Unlike other women’s sports, women’s tennis does get its fair share of media coverage. It is one of the few sports wherein female players are given due recognition for their achievements.
However, in contrast with the men’s game, women’s tennis has had to endure the burden of unpredictability since the turn of the millennium.
With Serena Williams’ shocking exit in the first round of the 2012 French Open, women’s tennis continues to be robbed of consistency a la the male equivalent. Over the last few decades, women’s tennis has witnessed some of the greatest rivalries in sport, something that ceases to exist among the current crop of players.
Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert dominated the sport in the late seventies and early eighties, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles were at the pinnacle of their game in the mid-nineties. Then, the Williams sisters along with Martina Hingis and Justine Henin burst onto the scene to dictate proceedings. These are just some of the indisputable legends of the game whose achievements will never be matched by the modern breed of upcoming players.
While some concur that the element of unpredictability in women’s tennis adds to the curiosity factor, there’s another school of thought that’s in complete denial that women’s tennis is as intriguing as the men’s game.
With the Williams sisters on the decline, the sport is in desperate need of a superstar akin to the status of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer – the peerless trio who are not just supremely consistent throughout the year but have maintained a vice-like grip on the entire ATP tour for years. Moreover, the chasing pack of top players such as Andy Murray, David Ferrer, Tsonga and Tomas Berdych, to name a few, are pretty consistent themselves and possess sufficient arsenal to throw a spanner in the works thereby, adding to the excitement of men’s tennis.
In contrast, there has been no female player to dominate the game, let alone a chasing pack, with incessant rounds of musical chairs at the top of the perch.
We have had top-ranked players such as Caroline Wozniacki (67 weeks as number one), Dinara Safina (26 weeks), Jelena Jankovic (18 weeks), Victoria Azarenka (19 weeks) and Ana Ivanovic (12 weeks), who have failed to remain in the top bracket for extensive periods. Moreover, these numbers don’t even come within a bull’s roar from the likes of ex-superstars such as Martina Navratilova (332 weeks in all) and Steffi Graf (377 weeks), keeping aside the number of Grand Slams won. There obviously is a problem in the women’s game.
It seems that modern-day female players are mentally fragile, finding it nearly impossible to match the expectations and demands of the game. For instance, despite being a knowledgeable student from the reputed Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Russia, Vera Zvonareva can be a wreck on court throwing tantrums, sobbing and sufferings meltdowns. Another notable example is Sam Stosur, a brilliant player who has so far failed to put up a good show on home turf at the Australian Open, clearly, an indication of her succumbing to the burden of playing at home.
On this concern, the legendary Martina Navratilova says, “With a lot of the field, when they get to a final, they freeze and I’ve seen it time and time again. They just freeze, they don’t compete, and they can’t play.
“Being in a final is something to cherish, not dread”. This explains Navratilova’s success in the finals of the many majors she has won.
Female players are unable to remain injury-free for continuous periods of time and once back on court they find it gruelling to recapture ‘form’. No one would attest to this fact better than Serena Williams who has been patchily consistent since her return to the tour following a lengthy lay-off in 2011 due to severe health concerns.
There have also been players such as Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger, Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters who have excelled for brief periods and then either quit or took a long sabbatical from the game for various reasons. By contrast, in the men’s game, the only example is Björn Borg, who rocked the entire tennis fraternity by retiring at the age of 26 at the peak of his powers.
The current lot of young players do possess all the ingredients necessary to dominate the game but there seems to be the missing element of ‘competition’. Maybe, the WTA should amend the game from the stipulated three sets to five in the majors to offer the players a whole new challenge both physically as well as mentally. Yes, it might be taxing for the players but they are well-conditioned and strong enough to survive the demands of five-setters.
I think it’s worth a try because the women’s game needs a shake-up.
Women’s tennis is in desperate need of superstars that its male equivalent has enjoyed in recent years and as it stands, it’s unlikely that one is bound to emerge any time soon. Not having truly dominant women on tour might offer room for more parity, but I’m not sure if having every player in the top 25 capable of winning a Slam is a blessing for women’s tennis.
k77sujith
Roar Guru
US Open 2012 has thrown up quite a few enthralling contests in the women's game and the final was a classic! Three cheers to Serena, Aza and Sharapova....let's hope this is the advent of a three-peat rivalry.
k77sujith
Guest
With Serena's brilliant win at Wimbledon 2012, she's shown that she still has the fire in the belly to push on for a few more years. Let's hope this is the commencement of a healthy rivalry between her, Azarenka and Sharpova at least for the next three years.
k77sujith
Guest
Thanks Jithu..a possibility for a new era of rivalry between Serena, Azarenka and Sharapova maybe in the making?
jinesh
Guest
jus hit the nail on the head...in women's tennis u hardlyy hav a player to watch out for cos u dont knw whos gonna win...thou the unpredictability factor is good add-on u dont find a player to root for cos of the inconsistency factor...russians keep on emergin n u hv a new champ...tis 5 setter is a gud idea..i remember a male player arguin wen the ladies askd fr equal prize money in grandslams tat they shud also play best of 5 format to ask for equal prize money..
k77sujith
Guest
Thanks CG....it'd indeed throw a new challenge to them.
cg26
Guest
really like the idea that 5 sets might give them time to calm down a bit, less freezing, and real champions could emerge.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
That's true, I would agree with that. Just so long as they aren't too dominant. :D
k77sujith
Guest
Well, true, Sharapova is doing quite well now having just pocketed the career slam and number 01 ranking. Let's hope she can sustain this level of tennis. If Victoria Azarenka can raise her level, it'd make a good rivalry in the women's game between these two. Thanks.
k77sujith
Guest
Very good point there on how the popularity of a sport is dependent on a superstar. Thanks.
k77sujith
Guest
Hi Matt....I don't think we need stats to back up this claim. It's a given I reckon. As for the dominance of the big three in men's tennis....I'm surprised it doesn't entice you because when these guys compete against each other, the level of tennis is from another planet, and grips the entire tennis fraternity. But yes, like you said...it does help to have even competition. Thanks.
k77sujith
Guest
Agassi..yes....he's always been an enigma, hasn't he? I wonder why professionals find it hard to recapture form once back from injury...is it the mindset or just them having not been in a match situation? However, I'd like to point out Rafa Nadal, who bounced back from injury in 2009 (missing Wimbledon) and is still at the peak of his game (although he was out for a short period). It's all strange. Thanks.
k77sujith
Guest
Hi Max....you make quite an interesting comparison with cricket. And like you said, Monfils is a good example of a player having to adapt to playing 5-setters. With no superstars in the women's game who can attract crowds, I think it's time to give 5 sets a go. Thanks.
k77sujith
Guest
That's a good one :). Imagine Sharapova playing out a five-setter!
k77sujith
Guest
I see your point and agree with you....we wouldn't want just one player winning the Slams all the time, but having said that, women's tennis could do with some rivalry...a few consistent players who can pose a challenge in every tournament. Having a modern-day Steffi Graf or Navratilova can only do wonders for the game. Thanks.
clipper
Guest
Well, more of a sabbatical in the mind where he couldn't be bothered anymore and the competitive spirit went - you don't drop down to about 150 if you're keen and fit. Credit it to him though for coming back and winning 5 more grand slams.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I get what you're saying, however I think you take it too far. "In contrast, there has been no female player to dominate the game, let alone a chasing pack, with incessant rounds of musical chairs at the top of the perch. We have had top-ranked players such as Caroline Wozniacki (67 weeks as number one), Dinara Safina (26 weeks), Jelena Jankovic (18 weeks), Victoria Azarenka (19 weeks) and Ana Ivanovic (12 weeks), who have failed to remain in the top bracket for extensive periods. Moreover, these numbers don’t even come within a bull’s roar from the likes of ex-superstars such as Martina Navratilova (332 weeks in all) and Steffi Graf (377 weeks), keeping aside the number of Grand Slams won. There obviously is a problem in the women’s game. " Women's tennis does need a superstar, or two, but not another Steffi or Navratilova. Having two players who were number 1 for almost 13 years, and who won 40 slams between them, is something that the women's game should not want to go back to. The problem with the women's game in the past is that certain players dominated far too much. It became incredibly boring with player X dominating for an extended period of time, and then player Y dominating. While having different players win every slam over an extended period of time isn't great as it lessens the prestige of winning a slam, having one dominate for an extended period of time also isn't wonderful. Yes, let's have a couple of superstars, but not with the dominance of female superstars of the past.
Allsports
Guest
I can't handle 3 sets of screaming let alone 5.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
She's amazing. However, as good as she is, she's not exactly a representation of dominance. Still, she will certainly go down as one of the all-time greats. :D
amazonfan
Roar Guru
When did Agassi take a sabbatical? He dropped out of the top 100 in 1997 (before returning in 1998), but 1997 aside, he never ceased to be a challenger to Sampras. he certainly never took an extended break.
Max
Guest
I concur completely. Especially with the point of extending the games to 5 sets. This would only bring them closer to the mens game, but maybe there is a reason why certain mens players have dominated for such a long time.... endurance. I for one couldn't see Monfils lasting 5 sets all the time, hence, you don't see him in the latter stages of any large 5 set events. I could almost be likened to 20/20 cricket (being 3 sets) and a test match (5 sets), It's easy to come out of nowhere and play 1 blinding set and struggle to win the other but in a 5 setter its a whole different ball game. You really need to dominate the whole match to make it through.