Across The Net: Rafael Nadal is Back and Women’s Tennis is a Land without a Queen
Posted by Dan Martin on 03.19.2007
Indian Wells is over. Where does it leave men’s and women’s tennis heading into Miami?
This week, Rafael Nadal and Daniela Hantuchova each claimed titles in Indian Wells, CA. These two are certainly happy, but other players have a lot of questions to answer after this event. If we give passes to Roger Federer based on three years of good behavior and the Williams Sisters for not playing due to an ugly incident years ago, most or tennis' other stars leave California with more questions than answers. Here is a look at what some of the top male and female players in the world have to be thinking after this event.
1. Rafael Nadal – When healthy, I can win on every surface and challenge for #1 in the world.
2. Daniela Hantuchova – If I can keep my mind and body right, I can be a top player on a women's tour that is in transition.
3. Andy Murray – I can obviously play with anyone, but how do I become more sturdy?
4. Maria Sharapova – The tour is ripe for someone to step up and dominate it. Why can't I summon my summer 2006 form?
5. Andy Roddick – Am I only good enough to reach the big matches? (Roddick has a lot of nice wins in 2007 over Ljubicic, Ancic, Safin and one over Murray, but he also has one-sided losses to Murray, Haas, Federer and Nadal)
6. Justine Henin – Do I have the stamina to claim 2007 as my own?
7. Novak Djokovic – What is the next step? (Novak had a good Aussie Open, took a set off of Federer at Dubai and then makes the finals at Indian Wells – he could be onto something)
8. Svetlana Kuznetzova – I was close in Paris last year, can I win Grand Slam #2 at the French Open?
9. Tommy Haas – Can I put together two great weeks and cap off my career?
10. James Blake – My computer ranking is about to tank, maybe I can play better with lower expectations.
I think the story of this event is Rafael Nadal regaining his top form. Some experts were predicting his decline over on ESPN. I was in a wait and see mode myself. Winning this title in style certainly stamps Nadal as the sole #2 in the world and he gains over 500 points on Roger Federer. Nadal also gets a big win on a hard court. His last huge win on a hard court was the 2005 Canadian Open.
Nadal crushed world #3 Andy Rodick 6-4, 6-3. The score sounds closer than the match was. Nadal broke Roddick 3 times and put a lot of pressure on Roddick in his other service holds. More impressive for Nadal or depressing for Roddick, was the fact that Nadal faced zero break points and won 80% of his service points. Roddick is not the most gifted returner on tour, but the book on Nadal has been to attack his serve. Roddick, his brother, and Jimmy Connors have to wonder what is missing. He is getting deep into tournaments only to lose in a one-sided fashion. With youngsters such as Djokovic and Murray on the rise, he cannot afford to tread water with Nadal and Federer.
Women's tennis is in a strange spot. Justine Henin gets a divorce and skips Australia only to win several small events. Maria Sharapova seems to have mental hurdles when it comes to serving. At 6'3" it should be her best shot. The younger players are not stepping up. The Williams sisters each have one title in 2007, but they have only played one event each. Women's tennis seems to be in poor shape despite equal prize money at the majors.
Going into Miami neither Federer nor the Williams sisters get a free pass. It will be interesting to see how this second Masters Series event of the year unfolds. The momentum one gains from these events can have a big impact on the year end rankings. Jim Courier won these two events and rode the momentum to a French Open title in 1991. Kim Clijsters won both events and won the 2005 U.S. Open.
Men's and women's tennis could not be in more different places after this week. Men's tennis has had a clear king for some time and now has a resurgent heir to the throne. Women's tennis has a set of "full time" players not good enough to dominate and several "part time" players that lack the dedication to be on top. From a fan's perspective, I preferred the days of Steffi Graf or Monica Seles pushing the field to new levels by being the top player week in and week out. A player with Aranxta Sanchez Vicario's determined mentality and toughness would likely be a run away number one in today's women's tour. Men's tennis has at least one successor to Jimmy Connors and Lleyton Hewitt's fighting spirit in Nadal. Playing every point with intensity is something players on both tours could learn from Nadal. Even weekend hackers could learn to compete with more intensity and focus.
