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Let's just have a bit of fun and fast forward a couple of years. What do you think will happen on the WTA tour?
Here are some of mine.
Retirements
- Serena and Venus will both be retired by 2020 (Tokyo). It's possible they stay on in their late 30s but personally I think Serena will probably wish to fulfil her role as a full time mom and Venus will follow suit.
- Other probable retirements: Sam Stosur is 33, I give her at best 2 years, no more than 3 years before she decides to hang up her racket.
- Hantuchova - has she retired yet? Lucic-Baroni, trickier to call since she decided to return. Her form hasn't been strong after early 2017 and she may be gone by 2020 as well, no longer than 2022.
- Mattek Sands - really depends on whether she can recover from her knee injury. She will give it a go but time is ticking.
- Cibulkova - motivation the major factor. She has already expressed wishes to retire. I give her no more than 3 years but could easily see her change her mind.
- Jankovic, if she cannot break back into top 100 it's sayonara probably, even if mother doesn't want to have to cook lunch for her at home.
- Wozniacki and Aga may last a bit longer as they are still younger than the former players listed, I will say they have at least 4 more years on tour.
Slams
- Halep's work will eventually pay off in the long run. How does she compare to a Safina then? I think unlike Safina providing Halep remains fit she can continue to maintain a good level and drive. There are plenty of fierce competitors still but if she is intent on improving her game and mentality, there will be chances just like Woz, especially at Roland Garros.
- Ostapenko's raw game will need time before she can nab another one. I think she may win more but I don't see it happening in 2018 without substantial help.
- Svitolina will eventually get over the QF barrier. She is a tenacious girl who needs greater experience to improve against in-the-zone opposition but I think she will have a shot at a slam final in the next 2 years.
- The AO will be Wozniacki's only slam win, but she will have a couple of deep runs here and there.
- Kerber will maintain her newfound confidence and hunger and be in contention especially at Wimbledon and USO. It may take time but I wouldn't be surprised if she does win a slam or two in the next 2 years, maybe even this season.
- Always a chance for Kvitova and Muguruza to have hot streaks as well.
'Comebacks'
- The second return of Vika took a while to come to fruition and I feel the same in this case, it will take some work for Vika to transition back on tour. She will probably not return to top 10 status until 2020.
- Maria will do very well if she manages to cracks the top 20. A decent clay swing could get her there though. I do not see her cracking the top 10 anytime soon.
- Serena. Very difficult to say. At the moment I do not really have confidence she will be able to return to her former level but am happy to be proven wrong.
Rise and falls
- Highest current stock are on Halep, Kerber and Svitolina (she still has plenty of time).
- Ka. Pliskova has possibly reached her summit. She may maintain a top 10 ranking for a year or two due to the power of her serve but slam contention is slipping by the minute.
- Mixed thoughts about Konta. I don't think she will be able to hold on but can be a strong 10-15 player. She may re-enter the top 10 some other time though.
- Early days, but Mertens could be top 10 in two years.
- Barty may reach top 10, but it will require lot of work and experience.
- Vandeweghe will have a bit of a loop (meaning she dips but has rise moments), should be a standard 10-20, at worst down to 30.
- Unfortunately I do not feel Garcia will be able to maintain her top 8 status. She will have decent runs here and there but I expect her to underperform here and there.
- Other rising radar: Vondrousova, Osaka, Kostyuk, Kontaveit
Here are some of mine.
Retirements
- Serena and Venus will both be retired by 2020 (Tokyo). It's possible they stay on in their late 30s but personally I think Serena will probably wish to fulfil her role as a full time mom and Venus will follow suit.
- Other probable retirements: Sam Stosur is 33, I give her at best 2 years, no more than 3 years before she decides to hang up her racket.
- Hantuchova - has she retired yet? Lucic-Baroni, trickier to call since she decided to return. Her form hasn't been strong after early 2017 and she may be gone by 2020 as well, no longer than 2022.
- Mattek Sands - really depends on whether she can recover from her knee injury. She will give it a go but time is ticking.
- Cibulkova - motivation the major factor. She has already expressed wishes to retire. I give her no more than 3 years but could easily see her change her mind.
- Jankovic, if she cannot break back into top 100 it's sayonara probably, even if mother doesn't want to have to cook lunch for her at home.
- Wozniacki and Aga may last a bit longer as they are still younger than the former players listed, I will say they have at least 4 more years on tour.
Slams
- Halep's work will eventually pay off in the long run. How does she compare to a Safina then? I think unlike Safina providing Halep remains fit she can continue to maintain a good level and drive. There are plenty of fierce competitors still but if she is intent on improving her game and mentality, there will be chances just like Woz, especially at Roland Garros.
- Ostapenko's raw game will need time before she can nab another one. I think she may win more but I don't see it happening in 2018 without substantial help.
- Svitolina will eventually get over the QF barrier. She is a tenacious girl who needs greater experience to improve against in-the-zone opposition but I think she will have a shot at a slam final in the next 2 years.
- The AO will be Wozniacki's only slam win, but she will have a couple of deep runs here and there.
- Kerber will maintain her newfound confidence and hunger and be in contention especially at Wimbledon and USO. It may take time but I wouldn't be surprised if she does win a slam or two in the next 2 years, maybe even this season.
- Always a chance for Kvitova and Muguruza to have hot streaks as well.
'Comebacks'
- The second return of Vika took a while to come to fruition and I feel the same in this case, it will take some work for Vika to transition back on tour. She will probably not return to top 10 status until 2020.
- Maria will do very well if she manages to cracks the top 20. A decent clay swing could get her there though. I do not see her cracking the top 10 anytime soon.
- Serena. Very difficult to say. At the moment I do not really have confidence she will be able to return to her former level but am happy to be proven wrong.
Rise and falls
- Highest current stock are on Halep, Kerber and Svitolina (she still has plenty of time).
- Ka. Pliskova has possibly reached her summit. She may maintain a top 10 ranking for a year or two due to the power of her serve but slam contention is slipping by the minute.
- Mixed thoughts about Konta. I don't think she will be able to hold on but can be a strong 10-15 player. She may re-enter the top 10 some other time though.
- Early days, but Mertens could be top 10 in two years.
- Barty may reach top 10, but it will require lot of work and experience.
- Vandeweghe will have a bit of a loop (meaning she dips but has rise moments), should be a standard 10-20, at worst down to 30.
- Unfortunately I do not feel Garcia will be able to maintain her top 8 status. She will have decent runs here and there but I expect her to underperform here and there.
- Other rising radar: Vondrousova, Osaka, Kostyuk, Kontaveit
