Ranking the Top 10 Women's Players After Wimbledon 2016
Serena Williams exorcised the demons of recent Grand Slam losses by winning Wimbledon for a seventh time, finally tying Steffi Graf for the Open Era record of 22 major titles.
Courtesy of a virtuoso performance, Williams defeated fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3 and earned payback over the German after losing to her in the Australian Open final. The match featured a stark contrast in styles, but together Williams and Kerber produced a beautiful display on Centre Court on Saturday.
Women's tennis just might have a new "must-watch" rivalry.
As Williams cements her spot in the GOAT discussion, Kerber's breakthrough at age 28 is one of the biggest storylines this season. After years of being on the precipice of greatness, she's broken through that glass ceiling in a big way to become a legitimate force.
Both women have raced ahead of the field this season, though several others behind them are also worthy of praise.
Now that the third major of 2016 is in the books, it's time to reassess the landscape of the Top 10. The following slides will order these players based on their Grand Slam results this year, current rankings and the Road to Singapore points race. All three elements will factor in.
Who made the cut?
Honorable Mentions
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Several players were in consideration for the last position, but two notable names who fell short were Petra Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
They're polar opposites in terms of momentum.
Ranked 10th entering Wimbledon (where she's a two-time champion), Kvitova flamed out in the second round against Ekaterina Makarova, dropping her record to 16-15 this season. Barely in the Top 30 of the points race, Kvitova hasn't won a title since last August.
At the other end of the spectrum is 31-year-old Kuznetsova. The veteran Russian made it to the fourth round at SW19, beating Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens before Serena Williams ended her ride.
While she didn't quite crack the list, Kuznetsova (25-13) is nevertheless enjoying a steady year.
10. Carla Suarez Navarro
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For casual tennis fans, Carla Suarez Navarro may not be a household name, but the Spaniard goes about her business and posts dependable results.
At Wimbledon, Suarez Navarro survived tough matches in the first two rounds before eventually colliding with Venus Williams. In a tightly contested battle, Williams outlasted her 7-6 (3), 6-4.
Suarez Navarro has reached at least the fourth round of all three majors this year, including the quarterfinals in Australia. Overall, she's 28-12 with a title in Doha as her top achievement.
Based on her current standing in the points race, qualifying for the WTA Championships is a realistic possibility for Suarez Navarro.
9. Dominika Cibulkova
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Feisty and diminutive at 5'3", Dominika Cibulkova shrieked her way through an instant classic against Agnieszka Radwanska in the fourth round.
In quite possibly the match of the tournament on the women's side, Cibulkova defeated Radwanska 6-3, 5-7, 9-7 to reach the second week of Wimbledon for the first time since 2011.
While a red-hot Elena Vesnina toppled her in the next round, Cibulkova managed to pick up quality wins over Monica Puig, Johanna Konta and Eugenie Bouchard in addition to beating Radwanska.
Including her titles in Eastbourne and Katowice, Cibulkova has made four finals in 2016. A top-10 ranking is beckoning.
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8. Madison Keys
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On the heels of a title in Birmingham, Madison Keys entered Wimbledon as a trendy pick to make a deep run and challenge for the title.
The powerful 21-year-old American has a game that's suited for grass, so the All England Club was the most likely spot for her to win a Grand Slam. But Keys is still working through growing pains and trying to harness all her talent.
After Kirsten Flipkens and Alize Cornet pushed her to the brink, Keys' luck ran out in the fourth round during a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 3-6 loss to Simona Halep.
Keys admitted that nerves and a lack of energy played a part in her performance.
To get where she wants to go, building her physical and mental toughness will be a top priority.
7. Victoria Azarenka
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It's a shame that health woes keep piling up for Victoria Azarenka. For the third consecutive season, physical problems are nagging the former Australian Open champion.
Azarenka looked her old self again to open this year, climbing from No. 22 at the end of an injury-riddled 2015 all the way up to No. 5 thanks to a 26-1 start that saw her win titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami.
The transition to clay began a cycle of new injuries, though, first to her back and most recently her knee. The latter injury was severe enough that Azarenka had to retire from the French Open in the first round and skip the grass entirely.
If not for injury concerns, Azarenka would likely be much higher on this list. Here's to hoping her body will cooperate and allow her a proper finish to 2016.
6. Simona Halep
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Like Caroline Wozniacki before her, Simona Halep is a highly ranked counterpuncher who's yet to translate her skills into a maiden Grand Slam title.
With each passing tournament, pressure builds on the 24-year-old's shoulders to silence the critics. She was unable to do so at Wimbledon, falling to eventual finalist Angelique Kerber in a competitive quarterfinal.
Halep earned a tough win over the hard-hitting Madison Keys in the fourth round, which is one positive she can take away from her trip to England. Another disappointing exit from a major, however, will leave a sour taste in her mouth.
At 23-12 this season with a title in Madrid, Halep has done enough to crack our list, but her shortcomings at the Australian Open and French Open keep her from a higher spot.
5. Venus Williams
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Nearly six years had passed since Venus Williams last made the semifinals of a Grand Slam.
She triumphantly ended that mark with a return to form at Wimbledon.
Diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome in 2011, Williams had to adjust her way of life to live with the disease and stay on the court. Her results slipped dramatically as she fought to stay healthy.
But Williams is authoring a new conclusion to her tennis story. After finishing 2015 at No. 7 in the world, she showed more flashes of her old brilliance this past fortnight at Wimbledon.
Even at 36, Williams has some magic left in the tank. Though her inspiring run didn't manifest in a singles title, it represented her best result at a major in ages.
And to top it off, she partnered with her sister Serena to win the doubles crown, her sixth at the All England Club. Not a bad run at all for a player who refuses to be written off.
4. Agnieszka Radwanska
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Is there a better current WTA player not to win a major than Agnieszka Radwanska? Probably not.
Since 2008, she's made 12 Grand Slam quarterfinals, including four semifinal appearances and a runner-up finish at Wimbledon four years ago. While other contenders rise and fall, Radwanska has maintained her place among the top contenders behind Serena Williams for several seasons.
She's consistent if nothing else.
There would be no hallmark moment at the All England Club this year. Seeded third, Radwanska lost a dramatic roller-coaster match to Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round after failing to serve it out in the final set.
She'll rue that missed opportunity, though being fourth in the Road to Singapore race isn't a bad consolation.
Because of her strong season to this point, Radwanska deserves credit.
3. Garbine Muguruza
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Garbine Muguruza scaled the summit of tennis glory with her dismissal of Serena Williams in the French Open final.
It was inevitable that she would come back down to earth at some point, though her play in recent weeks suggests she's having trouble acclimating to her new status as a major champion.
She was a finalist at Wimbledon last year, but the switch to grass didn't treat her as well this time around. After she crashed out of Mallorca in the first round, Muguruza's hopes for a Channel Slam ended with a stunning second-round loss to 127th-ranked Jana Cepelova in England.
Muguruza is one of the sport's premier talents and will be a contender for years to come. Maybe we can chalk her Wimbledon loss up to a post-Slam hangover. Either way, she has to prove she can become a more consistent force on a tournament-by-tournament basis.
2. Angelique Kerber
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She couldn't catch lightning in a bottle for a second time, but Angelique Kerber continues to win over fans with her personality and stellar play.
Before 2016, the veteran German had been a mainstay in or around the Top 10 for the last four seasons, but she lacked that true standout moment.
Her world changed when she stunned Serena Williams in this year's thrilling Australian Open final. That win elevated her to a career-best ranking of No. 2.
After she flamed out in the first round of the French Open, some wondered whether Kerber was just another one-Slam wonder.
That skepticism proved to be premature. Kerber's quality shone through again at Wimbledon, where she took out Simona Halep and Venus Williams before finishing as the runner-up.
Though Serena Williams seized the moment, Kerber can hang her head high after reaching her second major final this season.
1. Serena Williams
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What more can you say to describe Serena Williams?
Not only is she one of the very best to ever pick up a racket, but Williams has earned a spot alongside the greatest athletes of any sport. Ever.
Even with her 35th birthday around the corner, she's yet to show us any signs of decline—a testament to her longevity and transcendence.
By triumphing at Wimbledon for a second straight year and seventh time overall, Williams put more breathing room between herself and other contenders in the current rankings and year-to-date points race. She's in no danger of giving up that No. 1 spot any time soon.
The next mission for Williams? Grand Slam title No. 23, which would surpass Graf's total.
We probably won't have to wait too long to see her get there.
All statistics are courtesy of WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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