Carla Suarez Navarro? Or Petra Kvitova?
There are high chances that one has never come across these names. But, of course. With scintillating players like Justine Henin and Serena Williams or even Amelie Mauresmo hogging the limelight, one never had a chance to look at the gen next of women’s tennis.
However, the past one year has seen a few re-orderings happen in world of women’s tennis. Belgian champ Justine Henin retired from tennis at the ripe age of 25 with just seven slams in her bag to spend quality time at home. This was exactly what Kim Clijsters did about a year ago. Martina Hingis was banned for cocaine and she too announced her retirement. The Williams sisters are seen more on the ramp than at the business end of a grand slam these days. Amelie Mauresmo is just a pale shadow of her dominant self.
A few seasons ago, Henin versus Williams would be the eagerly awaited quarter final or semi final match up. Today a quarter final at The Roland Garros features Jankovic and Navarro, while Sharapova playing compatriot Safina becomes the most awaited match of the tournament.
The one positive we can take out of this is that tennis is no more a game of the classes. It has surpassed boundaries that games like football could not do with elan. You will not find India or Pakistan in a Football World Cup Final, but there is every chance that you might see a Cypriot or a Czech or a Pole in a Tennis Grand Slam final.
Image Courtesy: Tennis Forum
