As the world number one you would think so, obviously she is a leading contender in all of them, even RG. But Im really not convinced that Maria will win a slam this year, it remains to be seen.

There are so many top contenders at the moment, Justine, Serena, Amelie, Venus, Kim, Hingis and others that could possibly upset Maria.

I can't see her winning the FO, just can't, certainly not this year anyway. Wimbledon well she's always a leading contender but we know Amelie has the game to trouble her there, as I would imagine Justine could, and Serena and Venus on form just dominate Wimbledon.

The US Open, again very open, she's a leading contender and took advantage of her excellent form and being injury free last year to win it. Im not convinced the pieces will necessarily fall so completely into place this year however, we'll have to see I suppose.

What does everyone think?

I've voted no though there are too many variables to really be sure and it wouldn't suprise me if she did win one. I'd be shocked if she won two though.

RG - No chance here really this year. I think in her career she could potentially win it if everything fell into place but she's more vulnerable here to people like Jankovic, Petrova, Safina & Kuznetsova than she is on other surfaces. Plus Venus & Serena play a similar game to Maria but they play it so much better on clay than her as their movement around the court is in a different league. And most importantly of all I really can't see her ever beating Justine on this surface.

Wimbledon - I think this year she won't be the favourite going into Wimbledon anymore. In 2005 Venus showed it's possible to hit her off court, in 2006 Mauresmo showed up Maria's lack of variety & her limited options when things aren't going well. Amelie can certainly do that again this year (I think she'll be much more comfortable defending Wimbledon than she was the AO), as can Justine. If fit Venus & Serena can dominate once more.

US Open - I would think this is Maria's best chance of another slam this year. As defending champion she'll want to be at her best and the playing surface is pretty neutral. Justine & Amelie aren't really keen on the event and it's the slam where they tend to struggle the most. Venus & Serena are more than capable of winning here but the longer the season goes on the more likely they are to get injured. The other leading contender Kim is unclear whether she is actually going to show so I think it's the most open of all the events.

If she is going to stay No. 1, I hope that she does because having a slamless No. 1 is never satisfactory.

She is consistent, determined, and has managed to avoid injury for a while so there is a good chance of her staying No. 1 unless Serena plays a bit more or Henin is able to repeat last year's great achievements.

If she is to win one, I think the US Open is the best chance because she can stick around on the concrete bashing away. Grass tends to expose her lack of variety and movement.

I totally agree with your assessment! :ok: :D

If she does win a Slam this year, I hope she will do so without cheating for once although I wont be holding my breath! :rolleyes:

roflmao

Three people have voted that she'll win Wimbledon :angry: We all know thats Venus and Serena's this year!

I have voted no slam this year...The French Is a no no,but she seems to think that she will.

Wimbledon belongs to Venus or Serena and if they are on song,the US Open as well!

Maria also wont end the year world number either!

And so did I!

I think she has a good chance as any at Wimbledon when on song. Serena is her biggest threat there I think but will Serena be playing? That in itself is 50/50. If she does I would make Serena slight favourite out of the two, but it's 50/50 on Serena even playing.

I have even less confidence in Venus showing up, but if she does she has to be up there with Sharapova.

So essentially, just out of the fact that I have doubts over the Williams sisters being there, its Wimby for me.

Gav

What about Mauresmo and Henin?

I think her vulnerability (which is only to a couple of players) is that the Williams sisters can bash her off the court and the above two can move her around and out-smart her.

Come the US Open, apart from Williams power, I think she is in a stronger position to clean up.

I don't think Henin will beat Sharapova on grass to be honest. On clay its hands down to Henin, but I don't believe she will on grass. Momo is different, but I feel the pressure of playing as defending champion would get to her this year.

Of course, I am more of an ATP man so don't watch the WTA, but it's only my opinion.

I don't think Henin will beat Sharapova on grass to be honest. On clay its hands down to Henin, but I don't believe she will on grass. Momo is different, but I feel the pressure of playing as defending champion would get to her this year.

Of course, I am more of an ATP man so don't watch the WTA, but it's only my opinion.

Henin I believe has the edge over Masha on just about any surface due to the fact that she has great variety in her game and quite frankly does make Maria look stupid on the tennis court when she is playing A level tennis.

So I think Henin can and will pipe her on grass if they do meet.

I also agree with Gav,that Momo will crumble under pressure at being Defending champ!

Goodness, I'm no expert on ATP or WTA - and I agree that Henin is far more likely to beat Sharapova on Clay than on Grass. I do think Henin is a decent grass court player and Shazza is a bit of a slugger.

Think you more for the "rallying" of mens tennis hey GAV.... ;)

LOL!

Looking at the way Vera steamed her serena style in the final set, i'ld say this little miss has been sourced out. No more slams or number 1 rankings.

Are you practising the art of how many sweeping generalisations and premature conclusions you can come to in both the ATP and WTA sections now? :rolleyes:

Come on, you know you want to say the same too, this is probably the longest she has been without a title.

When serena whipped her, I made a comment about the blueprints of sharapova's game. Its been handed over to almost everyone in the top 50.