Year of great comebacks for women’s tennis

PARIS – It was a year of comebacks in women’s tennis as the old guard returned to make their mark in 2005.Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, America’s Venus Williams and Mary Pierce of France all powered their way back as the Russian revolution failed to carry through from 2004.

Russians won three of the four Grand Slam titles in 2004. But Anastasia Myskina, Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova all failed to defend their French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles respectively.Myskina suffered the ignomy of becoming the first women’s defending champion to be defeated in the first round of a Grand Slam when she crashed at Roland Garros.However she was matched in that feat by Kuznetsova who fell in similar fashion at the US Open later in the year.The old guard proved their doubters wrong with Serena Williams paving the way by winning the Australian Open in January after an injury-blighted 2004.She triumphed 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 over World No.1 Lindsay Davenport in the final.It was the younger Williams’ seventh Grand Slam title and first since Wimbledon in 2003.But the 25-year-old’s return to form was short lived, as the title would be her only one of the year.Shoulder, ankle and knee injuries forced her to miss Roland Garros for the first time in five years, and after third and fourth round finishes at Wimbledon and the US Open she ended the year outside the world’s top 10 for the first time since 1998.Injury-plagued Henin-Hardenne powered her way to her second French Open title at Roland Garros at the expense of home favourite Pierce, who experienced one her best seasons after years of underachievement.Forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a right knee fracture Henin-Hardenne captured her fourth career Grand Slam during a marvellous two-week run in Paris.Also proving she is still a force to contend with Venus Williams clinched her third crown at the All England Club with a three-set win over top seed Davenport in the longest Wimbledon women’s final in history.Her fifth Grand Slam title marked a dramatic turnaround in her fortunes coming just four weeks after she slumped to an embarrassing third round exit at the French Open to 15-year-old rookie Sesil Karatantcheva.It also marked the end of five consecutive Grand Slam final defeats going back to 2002, and all to her sister.Clijsters, meanwhile, finally broke into the ranks of Grand Slam winners at the fifth time of asking, claiming the US Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Pierce.The Belgian had a phenomenal return to competition following rehabilitation from a career-threatening wrist surgery, winning a Tour-leading nine titles and at one point was two matches away from reclaiming No.1 ranking.But her bid to complete an unprecedented single-season rise from outside the top 100 to the year-end world No.1 ended at the WTA Tour Championship when Amelie Mauresmo become the first Frenchwoman to win the elite season finale when she defeated countrywoman Pierce.In capturing the most prestigious title of her career, Mauresmo secured the year-end world No.3 ranking, and silenced doubters who have said she did not have the mental stamina to come through in big matches.Meanwhile 30-year-old Pierce, a two-time Grand Slam winner, staged a remarkable comeback by reaching the finals of the French Open and US Open and the Tour Championships, rising from outside the top 20 to finish the year at number five.American veteran Davenport achieved her fourth career number one finish after winning six titles and twice coming close to capturing a fourth Grand Slam.While Russia’s legion of stars failed to capture any of the major titles Elena Dementieva was the heroine as she sealed a 3-2 victory for the holders in the Fed Cup final against France in Paris in September.Next season looks set for some more intriguing line-ups as former world number one Martina Hingis returns after a three-year injury enforced break, starting at the Australian Open, where she won three of her five Grand Slam titles.- Nampa-AFPBut Anastasia Myskina, Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova all failed to defend their French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles respectively.Myskina suffered the ignomy of becoming the first women’s defending champion to be defeated in the first round of a Grand Slam when she crashed at Roland Garros.However she was matched in that feat by Kuznetsova who fell in similar fashion at the US Open later in the year.The old guard proved their doubters wrong with Serena Williams paving the way by winning the Australian Open in January after an injury-blighted 2004.She triumphed 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 over World No.1 Lindsay Davenport in the final.It was the younger Williams’ seventh Grand Slam title and first since Wimbledon in 2003.But the 25-year-old’s return to form was short lived, as the title would be her only one of the year.Shoulder, ankle and knee injuries forced her to miss Roland Garros for the first time in five years, and after third and fourth round finishes at Wimbledon and the US Open she ended the year outside the world’s top 10 for the first time since 1998.Injury-plagued Henin-Hardenne powered her way to her second French Open title at Roland Garros at the expense of home favourite Pierce, who experienced one her best seasons after years of underachievement.Forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to a right knee fracture Henin-Hardenne captured her fourth career Grand Slam during a marvellous two-week run in Paris.Also proving she is still a force to contend with Venus Williams clinched her third crown at the All England Club with a three-set win over top seed Davenport in the longest Wimbledon women’s final in history.Her fifth Grand Slam title marked a dramatic turnaround in her fortunes coming just four weeks after she slumped to an embarrassing third round exit at the French Open to 15-year-old rookie Sesil Karatantcheva.It also marked the end of five consecutive Grand Slam final defeats going back to 2002, and all to her sister.Clijsters, meanwhile, finally broke into the ranks of Grand Slam winners at the fifth time of asking, claiming the US Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Pierce.The Belgian had a phenomenal return to competition following rehabilitation from a career-threatening wrist surgery, winning a Tour-leading nine titles and at one point was two matches away from reclaiming No.1 ranking.But her bid to complete an unprecedented single-season rise from outside the top 100 to the year-end world No.1 ended at the WTA Tour Championship when Amelie Mauresmo become the first Frenchwoman to win the elite season finale when she defeated countrywoman Pierce.In capturing the most prestigious title of her career, Mauresmo secured the year-end world No.3 ranking, and silenced doubters who have said she did not have the mental stamina to come through in big matches.Meanwhile 30-year-old Pierce, a two-time Grand Slam winner, staged a remarkable comeback by reaching the finals of the French Open and US Open and the Tour Championships, rising from outside the top 20 to finish the year at number five.American veteran Davenport achieved her fourth career number one finish after winning six titles and twice coming close to capturing a fourth Grand Slam.While Russia’s legion of stars failed to capture any of the major titles Elena Dementieva was the heroine as she sealed a 3-2 victory for the holders in the Fed Cup final against France in Paris in September.Next season looks set for some more intriguing line-ups as former world number one Martina Hingis returns after a three-year injury enforced break, starting at the Australian Open, where she won three of her five Grand Slam titles.- Nampa-AFP