2012 Year End Review: The women ranked Nos. 11-20
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Thus continues our review of the top 50 singles players on the ATP and WTA Tours. We resume with the women ranked Nos. 11 -20.
11. Marion Bartoli
It was another fairly productive year for France’s now longtime leading woman, who reached the final of the Paris Indoors and Carlsbad, ended Azarenka’s winning streak at Miami, and hung a third set bagel on Kvitova at the US Open. She didn’t achieve anything spectacular, but she still has a very threatening game and competes well week in and week out. But her dream of winning a Slam is becoming more and more unrealistic.
12. Nadia Petrova
The veteran Russian rediscovered her singles prowess this year, as she managed to stay fairly healthy and was able to dictate with one of the game’s best serve, power off both wings and a fair net attack. She has slowed down some. but she’s smart and committed and had a terrific fall, winning Tokyo and Sofia. At the age of 30 it’s doubtful that Petrova can re-enter the top 10 and stay there for a long stretch, but with a decent draw at a major she could reach her first final and once she gets there, who knows?
13. Ana Ivanovic
2012 was the Serbian’s most impressive season since 2008, as she had become lost in the tennis wilderness and was taking far too many opening rounds losses. But with the help of her coach, Nigel Sears, she calmed down mentally made better use of her forehand, first serve and net game. She reached her first Slam quarterfinal since 2008 and scored impressive wins over Bartoli, Wozniacki and Kvitova. Ivanovic needs to add some muscle in the off-season and if she does, she should be able to crack the top 10 again and make a significant run at a major.
14. Maria Kirilenko
The Russian has some of the best hands on the tour and is one of the top 5 volleyers in singles. She reached the quarters of Wimbledon where lost a heartbreaker to Aga Radwanska and also won the WTA Championships doubles with Petrova. There are very few WTA players who get more out off their games than Kirilenko does. She came close to achieving her goal of cracking the top 10 for the first time this season and has a terrific shot at it in 2013 if she stays the course.
15. Dominika Cibulkova
The Pocket Rocket has nearly as much power off the ground as anyone, but she’s incredibly erratic . She did pound Azarenka into the clay at Roland Garros and she won Carlsbad, but she could not follow up that results with a good US Open or fall. She must find a way to reign in her attack a bit.
16. Roberta Vinci
The 30-year-old Italian had her best year ever in singles and doubles, mixing up her attack with her beautiful one handed backhand and heavy topspin forehand She still move pretty well, is a fine volleyers and tactician. She has become effective on almost any surface and for the first time in her career she can say when she steps on the court at any big tournament she is a player to be feared.
17. Lucie Safarova
The left-handed Czech was the MVP of the Fed Cup final with two outstanding wins over Ivanovic and Jankovic and showed her countrymen that there is more to Czech women’s tennis than just Kvitova. She has a very decent first serve, teeth-rattling pop on her forehand and can rip a backhand down the line. She is often lacking in tactics and can mentally check out of matches, but it’s rare to see her fold against the elite.
18. Julia Gorges
Even though she managed to keep herself in the top 20, this was not the year that Germany’s new “Fraulein Forehand” wanted to have. She improved her game on faster surfaces as she reached the final of Dubia and the fourth round of the Australian Open, but her clay court season was disappointing and that’s her best surface. However, if she can improve her backhand and serve in 2013, she’ll become a serious top 10 threat.
19. Kaia Kanepi
The extremely powerful Estonian had a fine year, winning Brisbane and Estoril and reaching the quarters of Roland Garros with a dramatic win over Wozniacki.. She is a straight up power baller with little finesse, but with her naturally strong frame and slow feet, there are few reasons not to go for winners whenever she has a chance.
20. Ekaterina Makarova
The left-handed Russian shocked the world with her upset of a hobbled Serena Williams at the Australian Open, but later found herself being upset by Sloane Stephens at Roland Garros and being pounded by Serena in a revenge match at the US Open. She could make better use of her left-handed serve and learn to construct more complicated points, but she’s only 24 and if she comes into 2013 in top shape, there is no reason why she can’t challenge for the top 15, and possibly the top 10.
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