year in Women's Tennis, Pennetta, at age 26, is bucking the trend. She is enjoying a career high ranking at #14 in the world and may be playing in the year-end Championships in Doha. It has been a banner year for the Italian player - 2 singles and 1 doubles title, a 48-23 singles record and earnings over $700,000. A big highlight was reaching the Quarterfinals of a Grand Slam (US Open) for the first time in her career. Expect this player to continue the hot streak into the new season and crack the Top 10 for the first time in her career.
Aleksandra Wozniak, Canada - It has been a long time since Canada has had a player ranked at the top. Wozniak has already enjoyed a breakthrough year this season - rising 100 rank points to be currently ranked at #36 in the world. Her coming out party took place this year at the Bank of West tournament where she beat top players Francesca Schiavone, Marion Bartoli and former #1 player Serena Williams en route to her first career WTA title. Expect this player to crack the top-20 and win more than 1 title next year.
Bethanie Mattek, USA - Mattek has had a great season. She is currently ranked a career high #42 which is a huge improvement over her #114 ranking she ended 2007 with. She won 2 doubles titles and an ITF singles title this year. Her greatest highlight this year was making it to the 4th Round at Wimbledon - by far her best showing at a Grand Slam. She can thank her coaches for helping her get into the best shape of her career. Expect this player to break into the top 30 by before the French Open next year.
Mashona Washington, USA - Now that her big brother, MaliVia, is retired from the sport, it is Mashona's turn to shine for US Tennis. Once a career high #50 in 2004, Washington encountered a number of injuries that stalled her promising career. In fact, she ended 2007 only ranked #861. After a solid year on the ITF circuit, she has her ranking back up to #335. She once played on the US Fed Cup team back in 2006 and I expect that 2009 might be her year to play for the US again. I expect her to get her ranking back under 200 by the French Open and hope to see her qualifying for the Grand Slams again.
Ernests Gulbis, Latvia - Gulbis definitely had a breakthrough this year becoming one of the players you'd hate to be paired with in the early rounds of a tournament. He reached a career high #38 and has had victories over top players James Blake and Nicholas Lapentti. Currently ranked at #50, inconsistent play has caused him to lose ground on the top players. I think that after some much needed rest, we should see him make a push for the top-20 in 2009. Highlight this year was a Quarterfinals run at the French Open - by far his best showing at a Grand Slam.
Kei Nishikori, Japan - This player has a major breakthrough in 2008 - #64 in the world and his first title at Delray Beach which included wins over James Blake and Sam Querrey. Japan has not been a hotbed for top ranked players but this player has the skills to change that. Other than his title in Delray, the highlight of his year - and possibly his career - has to be his 4th round appearance at the US Open where he upset #5 David Ferrer. If this player can find a way to become more consistent and improve his serve, he'll be able to compete with the top players on a regular basis and should make his way into the Top 30 in 2009.
Kei Nishikori, Japan - This player has a major breakthrough in 2008 - #64 in the world and his first title at Delray Beach which included wins over James Blake and Sam Querrey. Japan has not been a hotbed for top ranked players but this player has the skills to change that. Other than his title in Delray, the highlight of his year - and possibly his career - has to be his 4th round appearance at the US Open where he upset #5 David Ferrer. If this player can find a way to become more consistent and improve his serve, he'll be able to compete with the top players on a regular basis and should make his way into the Top 30 in 2009.
Donald Young, USA - As a Junior player, Young dominated the competition. Making the transition to the Professional circuit has proved very difficult for the player whom many have called the "future of US tennis". So far, the expectations have been higher than results. This year he has found some success on the Challenger circuit with a win in Sacramento. He has been hovering around the 100 spot in the rankings and is currently ranked #120. If he can find a way to increase his mental toughness and shake the "Jekyll & Hyde" syndrome, this player could find himself in the top 50 by the end of 2009.
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