Women's Tennis Power Rankings: April 13

(1) Victoria Azarenka (current WTA ranking No. 8) – Last four events: Miami (winner); Indian Wells (semifinalist); Cellular South, Memphis (winner); Australian Open (third round, ret.)

There is no hotter player on tour at the moment than Victoria Azarenka. She took the hard court season by storm, blasting her way through her opponents using shots with depth and pin point accuracy. Her latest victim was Serena Williams in the finals at Miami.

It will be interesting to see how well the energetic Belarusian handles the European clay this season. It is difficult to believe that anything intimidates this fiery young woman.

(2) Serena Williams (current WTA ranking No. 1) – Last four events: Andalucia (first round); Miami (runner up); Dubai (semifinals); Australian Open (winner).

Serena will lose her number one ranking on April 20. After winning the Australian Open, her hard court season has not been sparkling, although she did make it to the finals of Miami where she fell to Azarenka. 

She chose not to play at Indian Wells and she did not make a true appearance at the Andalucia in Spain. Serena is injured and limping into the clay court season. That does not bode well for the younger William’s sister.

(3) Vera Zvonareva (current WTA ranking No. 6) – Last four events: Miami (third round); Indian Wells (winner); Dubai (quarterfinals) Thailand (winner).

Currently Zvonareva is the best Russian playing tennis. She, too, has found success during the hard court season, wielding her mighty racket and laying low some considerable opponents with steadfast determination. 

In the two tournaments she won, she did not drop a set—her performance was dominating. Yet, she wins little respect and garners little attention despite her record.

Her consistency seems to be a rare commodity these days on the women’s tour and it could pay off big time for a player of Zvonareva’s caliber.

(4) Venus Williams (current WTA ranking No. 5) – Last four events: Miami (semifinals); Acapulco (winner); Dubai (winner); Australian Open (second round).

Venus has been playing well of late, winning tournaments in Acapulco and in Dubai. She lost to her sister in a tight contest in Miami and was upset in the second round of the only major played so far in 2009. 

Although the sisters battle mightily when facing each other these days, often they do not bring out the best in each other. In Miami their contest did enough damage to render Serena useless in the final. Not a good game plan, girls.

(5) Elena Dementieva (current WTA ranking No. 3) – Last four events: Miami (quarterfinals); Indian Wells (second round); Dubai (quarterfinals); Open GDF Paris (runner up).

Dementieva was having her own way on tour at the start of the year with a 19-2 record. At the largest events of the hard court season Elena has been disappointing in her results.

Although she has limited her tennis tournament appearances on clay to prepare for the French Open, you have to wonder if this is the best strategy for a player who seems to be going backwards. Will less bring more success?

(6) Ana Ivanovic (current WTA ranking No. 7) – Last four events: Miami (third round); Indian Wells (runner up); Dubai (quarterfinals); Australian Open (third round).

With the exception of a decent run at Indian Wells, Ivanovic continues to flounder trying to recapture the form that allowed her to win the French Open last June. 

Now that the tour is back on clay, the hope is that Ana will reconnect with her winning ways and find the form that has eluded her for almost a year.

(7) Dinara Safina (current WTA ranking No. 2) – Last four events: Miami (third round); Indian Wells (quarterfinals); Dubai (second round); Australian Open (runner up).

For the woman who is taking over the number one ranking later this month, Dinara’s fire has been doused with cold water. The greater the expectations, the more pressure exerted, the more she falters. 

She needs to regain that determination that saw her advance her game and impose her competitive spirit on her opponents starting at the French Open a year ago. She will be defending many points from her excellent clay season last year. 

If she wishes to hang onto that elusive number one ranking, she had better find a way to restart her engines.

(8) Caroline Wozniacki (current WTA ranking No. 12) – Last four events: MPS Group Championships (winner); Miami (quarterfinalist); Indian Wells (quarterfinalist); Memphis (runner up).

Wozniacki is one of the new young rising stars on tour who is making an impact. She is winning and making her presence felt at all levels of competition. The 18-year-old does not shy away from any opponents. 

With a lethal backhand and a propensity for outlasting the opposition on long rallies, she excels on all surfaces. She won her last event and made it to the quarters of both Miami and Indian Wells, beating out some serious competition. She is on the rise.

(9) Jelena Jankovic (current WTA ranking No. 4) – Last four events: Marbella (winner); Miami (second round); Indian Wells (second round); Dubai (third round).

Except for this last event—at Marbella, Spain on clay, Jankovic has pretty much been a non-factor on tour. If Ivanovic’s game is missing, then Jankovic’s is on leave. 

The assurance and the drive are not there and Jelena’s energy level has evaporated.  It is not as though she is going down to the best—she is losing to players she should easily defeat in her sleep. A major retooling is in order for Jankovic to find her accuracy and hone her competitive edge again.

(10) Svetlana Kuznetsova (current WTA ranking No. 9) – Last four events: Miami (semifinalist); Indian Wells (second round); Dubai (second round); Australian Open (quarterfinals).

It seems like Kuznetsova has been around forever but she is only 23 years of age with a vast store of experience. What is lacking is her confidence. She has won a major—the U.S. Open. But she is no longer ranked in the top five and with that expectations are non-existent.

With virtually nothing to lose, Kuznetsova must bring her skill and her experience to bear and impose her game on her opposition.

Outside Looking In

Agnieszka Radwanska (current WTA ranking No. 11) – Last four events: Miami (fourth round); Indian Wells (quarterfinals); Monterrey (first round); Dubai (first round).

After edging into the top 10 a year ago, Radwanska has plateaued for the time being. Clay may well prove to be a blessing and help her find her way back into the upper ranks. 

Zheng Jie (current WTA ranking No. 16) – Last four events: Miami (fourth round); Indian Wells (second rounds); Monterrey (semifinals); Dubai (third round).

The 25-year-old from China has reached her highest ranking in 2009. Recovering from an injury has slowed her a bit but Jie shows great promise heading into the clay court season.