The One with the new season

Yes boys and girls, the new season is here. Tennis is back! Yeah.! What's going to happen in tennis in 2008? I bet this year will be sizzling hot for both ATP and WTA. Both current World Number 1, Roger Federer and Justine Henin most probably will have a tough time holding on to the number 1 ranking. Here's my preview for 2008.

1. ATP TENNIS

Big Guns

The Maestro@Roger Federer, is a living legend, and winner of 12 Grand Slams. He is 2 Grand Slams shy from Pistol Pete's record of 14 titles. No doubt that he will beat the record this year or at least tie Sampras's record. Given his recent track records, it is safe to predict that Roger Federer will once again be the dominant forces of tennis/ along with Rafa and Djokovic. As always, Federer will pick up where he left off in the previous season. He's the clear favourite to win at least 3 majors, but I'm expecting him to face off stiff competition from the likes of Nadal, Djokovic, Nalbandian, Ferrer and Murray. One thing that will worries is rivals is that Federer still have the desire to play until 2012 Olympic. The rest have to play catch up game then.

Rafael Nadal@Rafa. He is the current world number 2. I'm sure that the clay season belongs to him once again. Federer ,Djokovic and Ferrer are those who can derail him from a clean sweep at those clay court titles. Expect to see Rafa to perform very well at the Australian Open this year. With the introduction of a new surface ( plexicushion) which many claims to be a slower surface, it will benefits for the likes of clay courters especially Rafa. Everyone knows that Rafa's game suits to the slow surface. Past season we've seen Rafa troubled by the flat hitters( Youzhny, Berdych, Blake), but the Spaniard has learnt to deal better with flat hitters since then. Expect him to win more titles outside of clay season.

The Joker, Novak Djkovic, the current World Number 3. His rise to the top three was one of the highlights last year. Two Masters titles and a Grand Slam final last year, he has already proven that with his complete all court game, he is a force to be reckoned with. Many predict that Djokovic has what it takes to claim the number one ranking from Federer, but in order for him to reach the top of men's tennis, he needs to cut down his schedule, and off course, he needs to derails Rafa first. Quite a tall order, but nothing is impossible for this Serbian. Expect him to win his first maiden Grand Slam title.


THE BIG GUNS besides Top 3

The rest have to play catch up game to the top three. Nalbandian, Ferrer, Roddick, Gonzalez, Murray, Hewitt to name a few will most probably will give the top three a run for their money. The Argentine, Nalbandian will most probably do the most damage to the Top 3. The Argentine had a relatively quiet season in 2007 until his late assault to the men's tennis by winning back to back Masters Series. He even did a rare feat by stunning the world Top 3 in Paris Masters. As for Andy Roddick, he still has this I-can't beat'-Federer- syndrome. We'll see what he has up in his sleeve to beat the Maestro this year.

The Noise Maker

Those up and coming players fall to this category. Baghdatis, Berdych, Ancic, Gasquet, Monfils are those considered as up and coming last few years and yet to make major impact at the tour. For the exception of Baghdatis who reached Asutralian Open 2006 final, the rest have yet make headlines with their games. They need to have the consistency (especially at the majors) to be able to fight and stay in the top 10. We'll see this year whether they will live up to their potentials.


2.WTA TENNIS

The Feisty Belgian.

The feisty Belgian, Justine Henin. She's the current world number 1 and with 2 slam titles last year, she is back for more this year. Last year we saw her set herself apart from the rest of the pack with 10 titles. What's in store for her this year? Well, there's Wimbledon and Olympic title up for grab. In order for her to keep on winning those silverwares, she needs to brushed aside the on form Williams sisters, the Russian soldiers lead by Maria Sharapova, the flaming Serbian and many more. Guess Justine will find fierce competition to keep her top ranking.


The Williams Sisters.
Venus and Serena are those two names that could make life more difficult for Justine this year, provided they're healthy. The Sisters won a Slam each last year, where Serena won the Australia Open by humiliating Maria Sharapova and Venus beat suprised finalist, Marion Bartoli. Their health remains the big question. If they are 100% healthy with no injury, they could at least repeat their feat last year. Judging by Serena's performance at Hopman's Cup and Venus's at the Hong Kong Exhibition this week, yes, the Williams sisters are set to make big headlines this year. Expect them to make at least in the semi or final in every majors.

The Russian Army

There plenty Russian players in the Top 100. These army of Russians are lead by none other than Maria Sharapova. With two Grand Slams titles under her belt, she is poised to win more Slam titles. After a lackluster performance throughout 2007, the Russian superstar seems to be at her best against Henin in the YEC Final last year. A new service motion has gained her new confidence in her game and yes, she is back to make grab headlines with her games. Other Russians who could make a major impact this year are Anna Chadvetadze, Nadia Petrova and Dinara Safina. If they could fix their mental issues, they could be contenders at the Majors.

The Flaming Serbian

These Dynamic Duo are World Number 3 Jelena Jankovic and World Number 4, Ana Ivanovic. Both have a big groundstrokes that could hurt the big names. Most agree that Ivanovic has the biggest groundstroke in the game now. She grab the headline last year with her first appearance in the Major last year but got beaten soundly by Justine in the Rolland Garros final. As for Jankovic, she won titles from each surface. This year she needs to trim her busy schedule in order for her to keep her gas throughout the season. One of these Serbs could win their first Major this year.


The Rest of the Pack
Comeback Queen, Lindsay Davenport is back to her form now. Since her comeback to the tour, she now has won 3 titles from 4 events she entered. She could make major damage in this year's first Grand Slam. Expect to see seeds falling to her. Her powerful serve and groundstrokes still remain as her best weapon. We'll she how she fares against the top gun this year. Others who could make headlines this year are Mauresmo, Dementieva, Kuznetsova, Vaidisova and those up and coming players such as Agnes Szavay, Victoria Azarenka, Alona Bondarenko and the Radwanka's sisters.

Plenty of tennis for 2008..! Can't wait. :)

p/s: It took me almost two hrs to write this down. Georgina Chan of ACE Star Sport, if you're reading this, I would love to be your partner hosting the show.pls...pls... :P