[Feloascarlelt]

I remember threads like this before...so I figured to start another one up! Who's your pick for who had the best year on the WTA. We have four different slam winners and a different gold medalist among those to choose from, so it's definitely a toss up. I'm including Sharapova for winning AO.

[enurneAcourdy]

I remember threads like this before...so I figured to start another one up! Who's your pick for who had the best year on the WTA. We have four different slam winners and a different gold medalist among those to choose from, so it's definitely a toss up. I'm including Sharapova for winning AO.

I guess it would have to be Jankovic, Venus or Serena. Jankovic has the #1 which is obviously worth something. Venus backed up her Wimbledon with the YEC. Serena made 2 slam finals and won one. But then I guess you'd have to include Ivanovic. This year is JUST like 2004. Nothing but parity.

[RooxiaNof]

Jelena Jankovic is my pick. Year End Number 1, 4 titles(Rome and Moscow: Tier I), United States Open(Serena) finalist, Australian Open(Maria),French Open(Ana),and Sony Ericsson Championships(Venus) semifinalist. In those 3 slams and SEC mentioned, she lost to the eventual champion

If Venus had decent results before Wimbledon, she would have been my pick as she won Wimbledon and the Sony Ericsson Championships.

[Feloascarlelt]

Despite the lack of a slam victory...I think I have to go with Jelena. She seemed to be the most consistent, although not the most spectacular. Although in a wacky year like this, consistency does count big.

[HawksBurnDown]

Venus had the biggest wins with Wimbledon and the YEC, Serena has the US Open and Miami, but I went for Jankovic, for the simple intangible fact that, besides ending the year as #1, this was the year she became a bonafide star.

[seooptiman]

I picked Serena. Two Tier Is, a Tier II, a slam and a final. Pretty good year, even if it ended with a whimper.

[gactanync]

I guess it would have to be Jankovic, Venus or Serena. Jankovic has the #1 which is obviously worth something. Venus backed up her Wimbledon with the YEC. Serena made 2 slam finals and won one. But then I guess you'd have to include Ivanovic. This year is JUST like 2004. Nothing but parity.

hmm.

Well, as much as I love her, I wouldn't include Jankovic.

I'm inclined to say Serena's had the best year. She's won a few big titles, won a grand slam, and reached the final of another.

Jankovic didn't win a grand slam this year. And no matter how many titles someone wins, you'd have to at least win one grand slam, in my eyes, to even be on the list ( so I guess, then, that throws out all of the other people on that list who didn't win grand slams )

[MaickiP]

I thought of it as being who would look back and say "Ah 2008, those were the days."

I voted for Dementieva.

For best year in general I would have to say Serena because she won bigger titles than Jelena and Dinara.

I thought about Venus because she won 2 of the top 6, but I went with Dementieva because the Olypmics is the biggest accomplishment of her career. Venus winning Wimbledon wasn't a huge shocker.

[Spisivavona]

I don't even have a haunch which way to go. It seems that a lot of players on tour had THEIR best year, but no one had THE best year

[MaickiP]

I don't even have a haunch which way to go. It seems that a lot of players on tour had THEIR best year, but no one had THE best year

[Spisivavona]

Shh. I'm in the middle of the first page of an 8-page paper.

[KeettyGlots]

Safina was the only one that exceeded my expectations and had a great year with no regrets or shames.

[heinz_1966]

hmm.

Well, as much as I love her, I wouldn't include Jankovic.

I'm inclined to say Serena's had the best year. She's won a few big titles, won a grand slam, and reached the final of another.

Jankovic didn't win a grand slam this year. And no matter how many titles someone wins, you'd have to at least win one grand slam, in my eyes, to even be on the list ( so I guess, then, that throws out all of the other people on that list who didn't win grand slams )

I totally agree, Jessie.

[gactanync]

In terms of personal best, I'd say Safina or Zvonareva.

[EnvellFen]

I said Safina cause i thought she really took a huge step forward, but Jankovic makes a lot of sense too

[Mr_White]

My answer: Larry Scott.

[Lotyqnag]

It was hardly her best year, but I think Player of the Year prize will go to Serena. No one performed better in GS. Safina and Jankovic improved significantly, but it's about who has the best results not about who improved most or tried the hardest...

[Phassetus]

Serena by a mile

Venus

Elena

Dinara

Maria (yep she was doing well enough before the injury won a slam)

Ana (The French and IW plus two slams finals)

Jelena

I would have put Jelena higher if she'd won her 4 titles earlier in the year. Yeah she was consistent all year and finished #1, but won nothing when all the of the top players, played.

I do agree with m8, while some had a good year it was not a great year for any particular player.

Position for 2,3&4 can always be rearranged

Foxy

[Lotyqnag]

I would have put Jelena higher if she'd won her 4 titles earlier in the year. Yeah she was consistent all year and finished #1, but won nothing when all the of the top players, played.

Already forgot her Rome title?

Jelena has virtually identical amount of points in the first and second halves of the season.

[Gastonleruanich]

The one who is horribly misplaced is Kuznetsova. Ouch.

I think all of these women (except for the aforementioned) have some bragging rights in different respects.

Jankovic was the most consistent. But she still came up wanting at the big stage...

Serena had a great year, but she continues to disappoint at important times. Ditch the ego. Or at least try to balance it for a change. Humility is underrated.


What an incredible year for Dinara, even if it ended badly. She had a breakthrough year, and I really hope she can sustain her success into the years to come. And even though it seems like she's been around longer than God, she has a lot of years left. And I think she's only beginning to tap the depth and breadth of her potential. Feet, however, will always be a bit of an issue. But she can overcome that and make it less of a liability.

Elena had a very respectful year, no question about that. Her serving issues are behind her, at least for now, and she's got a tremendous amount of potential to keep going forward. I really want her to win a major. I really, really, really want that. And I think she can do it.

Ivanovic epitomizes the best and worst that a player can put together in one year. She had a fantastic start, hurt her thumb, lost her confidence, and then ran away from the YEC with her tail between her legs. She needs to regroup in a big way. I think she can do it.

Venus had a really great last 6 months of the year. But as much as I love her, given her first 5 months of the year, I just can't give her the nod. I mean, Kvitova? Please. But she won Wimbledon, the YEC, a respectable Tier 2 with a nice draw, and had a shouldacouldawoulda in the U.S. Open quarters. She has GOT to figure out the first 5 months of the season, though.

Bepa, like Dinara, had a major breakthrough year. Outstanding stuff, and she can still go higher, I think. But her breakdown after getting broken after breaking after getting broken today shows what her liability is... Though, through the tears, she still managed to hit a lot of balls that would have been screaming winners against a lot of players. I'm still optimistic. She SHOULD go into 2009 with some confidence.

Maria? The shoulder scares the bejeezus outta me. I worry about her future. She needs a monstrous Melbourne or else she's going to be wreaking havoc on every draw she enters for quite some time.... Jankovic/Maria in second round at the Paris Indoors? Please don't let that happen.

Take my senseless ramblings for what they're worth... Which ain't much.