Monday 18 September 2000
Commentary by John Barrett and John Lloyd.
Tuesday 19 September 2000
With commentary fromJohn Barrett and John Lloyd.
Also includes some sailing and canoe slalom, badminton and boxing.
Wednesday 20 September 2000
With commentary from John Barrett and John Lloyd.
Also includes coverage of sailing, beach volleyball, badminton, hockey and boxing.
Thursday 21 September 2000
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| 19:15-19:45 |
| Tennis Masters Magazine Show |
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Take 5
– Women's Singles Player Profiles
It was only
last year that tennis commentators across the globe were bemoaning the smash-and-grab
tedium of the men's game, and lauding the artistry and touch of the under-paid
women's circuit. But with the resurgence of Lindsay Davenport and the blockbusting
arrival of the Williams sisters all that is about to change.
Just as with
the men, serves are getting bigger and groundstrokes growing ever more punishing.
And at the vanguard of the power revolution are five players set to dominate
the women's game for the foreseeable future.
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Venus Williams
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Venus
Williams
Born 17 June, 1980
W 2000
Until her emotional
win at Wimbledon, Venus Williams looked to be having a frustrating and potentially
disastrous year. Plagued by injuries, there was even talk of early retirement
– while Venus' self-confidence cannot have been helped by her younger
sister's triumph at the US Open. But by winning her first Grand Slam title
at Wimbledon – and eclipsing Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport on
the way – the elder Williams can now say that she has truly arrived.
Her game
is built around a terrifying combination of strength and speed – while
her serve would have several players in the men's game beating a hasty retreat
from the baseline. Ironically, the only cloud on the horizon could well be
the emergence of her younger sister Serena – who is rated by many, including
their father, as the better player.
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Lindsay Davenport
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Lindsay
Davenport
Born 8 June,
1976
AUS 2000
W 99
US 98
After losing
weight and getting properly match-fit, Lindsay Davenport is now a far more
formidable player than she was three years ago. Her awesome power remains
untempered but she is now more agile and aggressive around the court.
Her marked
improvement is reflected by Grand Slam wins in each of the past three years
and her fascinating tussle with Hingis to become the undisputed women's No.
1. She may find it more difficult to progress to major finals after the emergence
of the equally powerful Williams sisters, but Davenport's strength and composure
should not be underestimated.
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Serena Williams
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Serena
Williams
Born 9 September,
1981
US 99
Just as powerful
as her older sister Venus but with a greater variety and consistency in her
groundstrokes, Serena is set to revolutionise the women's game. Her win at
last year's US Open over Martina Hingis was aided by the Swiss player's gruelling
semi-final against Venus – but at Wimbledon Serena proved she has the
game to challenge for honours at every Grand Slam event.
She is
a more complete player than Venus and like her sister is an iron-willed competitor.
Again her only major problem seems to be the psychological trial of facing
her older sibling. Reportedly kept apart in previous tournaments by their
father, it looks like the Williams sisters could be meeting one another on
court with increasing regularity.
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Martina Hingis
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Martina
Hingis
Born 30 September, 1980
AUS 97, 98, 99
W 97
US 97
With
the explosive arrival of the Williams sisters on the Women's circuit it's
hard to remember the seismic impact that Martina Hingis made after winning
three of the four Grand Slam titles in 1997. The pressure of her unparalleled
success was starting to show at last year's French Open – but after a
charm offensive at this year's Wimbledon, Hingis is looking close to her ebullient
best.
It remains to be seen whether she can match the physical power of some of
her American rivals, but Hingis should still be considered the most promising
young player in women's tennis – and she already is the best.
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Mary Pierce
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Mary
Pierce
Born 15 January,
1975
AUS 95
FR 2000
The tempestuous
French champion remains one of the great imponderables of the women's game.
She is capable of dazzling performances when things are going well, but rarely
finds the consistency – or seemingly the will – to string a series
of emphatic wins together.
Titles
in Australia, and at Roland Garros this year, could be seen as a disappointing
return for a player of Pierce's ability but she is probably not quite in the
same league as Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis or the Williams sisters. The role
of her idiosyncratic father -and coach - remains a potential trouble spot,
but don't be surprised if Pierce adds to her Grand Slam tally over the next
three or four seasons. |
