No star power
Where have all the big names disappeared from women’s tennis?
My boarding school could be compared with Sparta, except that it was a little more Spartan. For one, there was almost zero access to television. An enduring memory of those days is to “manage” the keys to a tiny room, controlled by a staff member who had a strange liking for some of us. This room had nothing but a television. One day, after midnight, three or four of us made our way to that room, sat cross-legged on the floor, with little space to move, and watched Steffi Graf play Gabriella Sabatini at the US Open.
For some reason, women’s tennis was always fascinating. Yet, I wouldn’t know who won yesterday’s women’s final at the French Open. And
I couldn’t care less. Dinara Safina may have been the world’s top ranked player since April 20, and her opponent in the final, Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former number two, but neither can be called a box-office draw. And who played in the earlier stages? Dominika Cibulkova and Samantha Stosur! I mean, where are the star players among women?
The popularity of women’s tennis was sustained by great players who exceeded themselves in thrilling rivalries: Chris Evert versus Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf versus Navratilova, Graf versus Monica Seles, Justine Henin versus Venus or Serena Williams. It was Evert’s feminine grace and precision from the back court against Navratilova’s revolutionary athleticism at the net; Graf’s fearsome forehand and court speed against Seles’ unforgiving two-handed strokes on either side; Henin’s thin, wiry frame and languid backhand against Williams’ fearsome power play. Among the support cast, Anne White would play a match at Wimbledon wearing a white bodystocking, BettyAnn Stuart’s panties would bear the warning, “watch it”, Barbara Potter would show up at Roland Garros with panties that said, “smart ass”.
But all of a sudden women’s tennis has lost its players, characters, and charm. Yesterday’s final was between a world number one still pursuing her first grand slam, and a player whose only grand slam title was many years ago. Jelena Jankovic finished last year as the world number one, also without having won a slam. Henin (alas!) has retired prematurely, Sharapova is battling injuries and the Williams sisters have only a limited amount of time for tennis. Ivanovic, after winning last year’s French, has not done much.
In contrast, the men’s section produced the biggest upset at a major in recent years when Nadal crashed out relatively early. Both semi-finals were thrilling five-set affairs. And there is the Odyssey of Roger Federer chasing history, playing his fourth successive French final this evening, having lost the last three to Nadal. Across the net is Robin Soderling, Nadal’s conqueror. It’s game on for the guys.