French Open: Women’s Preview

The tennis season’s second major begins on May 25^th. Since the clay court swing began on the green clay of Charleston, South Carolina, we have seen several intriguing story lines. Sharapova continued her strong play on the clay, winning titles in Stuttgart and Madrid. Simona Halep made her first career premier mandatory final in Madrid. As a result, she became the 56^th in WTA history to be ranked Top 4 in the world. Lastly, Serena Williams, despite losing early in Charleston and pulling out of Madrid, the world number one remained dominant on the red dirt. Since the start of the 2012 clay season, Williams has a 53-2 record on her worst surface.

As the French Open draws near, it is time to consider the players who have the potential of raising the Coupe des Mousquetaires (Men’s trophy) and the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen (Women’s trophy). In this two-part blog series, I will name my shortlist of contenders, dark horses and early upsets for both the men and women’s singles tournament.

    

Contenders

Serena Williams

• Why: The world number one may not have had the same amount of success that she did by this point last year; however, Williams has continued the form that has gotten her back to the top of women’s tennis. After pulling out of Madrid two weeks ago, Williams was unsure whether she would be able to defend her title in Rome. Luckily for the American, her leg responded well to treatment, and she was able to play the event. Despite having played only a handful of matches on clay this season, Williams remained dominant, winning the Italian Open for the third time. Serena Williams will have the pressure of defending her title at Roland Garros. However, if the American plays the way she did en-route to her title in Rome, it’s will be extremely difficult for anyone in the field to stop her.
• Why Not: After a season where the American won 11 titles, including two majors and the season-ending championships, it is not surprising that Williams is beginning to show signs of fatigue. The 32-year-old has also nursed several injuries throughout the season. Furthermore, if Williams is not 100% healthy going into the season’s second major, I have a hard time seeing her winning another French Open title.

Maria Sharapova

• Why: The 2012 French Open champion is finally regaining the form that saw her lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen two years ago. After dealing with a shoulder injury that kept her out of the game the second half of last year, Sharapova is enters the season’s second major with a lot of confidence. Despite having her ranking fall to number eight, the Russian has had a very successful clay court season. If Sharapova is able to stay away from Williams in the draw (she drew Williams in the quarterfinals), the Russian has a strong chance of making another French Open final. However, if Serena Williams were to be upset, Maria Sharapova would be my second pick to win the title. What was once her worst surface has now become Sharapova’s best. Look for the former world number one to have another strong showing at the French Open next week.
• Why Not: The one thing that will prevent Maria Sharapova from winning another French Open title is Serena Williams. The American has dominated the head-to-head; winning the last 15 times they have played. The determining factor in the matchup is movement. Sharapova is able to strike the ball with as much power as Williams; however, Williams has the ability to run down a majority of Sharapova’s shots. Lastly, if Sharapova were to end the American’s winning streak against her, the best chance she has is on a clay court.

Li Na

• Why: The world number two is arguably having the best year of her career. After a strong finish to the 2013 season, Li Na won her second major at the Australian Open. As a result of her play, the Chinese number one became the highest ranked Asian player in tennis history. The 2011 French Open champion enters this year’s tournament with renewed motivation. Much of the Chinese’s success has to be attributed to her coach, Carlos Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who formerly coached Belgian superstar Justine Henin, has helped Li become more consistent with her forehand, and at the net. With her improved game, and a coach of a four-time French Open champion in her corner, Li Na is definitely a player you want to keep your eye on at next week’s French Open.
• Why Not: Something that Li Na has struggled with throughout her career is maintaining her focus during matches. Even with her improved play over the last 12 months, the Chinese number one still experiences huge ebbs and flows in matches. A perfect example is the championship match against Serena Williams two months ago in Miami. Li Na started the final in dominant fashion, racing to a 5-2 lead against the defending champion. However, once Williams upped her level of play, Li Na’s game began to falter. The world number two managed to win only a single game the rest of the match. If Li Na wants to win her second French Open title, she must retain laser-like throughout her matches. Otherwise, the Chinese may make an early exit from the tournament.

Simona Halep

• Why: The Romanian is another player entering this year’s French Open at a career-high ranking. At this time last year, the world number four wasn’t even ranked in the Top 50. Over the past twelve months, Halep has won 7 titles; made her first career grand slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open; and has defeated Top 10 players Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanka, and Angelique Kerber. The in-form Romanian has had success at Roland Garros in the past, winning the junior championship in 2008. The slower court surface allows Halep to display her superior movement, while providing ample time to impose her aggressive game. Look for Halep to continue her impressive run on her favorite surface. 
• Why Not: There are several reasons to consider why the Romanian will not win her first grand slam title at next week’s French Open. First, Halep has never been past a grand slam quarterfinal. Will getting to the latter stages of a grand slam prove too much for Halep? Time will tell. Second, is the lack of power on Halep’s groundstrokes. Problems could arise if the Romanian is scheduled to play on a cold and damp day in Paris. The slower conditions will make it even more difficult for Halep to overpower her opponents. Simona Halep will never be a power player like Sharapova or Williams, which presents a huge challenge stepping on the clay courts of Roland Garros.    

Dark Horses

Ana Ivanovic: The 2008 French Open champion is playing the tennis that got her to the top of women’s tennis six years ago. Ivanovic’s resurgent season began in Auckland where she won her first title in over two years. At the Australian Open, the Serb defeated Serena Williams for the first time en-route to the quarterfinals. Ivanovic’s clay court campaign began with a runner-up showing in Stuttgart, losing to Maria Sharapova in three well-contested sets. At last week’s premier event in Rome, the former world number one continued her strong play, losing to Serena Williams in the semifinals in three sets. If Ivanovic can use her trademark forehand and powerful ground game effectively, the Serb could be a major treat to the top contenders.

Caroline Carcia: I know that the next two picks may be a little bit of a stretch, but I believe that if playing well, a player like Caroline Garcia can take down a top player on any given day. The in-form Frenchwomen captured her first WTA title last month in Bogota, and has recently cracked the Top 50. Garcia burst on the scene three years ago when she led a set and 4-1 against Maria Sharapova in the second round of the 2011 French Open. After several years of inconsistent play, the young Frenchwoman is finally beginning to put all the pieces together. The 20-year-old has huge weapons in the forehand and serve, which can cause trouble for the top players. Even though Garcia may not lift the trophy at this year’s French Open, the Frenchwoman is definitely a player you want to keep you eye on in the coming years as a contender for the title.

Sloane Stephens: The American is a player who plays her best tennis on the WTA’s biggest stages. Furthermore, despite having an up and down season to this point, Stephens is a player that can do some major damage at Roland Garros. The young American is a natural mover on the red clay. As a player who relies a little too heavily on her movement, the American is virtually a backboard on clay. In addition, the slow court surface suits Stephens’s playing style perfectly. Stephens is able to use her excellent defensive skills to eventually gain the upper hand in the rally. More importantly, the clay provides Stephens the opportunity to dictate with her huge forehand. If the young American is going to make a deep run at the French Open, she must show the desire that has eluded her for most of the 2014 season.          

Early Upsets

Petra Kvitova: Two words that I have used to describe Petra Kvitova since her incredible 2011 is unpredictable and inconsistent. The former world number two is the type of player who either plays fantastically and wins the tournament, or plays horrendously, losing in the first round. Since her semifinal run at the 2012 French Open, Kvitova has only made two quarterfinals at a major (both at Wimbledon). The Czech lefty will go into this year’s tournament with a 4-3 clay court record. Kvitova’s 2014 clay court season is a perfect example of the southpaw’s inconsistency. Following an opening round loss to Alisa Kleybanova in Stuttgart, Kvitova made a semifinal run in Madrid. Unfortunately, the very next week in Rome, the Czech would have another opening round exit to Shuai Zhang of China. Based on her inconsistent play of late, there is a strong possibility that Kvitova could be an early casualty. However, the unpredictability of her game could potentially result in a deep run by the 2011 Wimbledon champ.           

Angelique Kerber: The German left-hander has been struggling to find her form of late, especially on the clay. Kerber was winless on the red dirt until she won her opening round match in Nurnberg, Germany this week. The former U.S Open and Wimbledon semifinalist has the game to be a successful clay court player. She is one of the best defensive players in the world, and counterpunches extremely well. Can the world number nine reverse her fortunes and make the second week of the French? Most certainly! However, Kerber’s current form points to a potential early exit during the fortnight.   

Caroline Wozniacki: Back in 2011, if I predicted that Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s top player, would lose early at a major, my blog would probably be considered a farce. However, with the Dane struggling to regain the form that got her to the top of the women’s game, she is susceptible to the upset bug next week in Paris. Clay is Wozniacki’s weakest surface, as it exploits the blaring weaknesses in her game. Though the Dane defends extremely well on the surface, the lack of a huge weapon and racquet head speed on the forehand groundstroke results in her being easily overpowered by opponents. Caroline Wozniacki is one of the most talented young players on the WTA Tour. However, the Dane’s inability to find the form that catapulted her to the top, and the hindering weaknesses in her game, will result in an early round loss in Paris.   

Who do you believe are the contenders at tomorrow’s French Open? Let me know in the comments section below.

In my next blog I will be breakdown the interesting storylines during the fortnight at the French Open.  

Enjoyed this post? Email it to a friend or share it on your social media page. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on tennis with you!

  

French Open: Men’s Preview

Contenders

Rafael Nadal

• Why: Simple, Rafael Nadal is the king of clay. The Spaniard has only one loss at Roland Garros in nine career appearances. In addition, Nadal’s eight titles at the clay court major are the most titles won by any male at a grand slam. Even though the world number one has struggled on the clay this season, winning only one of the three Masters Series events, it would be hard to bet against the greatest clay court player in history. 
• Why Not: Following his Australian Open final loss to Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal has not regained the dominance that got him back to number one in the world last year. The Spaniard suffered an unexpected loss to Alexandr Dolgopolov in Indian Wells, and has been unable to defeat Novak Djokovic in his last four attempts. In his last two matches against the Serb, Nadal took the opening set. However, the world number one was unable to capitalize on the set advantage, succumbing to Djokovic in three sets. If Nadal does not sharpen up his game, we might be seeing another player lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires at the end of the fortnight.

 Novak Djokovic

• Why: No player is hungrier than Novak Djokovic to win next week’s French Open. The clay court major is the only grand slam title eluding the 27-year-old Serb. After a dominant performance at last week’s Italian Open, Djokovic looks primed and ready to capture his first French Open title. The ideal situation for Djokovic, if facing Nadal in the final, is for a cold and damp day in Paris. When the two squared off in the 2012 French Open final, Djokovic nearly captured the title as a result of the playing conditions. The even slower court speed, coupled with the balls not kicking up as high, prevented Nadal from implementing his nearly unbeatable game plan. As a result, Djokovic was able to capitalize on the ineffectiveness of Nadal’s groundstrokes, dictating play on his terms. Unfortunately for the Serb, play was suspended at 2-1 in favor of Djokovic, with Nadal leading two sets to one. Djokovic would eventually fall in four tight sets; but the Serb proved that if the conditions are just right, he could pull off the massive upset.
• Why Not: A major concern for the world number two is the wrist-injury that forced Djokovic to pull out of Madrid two weeks ago. Fortunately for the Serb, he didn’t experience any setbacks at last week’s Italian Open. In order for Djokovic to dethrone the King of Clay, he must be 100% healthy. Moreover, if there is any lingering wrist pain heading into the season’s second major, the Serb’s chances of capturing his first French Open will be slim. 

Stan Wawrinka

• Why: Following a strong finish to the end of 2013, Stan Wawrinka shocked the tennis world when he upset top-ranked Rafael Nadal to win this year’s Australian Open. More impressively, Wawrinka knocked out both Nadal and Djokovic, which is something only a select few players have accomplished, en-route to his first grand slam title. The Swiss number one enters this year’s French Open with endless confidence. Wawrinka began the clay court season in Monte Carlo, where he defeated his countrymen, Roger Federer, to capture his first Masters Series crown. At 29 years of age, Stan Wawrinka is finally realizing his potential as a top tennis player. Look for the world number three to use his powerful serve and trademark one-handed backhand to make a serious run for his first French Open title.
• Why Not: As a newly crowned grand slam champion, Wawrinka will be facing pressure that he has never experienced before. Now that tennis fans and experts know that Wawrinka is capable to winning major titles, he is expected to bring that same form to every grand slam. An interesting storyline at this year’s French Open will definitely be whether Wawrinka can handle the pressure and win another grand slam title. Expectation can have a debilitating effect on players following a successful run at a major. Lets hope that the talented Swiss doesn’t succumb to the tennis world’s relentless pressure.

Roger Federer

• Why: One word to describe Federer 2014 season is resurgent. The 17-time grand slam champion has regained the form that helped him dominate the game for a decade. Following a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, and two runner-up showings at the Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, Federer is back in the Top 4 in the world. Even though clay is Federer’s worst surface, the Swiss legend is capable of winning the grand slam title that eluded him until 2009. Federer will likely have to defeat both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal if he is going to capture his second French Open title. Will this be an extremely difficult task? Yes. However, if anyone is going to pull off the seemingly impossible, there is no likely player than Roger Federer. 
• Why Not: For the same reason Roger Federer could potentially win the French Open, is also a reason why he won’t win. Nadal and Djokovic are much better clay court players than Federer. Having to defeat the world’s top two players in back-to-back matches will require a Herculean effort to accomplish. In seven matches against Djokovic and Nadal at the French, Federer is winless against the Spaniard, and 1-1 against the Serb. As if his poor record against the two weren’t enough, Federer also has two new additions to his family. On May 6, Mirka Federer gave birth to twin boys, Leo and Lenny. Having two newborns to care for during a grand slam tournament will only make winning a major on your worst surface more difficult. Is it realistic to think that Federer can win the French Open without some help during the fortnight? In reality, no.     

Dark Horses

Grigor Dimitrov: The 2014 season has proven to be the coming out party for Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian made his first grand slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, and captured his first ATP 500 title in Acapulco. Dimitrov was a highly publicized junior player, where he earned the nickname “Baby Fed.” However, the success he achieved as a junior did not translate immediately to the pro tour. Now 23 years of age, Dimitrov, with the help of coach Roger Rasheed, is finally able to handle the physicality of the game. The Bulgarian has one of the most aesthetically pleasing games, which translates to every surface. Even though Dimitrov has not proven that he is able to take down one of the Big Four, look for the talented Bulgarian to make a splash at this year’s French Open. 

Tomas Berdych: At 28 years of age, Tomas Berdych is in the prime of his career. Possessing one of the most powerful games on the ATP Tour, the 6’5” Czech is capable of going deep at a slam. In fact, Berdych has made the semifinals of every major, highlighted by a runner-up finish at Wimbledon in 2010. A prevalent theme on the ATP Tour in 2014 is players making a breakthrough. Wawrinka made a huge breakthrough by winning the title in Australia; while Kei Nishikori, who I will discuss shortly, became the first Japanese male to crack the Top 10. Why can’t someone like Tomas Berdych join the breakthrough party? Based on the events that have transpired in 2014, there is a chance we may have to add Berdych’s name to this season’s breakthrough list. 

Kei Nishikori: The Japanese number one has achieved several firsts this season. Previously mentioned, he became the first Japanese male to crack the Top 10 in singles. In addition, he also made his first Masters Series final in Madrid, where he was up a set and a break on defending champion, Rafael Nadal. Unfortunately for Nishikori, he was forced to retire midway through the third-set because of a hip injury. Much of the Japanese’s success this season is due to a coaching change. At the beginning of 2014, Nishikori began working with Hall-of-Famer Michael Chang. The effects of Chang’s coaching were immediate. Nishikori began the year with a round of 16 showing at the Australian Open, and a semifinal result at the Sony Open in Miami. The world number ten would make even greater strides on the clay, winning the tournament in Barcelona and nearly winning the tournament in Madrid. If Nishikori can stay healthy, which is always a major concern, look for the highest ranked Japanese player in history to make it deep into the second week at Roland Garros.    

Early Upsets

John Isner: The 6’9” American’s 2014 season has contained mixed results. Following a title run in Auckland to begin the season, Isner was forced to retire in his opening match at the Australian Open. By virtue of another semifinal run at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Isner secured his return to the top 10. Unfortunately, since the lanky American stepped on the clay in Houston, he has struggled to win matches. In 3 clay court tournaments, Isner has won a total of 2 matches. The tennis world is well aware of the American’s lack of success on the clay. Possessing the biggest one-two punch in the game with his serve and forehand, Isner is capable of winning on the red dirt. However, based on his current form, I don’t expect the American to make much of an impact at Roland Garros.

Tommy Robredo: At last year’s French Open, Tommy Robredo was the Cinderella story of the tournament. After an extended period away from the game, the Spaniard saw his ranking fall well outside the top 100 in the world. Prior to the tournament, few people had Robredo on their radar to make a deep run. The Spaniard would prove everybody wrong, making an inspiring run to the quarterfinals, where he would lose to his compatriot, David Ferrer. Unfortunately, Robredo has not been able to find the form that got him back into the top 20. Plagued with injury, the Spaniard has been unable to achieve consistent results this season. Although I am not expecting another deep run from Robredo, he has proven the tennis world wrong before. 

Tommy Haas: At 36-years-old, Tommy Haas still looks as fit as the day he turned pro. After countless surgeries, and extended periods away from the game, the German is back to playing at the level that got him to number two in the world. Haas nearly secured his spot back in the top 10 last year following a strong start to 2013. Unfortunately, Haas’ 2014 season has followed a similar trend to Robredo. Injuries have forced the German to retire from his opening match at the Australian Open, as well as the Masters Series Events in Miami and Rome. If the shoulder injury Haas sustained in Rome is serious, he may be unable to defend the quarterfinal points he accumulated from 2013.    

Who do you believe are the contenders at tomorrow’s French Open? Let me know in the comments section below.

In my next blog I will be breakdown the story-lines during the fortnight at the French Open.  

Enjoyed this post? Email it to a friend or share it on your social media page. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on tennis with you!

Buy, Sell or Hold: Sara Errani

 

Italian tennis, particularly on the women’s side, has achieved some historic milestones over the past decade. Since 2005, Italy has won more Fed Cup titles than any other nation (four). Additionally, Italy is one of only three nations, Russia and the Czech Republic being the other two, to win the Fed Cup title in that span. Italy’s success in the Fed Cup competition is due in part to the talented group of women, who have achieved great success on the WTA Tour. These women are Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Roberta Vinci, and Sara Errani.

The first Italian player to make her breakthrough on the WTA Tour was Flavia Pennetta. In 2009, following an impressive run during the U.S. Open Summer Series, Pennetta became the first Italian woman to be ranked in the Top 10 in singles. Pennetta would later go on the win the Australian Open doubles title alongside partner Gisela Dulko, and become the first Italian player, male or female, to be ranked number one in the world in doubles. Flavia Pennetta’s achievements were only the start of Italian success on tour.

Fellow countrywoman Francesca Schiavone would follow up Flavia Pennetta success on the WTA Tour, achieving several firsts for Italian tennis. Entering the 2010 French Open, Schiavone was the 17^th seed, and not considered a strong contender for the title. However, following victories over Li Na and Maria Kirilenko, Schiavone became the first Italian woman ever to reach a Grand Slam semifinal. The Italian’s success at Roland Garros would continue after defeating Elena Dementieva in the semifinals. The victory guaranteed that Schiavone would become the second Italian woman to be ranked in the Top 10. In the final, Schiavone would face the powerful Australian, Sam Stosur. Ironically enough, the final was a rematch of their first-round encounter at the French Open just a year before. Stosur entered the final in impressive form; defeating the likes of Justine Henin and Serena Williams en route to her first grand slam final. However, Schiavone put on an inspiring display, dispatching the Aussie in straight sets, 6-4 7-6. The Italian would eventually reach a career-high No. 4 in the world, becoming the first Italian woman to be ranked in the Top 5.

Last but certainly not least, are Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. The Italian duo has achieved success on the WTA Tour in both singles and doubles. Together they have won four grand slam doubles titles: the 2012 French Open, the 2012 U.S. Open, and the 2013 and 2014 Australian Open. Due in part to their great success in doubles, Errani and Vinci joined countrywoman Flavia Pennetta as the second and third Italian women to become No. 1 in the world in doubles. Additionally, Errani and Vinci both became Top 10 players in singles. However, it was Errani who would achieve greater success on the singles court.

At the start of her professional career, I considered Sara Errani an average singles player. For four straight years, the Italian was ranked firmly in the Top 50 in the world. However, in 2012, Errani made the step from an average player to one of the game’s elite. Errani’s success would begin at the year’s first major, the Australian Open, where she would make her first career quarterfinal. The Italian’s strong play continued during the clay court season, where she won three titles, and became the second Italian woman ever to reach a grand slam final. Later that year, Errani would become the first Italian woman in the Open Era to make the U.S. Open semifinals. The diminutive Italian would finish her breakthrough season as the sixth-ranked player in the world.

Even though Sara Errani has continued her success over the past couple of seasons, I question whether the Italian can sustain her consistent play for much longer. After being ranked in the Top 10 for the past year and a half, Errani’s inconsistent start to the 2014 season resulted in her falling to No. 11 after the Sony Open in Miami. In this blog, I will discuss whether it is wise to buy, sell or hold the stock of the Italian.    

Reasons To Buy

1.   Fighter’s Mentality: The primary reason why I appreciate Sara Errani’s game is her fighter’s mentality. Despite her physical limitations as a player, Errani shows the heart of a lion. No matter how grim the score line, Errani always displays a positive demeanor on court. A typical winning Errani point consists of emphatic grunting, followed by a roar of ‘come on!’ The elite players in today’s game: Serena, Sharapova and Azarenka, all possess a strong fighter’s mentality. Furthermore, in this aspect Sara Errani can be placed right alongside these great champions.  

2.   Good Variety: Typically when a player does not possess the power to out hit their opponents, they rely on variety to get the job done. Sara Errani, as a result of her time spent on the doubles court, has incorporated great variety into her game. The Italian effectively uses her backhand slice when in defensive positions, and when transitioning to the net. Moreover, because Errani hits the slice so effectively, she is able to knife under the ball and hit an unexpected drop shot. Another shot that Errani uses frequently is the topspin lob. Similar to the slice, Errani uses the topspin lob when in a defensive position, or to pass a net-rushing opponent. One of the Italian’s signature patterns is the drop shot/lob combination. Errani first draws her opponent to the net with a drop shot that lands just over the net. Next, as the opponent retrieves the shot, Errani moves forward in the court to hit a lob of the opponent’s head. In today’s game, a player’s weight of shot has diminished the use of variety. Sara Errani is one of the few players on tour that is able to use variety to outduel her opponents.        

Reasons To Sell

1.   Size Limitations: Standing at 5’4 1/2” inches tall, Sara Errani is one of the shortest players ranked in the Top 100. The size disadvantage presents huge challenges for the feisty Italian. Unlike Dominika Cibulkova, who possesses great power despite her 5’ 3” frame, Errani lacks the ability to hit through her opponents. As much as the Italian’s variety is a major strength in her game, Errani’s lack of power is a hindering weakness. In addition to the size limitations, Errani does not have a weapon to rely on in tough situations. For example, Serena Williams can always rely on her serve when trailing late in a match. Errani on the other hand, has to trust on her grit and fighter’s mentality to overcome adversity. When playing a bigger and more powerful opponent, Errani relies heavily on her foot-speed and defensive skills. Consequently, more often than not, the size and power disadvantage proves to be too much for the diminutive Italian to overcome. One thing you cannot teach in tennis is size. Unfortunately, Sara Errani struggles mightily in the size department.

2.   Overplays: As much as playing doubles has improved Errani’s singles game, the amount of time spent on court playing both events has finally caught up with the Italian. In 2013, Errani played 122 matches: 73 in singles, 49 in doubles. Over the past decade, we have seen on several occasions the negative result of overplaying. The first player that comes to mind is Jelena Jankovic. The talented Serb would play well over 20 tournaments a year. As a result, Jankovic was able to become the number one player in the world. However, after two or three seasons of overplaying, the mileage finally caught up with the Serb. Inconsistency began to creep into Jankovic’s game, and her ranking soon fell out of the Top 20.

The most notable player to succumb to the effects of overplaying was former world number one Dinara Safina. Sister of two-time grand slam champion Marat Safin, Safina was a talented Russian, with the ability to be a dominant force on the WTA Tour. Safina made her breakthrough at the 2008 French Open, where she made the final, losing to Ana Ivanovic. The Russian, who was constantly criticized for her lack of fitness, made huge strides following her success at the French Open. Safina’s increased fitness-level helped the Russian reach three grand slam finals, and ascend to the number one ranking. However, it was not only the quicker foot speed and lost weight that got Safina to the top of the women’s game. Similar to Jelena Jankovic, Safina was also a player who entered over 20 tournaments a year. Following successful seasons in 2009 and 2010, injuries began to affect the Russian’s game. Unfortunately, the injuries proved to be debilitating for Safina. At this week’s Madrid Open, Safina announced her retirement from tennis. 

The biggest difference between the previously mentioned players and Errani is Jankovic and Safina did not have to contend with the size limitations. Furthermore, the obstacles that Errani will have to overcome are far greater than those two players. If the Italian continues to play as much as she does, it wouldn’t surprise me if her ranking continues to drop, or injury takes her out of the game. Players must learn to select the events they enter wisely. Based on Errani’s schedule over the past two seasons, she has not figured out a way to optimize her time on court.

  

Reasons to Hold

1.   Great Clay Court Player: Over the past two seasons, other than Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, Sara Errani has been the best clay court player in the world. In 2012 and 2013, Errani racked up five clay court titles, which puts her second only to Williams (7) for most clay court titles in that span. One of the hardest things to do in tennis is defend ranking points at a major. Following her surprise run to the French Open final in 2012, Errani would make the semifinals the very next year. From a ranking points’ perspective, the players who reach the final of a major receive 1500 ranking points; whereas, semifinalists are rewarded with 900. Furthermore, the Italian was able to defend a majority of the ranking points at the French Open accumulated from the year before. Growing up on the surface, Errani feels at home on clay. The slower court surface also neutralizes some of the challenges Errani has to contend with. Players must construct their points with the use of angles and depth. As a result, Errani is able to use her extraordinary defensive skills and foot speed to get more balls in play, and occasionally be the aggressor. In conclusion, it may be difficult for Sara Errani to compete on the faster surfaces. However, she will always be a dark horse on a clay court.

2.   Consistent At Bigger Events: Sara Errani has proven over the last two years that she can go deep in tournaments on every surface except grass. The Italian concluded her successful 2012 grand slam campaign with a semifinal run at the U.S. Open. Moreover, Errani was able to win five consecutive matches on what is arguably the fastest court surface in the world. The former French Open finalist has also had success at the larger WTA events as well. In 2013, Errani was a semifinalist at the premier mandatory event in Madrid, as well as a quarterfinalist at the events in Indian Wells and Miami. As a result of the Italian’s consistency on the WTA Tour, she was one of eight players to qualify for the season-ending WTA Tour Championships in both 2012 and 2013. Errani would not have been able to qualify for such a prestigious event if she did not perform well at the biggest WTA Tour events. Furthermore, Errani may never be an odds-on favorite to win a major title; however, it should not a surprise to see the 5’ 4 ½” Italian in the latter stages of the premier WTA events.        

Verdict

Based on my analysis of Sara Errani’s game, I believe that it is best to sell the Italian’s singles stock. As a player who plays singles and doubles consistently, the mileage that Errani will endure over time will soon catch up with her. More importantly, as a player that stands only 5’4 1/2” tall, it will be extremely difficult for the Italian to compete with the bigger and stronger players consistently. With the lack of a huge weapon to get her out of trouble, Errani has to work much harder than players like Serena or Sharapova to win matches. Sara Errani has maximized her potential on the singles court. However, the weaknesses in her game are too large to have sustainable results on the WTA Tour.

Even though I recommended to sell Errani’s singles stock, I believe that you should definitely hold the Italian’s doubles stock. Errani possesses the variety and volleying skills that will help the Italian achieve greater success in doubles. As long as her doubles partner, Roberta Vinci, wants to play with Errani, the pairing should remain one of the best doubles teams in the world. In a game that was once known for the chip and charge, Sara Errani’s variety game is slightly out of date. As a result, Errani’s game is more suitable for doubles than it is for singles. 

Do you think Sara Errani can continue her success on the WTA Tour? Let me know in the comments section below.

In my next blog I will be providing a French Open preview, where I address the contenders, dark horses and more prior to the season's second major.   

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