[Volcana]

Here's Monica record against the rest of the top ten in 2000 and 2001. Since half the top ten weren't top ten in 2000, I've split the players into two groups. An interesting pattern emerges.

Two year record against players ending at least the last TWO years in top ten

0-5 vs Davenport<br />0-4 vs V.Williams

1-1 vs S.Williams

2-5 vs. Hingis (only 2001, 2-0 Seles)

ONE year record against players ending 2001 in top ten, but NOT 2000.

2-1 vs Capraiti<br />1-0 vs Clijsters<br />3-0 vs Henin<br />1-0 vs Mauresmo<br />2-0 vs Dokic

Against the players NEW to the top ten in 2001, Monica had a VERY good record in 2001. 9-1<br />Monica lost 4 straight WTA matches to Martina in 2000. She won 2 straight from Martina in 2001.

Monica is about even with Serena. Both their matches ended in tie-breakers.

Monica can't beat Lindsay (0-5 in 2000 and 2001)<br />Monica can't beat Venus (0-4 in 2001 and 2000.))

Will Monica win a GS title this year?

No way.

But there are only two players on the tour she can't beat. And both of them are coming off injuries. Monica had a winning record against everyone else in the top 10 but Serena (1-1).

Will Monica win a GS title this year?

No way.

Who was the highest ranked player to lose in the 1st round at Roland Garros 2001?<br />Who's the highest ranked player NOT to play in GS final in 2001?

Will Monica win a GS title this year?

No way.

But, on paper, no one actually has any better chance than her, given Lindsay and Venus's propensity for injury.

Will Monica win a GS title this year?

 

[Philbo]

Possibly, i mean who can really tell???

None, and I repeat NONE of the 'experts' or posters on these boards would have predicted that up until the semi finals of Wimbledon last year, JenCap would be on track for the GRAND SLAM...

So you can bring up your stats, and say this or say that, but in the end, It will come down to how fit Monica is next year, and how smart her scheduling is....

Monica is capable of winning the French, and if in ultimate fitness, she has the groundies to win on hardcourt.

Its an uphill battle, but JenCap showed last year, that anything is possible.

 

[moon]

well, those stats are a little misleading, since she was fitter in 2001, than in 2000. And I'd be willing to bet that she is even more fit by the time 2002 starts. The stats also prove that she should be ranked higher than the bottom half of the top 10. The only reason they're above her is that they played more.

I'd put my money on Monica to win another GS before anyone else in the top 10 except for Venus, Serena, and Lindsay.

And another thing, no one thought Jen would win Oz last year, and if she can, then Monica certainly can do it also.

 

[Volcana]

I'm not by any matter of means a Seles fan. But it's hard, looking at the head-to-head records, not to conclude that she's the 4th best player, not the 10th best. (Serena ended the year 700 points ahead of Monica playing 4 fewer tournaments. They split the season series. Can't call it a tie.)

Size Does Matter

The only two players Monica can't beat are also the only two players in the top ten bigger than her.<br />The next closest player in size, Serena (an inch shorter) is the player she has the closest matches with.

Anyone who isn't at least 5'10" and 140 lbs, Monica trounces nine times out of ten.

Conclusion

Basically, if Monica can overpower you, you're going to lose. Actually, if you aren't Venus or Lindsay, you're probably going to lose to Monica no matter what you do.

 

[tenn_ace]

I don't think we'll answer this question until we see whether she spent her break to condition herself or to eat dohnuts.

Monica is certainly very capable, but with new generation coming in a full force it's going to be harder and harder to do it.

I'd say Monica best shot will be OZ... not all the players coming in their top condition so it'll certainly help.

 

[griffin]

Not to quibble (I think Monica has a solid chance at a Slam this year if she stays healthy), but Monica LOST to Momo.

 

[disposablehero]

Would you please compile Monica's career record vs the Williams sisters and Davenport on Clay for me please? Since one of the Slams is played on that surface, I am a bit curious.

 

[disposablehero]

Griffin is right, however Mauresmo is not really new to the top 10. She spent the vast majority of 2000 and 2001 in that range, just happened to hit a low point at year ende 2000. And Monica was 2-0 against her in 2000, BEFORE she was in her current shape, on that pesky Clay surface again.

 

[Williams Rulez]

I am sure Monica can win a slam. Hopefully it is a Roland Garros. I'd love to see her win it. Right now, I think Monica is having problems with Lindsay and Venus because she can't handle thier huge serves. Plus they hit deep, and Monica doesn't like to be pinned back so deep! She usually plays her game standing a little inside the baseline.

 

[MaryLinda]

I really doubt Miss Monica will ever win a slam again, as much as I want her to. It all comes down to her fitness. If she works her butt of during this off season (I mean REALLY WORKS HER BUTT OFF) she has a slight chance to win 7 matches in a row in a slam. Oz and FO are her best chances.

Monica is a fabulous tennis player, just not a born athlete. Look at her body. I remember being amazed when monica would play Steffi in the early 90's, the differences between the two physically. Steffi looked the part of an amazing athlete, Monica looked like a regular person.

 

[Volcana]

dh - A surface by surface analysis of Monica on clay is more work than I want to put in. itftennis.com will give you the head-to-heads by year. Have fun parsing it by surface.

Here's what I can tell you from what I know now.

Venus is 4-0 lifetime vs Monica. So if they ever played on clay, Venus won.

In the last two years, Serena is 1-1 vs Monica. One of those was Toronto. So if Monica and Serena played on clay in this period, Monica won.

In the last two years, Lindsay is 5-0 vs Monica. <br />So IF they played on clay in this period, Lindsay won.

I think the head-to-head records lose a lot of their predictive capacity out beyond 2 years in this case. Most of the top 10 is so young, they were very different players 2 years ago.

Let me know what you find out about records on clay vs Monica.

[ November 28, 2001: Message edited by: Volcana ]</p>

 

[disposablehero]

OK, it turns out that Monica's career record on Clay vs Venus is 0-0. As luck would have it, that is also her mark against Lindsay. I know what her career record is against Serena on Clay. Care to hazard a guess? Between these 3 players, they have a grand total of ZERO Roland Garros Finals. Their combined total of 1 Semifinal is equal to the number Monica had before she turned 16, and only 6 behind her current total. When they start making noise in HER yard, then I will worry.

 

[Volcana]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. To cede mastery of carpet and hardcourts without even a whimper. 'Her yard' reduced to the clay confines of Europe. Surely you aren't conceding OZ so readily? <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Venus and Lindsay may not even play.

And you're right. Until Venus starts winning Tier I's on clay, what is there to talk about?

 

[Williams Rulez]

Monica may not be as fearsome as before... but in my heart, she's still in the top 5 <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> ... She's still a master on clay and rebound ace. Still excellent on hardcourts.

 

[thefreedesigner]

Monica's record against all in the Top 10 speaks for itself. And you do have to wonder how come she's only been able to win 1 GS since her comeback.

Presumably the combination of fitness, lack of confidence, and lack of mental desire???

Monica now is at her fittest since she came back. But the competition is also at its fiercest.

With GS Monica will always have a chance of making the final (even perhaps of Wimbledon again), but out of 128 players on any surface I just wouldn't back Monica to comb through that big a draw to make it to the last 2. Except for in Oz.

 

[propi]

I really want to see Monica wining the Us open against Venus or Serena <img src="graemlins/drool.gif" border="0" alt="[Drool]" /> <br />I was terribly disappointed when she lost this year <img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" /> she played very well the weeks before!!

 

[moon]

Venus has one a tier 1 on clay. The Italian Open 99.

btw--I would love to see them play on clay, in a final of course.

 

[TSequoia01]

The Williamses just donot practice on clay. Hardcourts is the surface they grew up on. But this year, they will practice on clay, play warmup events on clay. Monica cannot defeat either sister or Davenport consistently. Her victory over Serena was her first victory over either sister ever. In their next match Serena was the victor. These are the players she just cannot overpower. However, given the right draw and circumstances could win a slam again.

 

[m_pierce fan]

I think Monica has a good chance but maybe Venus,Serena,Lindsay,Jennifer and Belgian´s are just too hard to beat!!!

<br />Go Mary Pierce!!!

PS.I hope that Monica has a good year <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" />

 

[propi]

Monica can beat anyone!!!!!!!!!!!<br />Even if I dislike it she can beat even my dear Spanish players <img src="graemlins/firey.gif" border="0" alt="[Fiery]" /> <br />She has an impresive record against ASV and Conchi, and I don't like it <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <br />I can't understand why she hasn't beaten Davenport yet!!! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">