AS A WINNER of seven Grand Slam titles and former men’s world number one, Mats Wilander knows a great deal about the qualities that define a great tennis player.
For that reason alone, current women’s world number one Caroline Wozniacki should regard his recent comments regarding her temperament and form with a little more respect than she’d perhaps otherwise be tempted.
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In far as Wilander’s concerned, the Dane has shown herself content to accumulate bundles of world ranking points by dominating peripheral events, but unwilling to play with the freedom and imagination necessary to make an impact on the biggest stage.
Speaking to Reuters, he highlighted the mixed blessing that is Wozniacki’s consistency.
“That’s what it reflects. She’s certainly not the best player in the world at her best, but at her worst she’s probably the best player in the world compared to the others.
“Her range is very narrow, very even.”
Wilander also points to the WTA’s rules regarding on-court coaching as a possible impediment to progress.
When she plays on the WTA Tour, Wozniacki is allowed receive advice, mid-match, from her father Piotr. That safety net is withdrawn at the Grand Slams and larger elite events.
As underwhelming as the world number one’s Grand Slam career has been to date– she’s has only one final to her name: the 2009 US Open– the Swede accepted that it would be ludicrous to dismiss the 21-year-old’s prospects.
“We know Wozniacki has the head to be consistent but we don’t know if she’s got the head to wrap her thoughts around winning a grand slam. Her game is not there just yet.”
Wilander, currently working as a pundit for Eurosport, was speaking in the wake of Wozniacki’s semi-final loss to Petra Kvitova– the woman he considers most likely to replace the Dane at the summit of the world ranking– at the WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Kvivtova has more in her arsenal but lacks consistency, to put it mildly. Wozniacki’s lack of a slam doesn’t mean we should put her reign in the same tier as Safina or Jankovic. No quirks aided Caro’s rise, just consistent elite level performances
crazy stat about Wozniacki is that she’s been world number one for longer than Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Evonne Goolagong put together (four players with 21 slams between them).
It’s undoubtedly a transitional period for women’s tennis with the marquee names perennially crocked and the most talented of the next generation are either basket cases or just nowhere near consistent enough to dominate on a regular basis.
Wozniacki is going to be there or thereabouts at the slams for the next few years but Wilander is right, she’s going to have to take more risks or she’s always going to run into an in-form hard-hitter and get blown off the court.
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Kvivtova has more in her arsenal but lacks consistency, to put it mildly. Wozniacki’s lack of a slam doesn’t mean we should put her reign in the same tier as Safina or Jankovic. No quirks aided Caro’s rise, just consistent elite level performances
crazy stat about Wozniacki is that she’s been world number one for longer than Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Evonne Goolagong put together (four players with 21 slams between them).
It’s undoubtedly a transitional period for women’s tennis with the marquee names perennially crocked and the most talented of the next generation are either basket cases or just nowhere near consistent enough to dominate on a regular basis.
Wozniacki is going to be there or thereabouts at the slams for the next few years but Wilander is right, she’s going to have to take more risks or she’s always going to run into an in-form hard-hitter and get blown off the court.