Simona Halep leads the charge of the Generation Next Players

Simona Halep leads the charge

Right now, Simona Halep is leading the wave of young guns that are challenging for the biggest tournaments on the WTA tour. 

The aggressive baseliner is currently coached by Wim Fissette, who can be extremely proud of his charge. 

2008 Junior Roland Garros
Champion

She was born in Constanta, Romania in 1991 and started playing tennis at the age of 4, in 2008 Simona began playing junior competitions and that same year reached the Australian Open Juniors QF, four months later she won the Roland Garros Junior Championships. 

Simona faced some controversy when she announced that she had breast reduction surgery to further her career. But since the surgery she has shot up the rankings by 450 places, almost to the very top. In 2008 she ended the year at #352, she is currently sitting firmly at #3 after a solid 2014 at the Slams. 

Simona Halep may not be the newbie up and comer anymore. Since middle 2013 she has truly broken through from merely talented to serious contender on the women’s tour. 

She started 2013 at #47 and from May to November 2013 Simona won 6 titles on the tour including 2 Premier events, the only woman to win more, was Serena Williams. All in all not a bad year for the 21 year old who ended 2013 at #11. 

This 7-month-6-title spree nabbed her the prestigious ‘WTA Most Improved Player 2013” award, and she has yet to show any signs of slowing down in 2014, with her Slam resumé for 2014 as follows: Australian Open (QF), Roland Garros (F) and Wimbledon (SF). 

Despite being runner up in the Roland Garros Final, Simona showed that she is the real deal, she is not just lucky to be the best player after Serena Williams and Li Na this year. She plays intelligent, aggressive, counterpunching tennis. 

I would think that Simona is a multiple Slam Champion, and her first Slam win is likely not more than 12 months off. She’ll be a favorite for the US Open in August. Her main rival seems like it will be Eugenie Bouchard. I’m no psychic, but I have a feeling that their rivalry in the next 10 years could be likened to the Roger/Rafa, Rafa/Novak rivalries on the men’s tour. 

Could this be the turn of the women to have a Fab Four? 

Read more about Simona here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simona_Halep

Or better yet, follow her on twitter @HalepFanpage or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SimonaHalepOfficial/info

Significant changes in the WTA rankings

Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (28) moves up 12 spots 

After the whirling Wimbledon fortnight, 

there has been some significant changes in
the WTA rankings. 

Here’s a quick overview of the movers and shakers of the last 2 weeks. 

Despite early losses Serena Williams and Li Na remain steady at #1 and 2. Halep, Ivanovic, Errani and Petkovis are the only players in the top 20 whose rankings are unaffected after the Championships. 

Winner:

Kvitova makes up 2 spots to #4

Finalist:

Bouchard sprints up the rankings by 6 spots to crack the top 10 for the first time at a career high of #7

Semi-finalists

Lucy Safarova 6 spots to equal her career high at 17... 

Halep remains steady at #3

Quaterfinalists

Ekatarina Makarova is also back in the top 20 equaling her career high of #19 after she makes up 3 spots.

Angelique Kerber’s quarter-final appearance comes bittersweet. With Eugenie Bouchard’s amazing run to the final it Angelique Kerber 1 spot in the rankings as she drops to #8

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova chews up 12 spots to a career high at #31

Sabine Lisicki unfortunatly, drops 14 spots after a QF loss to #33

Other notable changes include:

Wozniaki moves 1 spot in the right direction to #15

Down:

Radwanska and Sharapova each drop 1 spot to make room for Kvitova at 4

Apart from Kerber, Jankovic and Azarenka down 1 spot each due to bulleting Bouchard. At #10 Azarenka is now teetering on dropping out of the top 10.

Australian Open runner up Cibulkova drops out of top 10

The talented Sloane Stephens drops 4 spots and right out of the top 20 to #22

Full rankings of the WTA can be viewed on the WTA website: www.wtatennis.com/rankings.

Next I’ll have a look at the Men’s Rankings.

Also in the pipeline, some player profiles, starting with the Ladies. 

Tell me what you would like to read about and I’ll make it happen

C

Youthful exuberance quelled by experience

GENERATION NEW HAS A FOOT IN THE DOOR

What a fantastic way to end an amazing two weeks at the world's most famous tennis tournament.

It’s hardly fair to say that the current playing legends are on their way out, and I might be wrong, but from all indications, it won’t be long now till the next flood of champions come crashing through the gates to usurp the dominance in the sport. We're witnessing the subtle swing into a new era in both the men’s and women’s game. Both an exciting and emotional time for tennis fans. 

It was a really tough one for the youthful charge this year so far, falling just short at their very last hurdles, but it is evident that they have the bits firmly between their teeth and they are rearing to go, although it seems that just for now, experience still has the upper hand. 

I really thought that Eugenie Bouchard would come through in the Ladies Final, Petra Kvitova clearly did not share that thought. With a sublime display of power hitting and brilliant serving, she silenced the young pretender to her once worn crown in double quick time.

For the men, both well known Kings of the Slams, efficiently dealt with the charge to their kingdoms in the semi-finals. And late Sunday night, the younger of the elder Statesmen lifted the Gold Pineapple cup. Djockovic held on in 5 scintillating, nail biting sets to rob Roger Federer of an unprecedented 18th Slam. 

Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock clinched a massive win for the men’s doubles crown against the beastie boys, Bob and Mike Bryan. Bet it feels great to win a doubles crown against the most dominant partnership since “The Woodies”…

Sam Stosur popped back into Slam final for another title, assisting her mixed doubles partner Nenad Zimonjic to complete his own Grand Slam set.

And finally, hoorah for Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani, they eventually found the last puzzle piece and plugged in to complete their set of trophies at the Grand Slams. Two little Italians… with a rather big game.

It’s been a great two weeks on the grass of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and I look forward to an intriguing 51 weeks of tennis till the next one. 

One thing is certain though, the time has come to pick your new favourite from the NextGen, and start saying your goodbyes to the sentimental favourites. 

Cx