The Randomness in Women’s Tennis

Posted on September 4, 2008
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There is too much fuss about the last grand slam tournament of the year, the US Open. After the success of some players and conversely, the defeat of otherwise worthy winners, the tennis stars had to travel to the other part of the world in an instant just to get ready for the US open. Surely, tennis buffs also had to drag a rolling briefcase or two to the other part of the world just to see their favorite stars.

Men’s tennis ordained a new World No. 1 last August 18, 2008 by the name of Rafael Nadal. While he has been playing superbly since the clay court season back in May, he was only officially given the top ranking during the first Olympic week. As the spectators expected, Rafa also claimed the Olympic Gold medal. This feat surely showed the world how consistent he has been and this was evident even when he was still the No. 2 player, following Roger Federer.

The women’s ranking, however, saw a different story. With the recent retirement of World No. 1 Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova took on the top ranking. Just a few days later, she was ousted off the top position when she lost early in the rounds of the French Open. Ana Ivanovic, the eventual winner of the said tournament, then took the number 1 spot.

Come Wimbledon, the rankings were shaken. The top players Ivanovic, Sharapova, and even world No. 3 Jelena Jankovic were ousted by no less than tennis qualifiers. As the hardcourt season started, and the absence of Sharapova because of an injury, the rankings once again changed. Jelena Jankovic, for a short time, relished being the top player in women’s tennis. But after a few days, the top spot was once again held by Ana Ivanovic. At the 2008 US Open, Ivanovic, sadly, was ousted by an unseeded Frenchwoman early in the 2nd round.

So, what do all of these tell us? That the women’s rankings are as erratic as a woman’s mood? Any tennis enthusiast would bet anything, including her designer wallets, that there will be another change in women’s rankings, especially in the top spots, after the US open. It doesn’t take a tennis expert, who probably dons a gorgeous briefcase for women, to give a thorough analysis of women’s tennis.

But come to think about it, that is tennis. As Rafa Nadal mentioned when he was asked who would win the all-American match between James Blake and Mardy Fish: “It’s tennis, it’s very difficult to say something.”

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