Is it normal for this high a percentage of the top ten to be playing this poorly?

The thread about Stosur making the top ten got me thinking. Now, the fact that Clijsters has only player six (6) tournament, and Henin only three (3) distorts things. It's rare to have two high performing players with that few tournaments. But even allowing for that, check this out. What's listed below are the March 8th top 17 in order, plus Henin, who didn't have a ranking. The numbers are their ranking is race points, and how many points. In other words, how they're playing THIS year.
01 2320 Serena
34 _400 Safina
31 _410 Kuznetsova
32 _406 Wozniacki
02 1680 Venus
04 1320 Azarenka
05 1241 Dementieva
13 _615 Radwanska

44 _287 Jankovic
06 1187 Li
48 _282 Stosur
10 _745 Pennetta

46 _285 Sharapova
09 _786 Zvonareva
12 _622 Wickmayer
46 _285 Bartoli

23 _440 Clijsters

03 1600 Henin

It's early in the season, I don't expect an exact correlation. But subjectively, I expect a 'top ten' player to be #15 or 16 in race points. Otherwise, they're really riding on some big result from last year.

A number of these players (Stosur, Wozniacki, Jankovic) are within reach of a big win this week. And Safina gets a pass since she's injured. But it looks like half the players who's ranking says they'd make the second week of a slam, are playing like they shouldn't even be seeded in one.

Interesting post... I say it's still early in the season. It's only been 1 GS so far, and IW hasn't even concluded.

Will be interesting to see how it pan out by mid-season.

It is too early in the season to make it statistically valid, furthermore every player have periods of poorer performance that eventually is balanced. In my opinion you cannot draw conclusions here.

It is too early in the season to make it statistically valid, furthermore every player have periods of poorer performance that eventually is balanced. In my opinion you cannot draw conclusions here.I completely agree you, statistically. But it feels wrong. Still, probably best to wait to Roland Garros.

Props to Dementieva and Radwanska tho'. They're playing well over the past 12 months, playing okay this year AND playing well this tournament.

Wozniacki has been a slow starter each year but has ended them with great results.

But she got further at AO this year than previous years and just now made it deep into IW so she's slowly getting her groove on...

Unless i have forgotten, before the road map there were alot more bigger tournies between the AO and IW, now all there is is Dubai and a paris. Not to mention how there are more points on offer at the slams and events like dubai so that should one stumble early, the difference is massive.