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A Tribute To A Living Legend - Page 9

© Michael Cecilio

UP-AND-COMING PLAYER OF THE FORTNIGHT: Serena WILLIAMS (USA)
Many would argue that she has already "up-and-came", and you wouldn't be wrong thinking like this. After all, Serena Williams is #8 in the WTA rankings and has won a number of important titles to date. But there is so much potential for her to achieve so much more than she already has in her career so far. She has the potential to reach the #1 ranking within a couple of years, and also win a number of Grand Slam titles. Her title run at Los Angeles proves that she has the firepower and the increasing consistency with which to beat the top players and make herself a viable contender in every single tournament.

MATCH OF THE FORTNIGHT: Los Angeles Semi Finals - 6-Serena WILLIAMS d. 2-Martina HINGIS 6-3 7-5
Two of the best teens in tennis were at it again in the LA tournament. Prior to this encounter, Martina had a 3-1 win-loss record over her younger opponent, however, Serena had won their last encounter on a hardcourt. Martina's game looked to be coming into full fruition in the final against Serena's sister the week prior, but Serena herself looked devastating against the top ranked player in the world. Using her trademark power baseline game, and keeping her unforced error count to a minimum, Serena got her second scalp over the world #1 in straight sets.

UPSET OF THE FORTNIGHT: Los Angeles Semi Finals - Julie HALARD-DECUGIS d. 1-Lindsay DAVENPORT 6-3 7-5
It hasn't been as hot a summer for Lindsay this year as it was last year when she went for the trifecta of titles on the West Coast. This year, she is only one for three, as she lost in the semi finals of both tournaments in San Diego and Los Angeles. It was Julie Halard-Decugis who remained the more poised and more consistent player in the semi finals, defeating an error-riddled Davenport in straight sets. Undoubtedly, Lindsay is going to have to pick up her game in order to successfully defend her US Open crown.

CRUCIAL TIME FOR: Monica SELES (USA)
She was right up there with them in the Top 5, but being out of the tour with an injury to her forearm means she has dropped a considerable number of points in the rankings. Keeping pace with the other girls in the top 5 is going to prove even more difficult as she defends her title at Toronto this week. Having lacked confidence in her game in recent months, and lacking match practice entering this important tournament, it is going to be a considerably tough ask for Seles to repeat her Candian Open triumph for a fifth consecutive year. Considerably tough, but definitely possible.

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