Tennis News

WIMBLEDON, Great Britain – Over the weekend, World No.1 Serena Williams, French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza, Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, and British No.1 Johanna Konta spoke to the media on the eve of Wimbledon and the vibe of each press conference captured their emotions as the third major is set to begin on Monday.

Serena looked like a woman who wanted nothing more than to stop talking and start playing. Muguruza still looked fresh and bubbly in the afterglow of her win in Paris. Kerber and Konta had a no-nonsense air about them and Kvitova seemed as curious as the inquisitive brigade of reporters as to how she’ll perform at her favorite Slam.

Here are the highlights from a busy weekend in the press room.

Serena Williams addressed the press on Sunday at her Champions’ press conference. Here’s how she’s been preparing for her title defense:

“I got here I think on Monday. So I’ve had a lot of time on the grass. In the States, usually I just hit on the hard court. But the grass has slowed down a lot. I mean, it’s a huge difference still, but it’s not like it was 10 years ago. I did the same preparation, and it seems to work for me.

Angelique Kerber says she can serve pain free now, which wasn’t the case at Roland Garros:

“I mean, the time after Paris, few days going home, having a lot of treatments for my shoulder and everything, that was good for me like mentally, physically, everything, to get this time, getting a little bit down. Right now I’m feeling good, so the shoulder is already much better. Yeah, no pain when I’m serving.”

Garbiñe Muguruza on whether she feels different at Wimbledon now that she is a Slam champion:

“I don’t feel different because I’m so convinced that not because winning French Open I’m going to come here and this is miracle and I’m going to win every match. I’ve been in the situation where you win a lot of matches, and then suddenly, you know, you lose. You’re like, Oh, I thought I was going to win. I don’t take anything for granted.

I’m going for the first match, like everyone else, from zero. And, yeah, not thinking about that.”

Serena on whether she feels any pressure at Wimbledon:

“Well, this year I don’t feel as much tension as I usually do. Well, there’s some years I haven’t felt any tension either. I’m feeling pretty good. I don’t feel any pressure or stress.”

Wimbledon is a special place for Petra Kvitova. She explains:

If you ask any other tennis player what they want to win it’s always Wimbledon. So it was the same with me when I was a kid. I didn’t really expect to win it twice already which is like the dream really came true. It’s really special. Wimbledon for me is a real historic place and you just feel it from the moment you just went to the area. It’s great feelings.

Johanna Konta was grilled about the pressure of playing in front of the home crowd as the No.1 Brit. She wasn’t biting:

Q. You say you don’t know what to expect from the fans, but you see what happens with Jamie and Andy. It’s going to step up an extra level. Do you have to prepare for that?
JOHANNA KONTA: Actually, I really don’t because I’ve never been in Andy’s or Tim’s shoes. I don’t know how they experience what they experience. For me, this will be a new thing. I’m looking forward to it. Equally, you know, I’m here to play my tennis, just really enjoy what I do.

Q. Does a big reaction push you forward or is it something you have to manage?
JOHANNA KONTA: I guess the less I think about it, the less of a thought process I need to go into it. I’m here to play, not to have a reaction or manage other people’s expectations. I’m here for me, so…

Kerber on her reaction after a disappointing first round exit from the French Open:

“Of course after few days, I was disappointed still. But, to be honest, I was not watching Paris from this moment. I was going home, I was taking my time off, because it was a lot in the last few months. I was trying to take these days just for myself, spending the time at home, then trying to be ready also mentally and physically with my shoulder to going on court, yeah, going there and giving again everything.

So I just saw a little bit the final, but that was it. I know from Paris, I just know that it was raining the whole week. This is what I know.”

Kvitova on who the favorite is to win the title:

It’s Serena. [laughs] Well definitely it is. Of course she is the biggest favorite and she has the best game to win it here.

Get ready for the spotlight, Garbiñe:

Q. I’m sure you’re used to sharing attention from the Spanish media when Rafa is at a tournament. Now that Rafa is not here, are you getting the sense that all the Spanish media is focused on you?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I thought about that the other day when I saw that Rafa, you know, was not playing [Look of wide-eyed shock]. No, I’m just joking.

For sure, people are more looking at what I’m doing, will be more watching me. But I think that’s fine. It’s a good sign. I like it. I’ll try to do my best.

But I was so happy, finally this year, I’m like, I did better than Nadal in French Open. I’m like, This is so weird (laughing).

Kerber on her preparation:

Q. On a scale of 1 to 10, how prepared are you physically and mentally coming into Wimbledon?
ANGELIQUE KERBER: 1 to 10? Let’s say 11 (smiling). No, I’m really prepared. I did everything I could.

Serena on her favorite memory of watching Venus play at Wimbledon:

“Probably playing Lindsay Davenport in the final here. I think it was really an incredible match. I think she was down a match point or two. It was an insane match. It was three sets. It was a really, really good match.

“I just remember her being very happy, but very confident. I was more happy that she won. When someone you love wins, you are just so happy for them. Yeah, it was just a great experience, a wonderful experience.”

Konta is as level-headed a player as you’ll find on the tour, never allowing herself to get too high or too low. She was asked whether her Eastbourne run to the semifinals gave her more confidence at Wimbledon:

It would be hypocritical of me to say, Oh, yes, I feel more confident, because going into Australia, I’d actually lost two first rounds. I think it’s more about not so much the wins, but how you feel in the matches that you’ve played.

“I feel like I’ve had some really good matches against some really good players. Whether I’ve won some, lost some, also having time on the grass, I feel very lucky to have had that.”

Kvitova on the effect of Serena losing the last two Slam finals:

I don’t think that it’s, like, the biggest problem on the tour [laughs]. I just think that she will find the way she’s gonna win another final someday. It’s just how it is. I think that if someone is playing Serena in a final they feel like they don’t really have something to lose. Serena is always the favorite and I think it’s a little bit more relaxed from the opponent.

Muguruza was wearing a Spain jersey as she did her pre-tournament press:

“I mean, in Spain, if you don’t follow football, you’re dead. You don’t have conversation.”

Konta on whether her reaction to Hungary advancing to the quarterfinals of the European Championships.

“Mom probably couldn’t give two hoots. But dad was very excited. I’m happy that my dad’s excited. I think that’s the best way to describe football at home (smiling).”

Kvitova on whether she feels the bullseye on her back at Wimbledon:

I think it’s tough because of course for me I should be kind of confident on the grass which I am to play on the grass I know how well I can play on it. But I think the other girls want to play a little better and they want to beat me especially here because they know what happened here. But you can look at it from both sides. But I think the opponents are playing less with pressure.

Kerber on her confidence level on grass:

“I like to play on grass. I mean, it’s always nice to have a few tournaments on grass of the year. It’s always something different. On grass, the rallies are not so long as on clay and also on hard.

I like to have the short rallies, or, like, also to going for it. What is really important on grass is the serve and the return. That’s the two shots, they are really important. This is what I like. I don’t dislike grass, so it’s always good on grass for me.”

Kvitova on her best performances at Wimbledon:

I have probably two. When I beat Venus in 2014 in the third round which I felt that she was better player on the court in the first two sets and I was able somehow to win it. And then definitely in the final against Bouchard.

Kerber on what it’s like to sit next to her on the couch while watching football:

“I’m jumping, screaming. Sometimes I’m quiet as well. So it’s everything. A lot of emotions in these 90 minutes.”

Muguruza on playing mixed doubles with Rafael Nadal at the Rio Olympics:

“I never played mixed. I think he told me he never played mixed. I think last minute, in case we play, I don’t know, it’s going to be like, Well, Rafa, what do you do? I don’t know. You? I think it’s going to be very like that.”

Serena and Venus are playing doubles at Wimbledon and they’re already practicing for a medal bid at the Rio Olympics.

“We’re doing a little preparation. We’re practicing a little bit in doubles. Whenever I hit a return out in singles, I’m like, It counts for doubles, so it works out (smiling).”

Konta was asked for her thoughts on the “Brexit” vote that will see Britain leave the European Union:

“Obviously I’m aware of what happened during the referendum. But, yeah, in terms of my own opinions, I think they’re very much best discussed at the dinner table.”

Serena on the effect of the Brexit vote on prize money this year:

“Yeah, I mean, I’m not a citizen of here, but I think at this point the Euro, the pound and the dollar went down after that decision. It affected the economy I think in a whole. However, I think it’s too soon right now to see how long that effect will last, or if it won’t last long. It’s a very volatile economy right now. We’ll see what happens. I’m watching really closely, though.”

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

Former World No.11 Shahar Peer, 29, officially announced her retirement on Tuesday. Peer retires as the most successful Israeli woman to ever play on the WTA.

“I want to share with you one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my life,” Peer wrote on Facebook. “After 23 years, in which 13 of those years I was an international professional tennis player, I am retiring 🙂

“I made this decision following a chronic inflammation in my shoulder, that has been lasting for over two years, and prevents me from competing at the high level that I am used to and expect from myself. At the same time, I lost my desire for the game of tennis and the intense way of life I have lived since I was 6.5 years old.

“I look back on this experience with a huge smile, a lot of happiness and satisfaction. I am proud of all of my accomplishments as well as the huge honor I was given to represent the state of Israel.

“I want to thank everyone for your never-ending support that I received every single day, every hour and every place I went to around the world. This Friday, ‘Ulpan Shishi’ on Channel 2 will broadcast a segment about my career, my deliberation about my retirement, and my plans for the future. I promise to continue to update you about every interesting development of Chapter 2 of my life.”

After turning pro in 2004, Peer won five WTA titles and became the first Israeli woman to make the quarterfinals of a Slam, doing it twice in 2007. In 2008, she became the first Israeli ever to compete at a WTA tournament in the Arabian Peninsula at the Qatar Total Open.

In addition to her successful WTA career, Peer was a Fed Cup stalwart for Israel, playing over 75 matches and compiling at 45-31 record. In 2008 she represented Israel at her first and only Olympic Games in Beijing.

Peer had not played a match on tour since the 2016 Abierto Monterrey, where she lost in the opening round of qualifying to Viktorija Golubic.

Ana Ivanovic stunned by Russian qualifier: The No.23 seed lost to No. 223 Russian qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 7-5 in 70 minutes. Ivanovic told reporters after the match that she contemplated skipping Wimbledon due to wrist inflammation that got worse at the Mallorca Open.

“During the Mallorca tournament, it really got inflamed,” Ivanovic said. “Then I had couple of days off. It start to calm down a little bit. Every time I would start hitting, it would flare up. I felt like I could probably manage it. It’s tough on grass because ball really skids through. She was hitting very, very heavy. So, yeah, it was disappointing.

“For two weeks I struggled with my right wrist. It was very hard to accelerate on my forehand. I tried to do everything possible to be fit and recover and tape it and so on.”

Ivanovic will get an MRI on the wrist and does not plan to play a tournament until the Olympics.

Stosur and Lisicki set to clash: The two came through easily in their first round matches and will face off in the second round. Stosur leads the head-to-head 5-2 but she’s obviously wary of Lisicki’s ability to summon some magic at Wimbledon.

“I don’t know what she did actually in the grass court tournaments before this one, but she probably hasn’t had a fantastic year so far, but I’m sure when she walks through the gates here she probably feels like she’s No.1 in the world,” Stosur told reporters.

“You have to be aware of that and know she has a very big serve. She plays big and hits the ball hard. She absolutely plays aggressive. If she’s on that day, you have got to be really willing to fight fire with fire and go after it, and, yeah, not kind of feel like you’re going to get dictated to.

“Against someone like her with a game like she’s got, it’s very easy to feel under the pump and under pressure all the time if she’s playing well. You have to be aware of that and balance out the patience and consistency with your own aggression.”

Serena and Venus in 2020: The sisters have been peppered with questions about their doubles preparation for the Olympics. “We have to start looking at 2020,” Venus said with a laugh. “That would be impressive. If you think this year’s impressive, hold on. That would be a blessing if we did play.”

I’m not going to question it. Would you?

Madison matures: Madison Keys is in the midst of her most consistently high-level span of play in her career. She’s been solid since Fed Cup in April, and she rolled through her first round match against Laura Siegemund, winning 6-3, 6-1. There’s a sense of calm about her these days.

“I think in a lot of ways I have changed,” she said. “But I also think every 18 year old changes a lot from 18 to 21 to 25. So I think on and off the court, I have changed in a lot of ways. And I think just a big thing is experience wise, it’s still only my third full year, fourth full year on tour. Obviously there is plenty of experience that I can still have.

“But just feeling more comfortable and knowing what to expect and it becoming more of a routine has really helped me. I think the maturity level of being able to handle a lot of what’s thrown at me has been a big difference.”

Garbiñe Muguruza battles to get past Camila Giorgi: Absolutely no one wants to draw the dangerous Italian in the first round of any tournament, let along on the fast grass at Wimbledon. But the No.2 seed came through in three sets by, once again, not panicking. It was a confident win for Muguruza, who came in with just one grass match under her belt, a loss to Kirsten Flipkens in Mallorca.

“Sometimes you don’t win the most beautiful way,” she said. “You got to be there fighting and waiting for your chance, especially against a player that bangs the ball. Is a very tough opponent to begin the tournament.” She plays Jana Cepelova in the second round.

Third time’s a charm for Daria Kasatkina: Seeded in her Wimbledon debut, the 18-year-old earned her first win ever on grass with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Victoria Duval. “My third match on grass in all my life,” Kasatkina told WTA Insider. “The first was at Wimbledon 2012. It was so bad. Now I’m professional, I come on grass, I can say I like it.”

Primarily known as a clay-courter, Kasatkina said with a few minor adjustments she’s feeling comfortable on grass. “The first few practices were really, really terrible. Better not to see this,” she said laughing.

“Because I was trying to change my game because I thought it was totally different tennis. But my coach told me no, you don’t have to change so much. Just little bit adapt for grass tennis. Just go for the volley or something like this. And it’s a little bit more difficult to move. It’s a little bit slippery and you have to move like a cat. Soft steps. But we worked a lot in fitness for this, so I adapt to that.”

Kasatkina admits she was tired through much of the clay court swing but feels refreshed on the grass. “In Madrid I was finished because it was so complicated calendar,” she said. “America, Fed Cup, then immediately I go to clay court preparation. It was too much for me. After Roland Garros I had a few days off and I came to the grass more fresh.”

As for qualifying for the Russian Olympic Team, the young Russian is over the moon. “If last year somebody told me I would go to the Olympics I would tell him you are a crazy man.”

Maria Sakkari on the verge of the Top 100: Sakkari scored a good win over Zheng Saisai, winning 6-3, 6-2 for her first win at Wimbledon. In fact, the first time she ever played on grass was last week in qualies at Roehampton. “I never practiced on grass, I never played juniors on grass,” she told WTA Insider. “I just practiced twice before my first match. It’s fine. I like it. It’s different. But if you take care of your steps and your running and think about it more in the beginning then it’s fine.”

Asked whether her mother, who played on tour, gave her any advice about the grass, Sakkari said she kept it simple. “My mom never liked grass,” she said. “She played once or twice at Wimbledon. She told me not to try too many things. Don’t try to hit too hard. Just play tennis.”

Crawford earns her first Slam win: After a blistering start to the season, making the semifinals of the Brisbane International as a qualifier, Samantha Crawford finally earned her first main draw win at a Slam, beating Paula Kania, 7-5, 6-3 at Wimbledon. The win was especially sweet given Crawford had played just one match since breaking her hand in a fall at the Volvo Car Open in April. Crawford fractured the scaphoid bone in her right hand and was in a cast for six weeks, but was able to come back at the French Open last month.

“Before it happens it’s in the back of everyone’s mind,” Crawford said, when asked about getting her first Slam win. This was just her third match on grass ever. “This is my fifth Slam main draw. I was aware that I hadn’t won. I got a little nervous but I told myself to enjoy the moment being at Wimbledon.”

Questions that need to stop: I think it’s time to put a moratorium on asking players why they don’t have a pep in their step during press conferences.

Q. You seem quite down.
LAURA ROBSON: I seem quite down? Probably because I lost. It tends to do it.

Robson lost 6-2, 6-2 to Angelique Kerber, but will still be around Wimbledon for doubles with Ashleigh Barty. She will head to the US afterwards to play on the ITF Circuit to get her ranking up.

“For me, it’s a massive win to be here and not have any niggles for quite a few months now, apart from a very small one in Eastbourne,” she said. “I’ve worked very, very hard to be healthy, to be completely fit on court. It’s 100% a huge goal for me to finish the year in the same way. Yeah, it’s now about winning matches, as well.”

To Infinity, and Beyond: How’s this from Venus Williams:

Q. Looking back to 26, would you have thought that you would still be engaged at 36?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I still feel 26, so… You know, I don’t think anyone feels older. You have this infinity inside of you that feels like you could go forever. That’s how I feel on the court. As long as I’m halfway decent, can get my racquet on the ball, I think I can make something happen. So far so good.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

Monica Seles Hosts Kids Clinic In Budapest

Former World No.1 Monica Seles arrived in Budapest for the Hungarian Day of Tennis, which celebrates the past, present and future of Hungarian tennis, and hosted a kids’ clinic alongside other Hungarian former players.

“It’s been fantastic to be invited by the Hungarian Tennis Federation to be a part of the WTA tournament here in Budapest, and also to participate in the Hungarian Day of Tennis kid’s clinic,” Seles told wtatennis.com.

“I hope we can spread the love of tennis and inspire a lot of young kids to pick up a racquet, and hopefully one day see them on center court.”

Budapest Champion Timea Babos & Monica Seles Auction Signed Racquets

Timea Babos captured the title in front of her home crowd in Budapest at the Hungarian Ladies Open, and she’s also helping to give back to her community.

Babos and Seles have donated autographed tennis racquets – the same racquets they played with this past week – which will be put on auction for two weeks after the tournament. All proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, the tournament’s charity of choice.

“I think it’s wonderful that the WTA tournament here in Budapest has a charitable side,” Seles told wtatennis.com. “And it’s great that the WTA has started a charitable foundation – I think it’s so important to give back.

“We in sport are very lucky to do what we love and make a living out of it, and anytime that we’re able to give back, it’s a huge honor and happiness in my heart.”

Johanna Larsson & Chan Yung-Jan Host Clinics In Dubai

Over in Dubai, Johanna Larsson and Chan Yung-Jan (Latisha) hosted a set of children’s and youth clinics to inspire the next generation of tennis hopefuls.

Larsson enjoyed some mini-tennis with children at the JP Morgan Kids Clinic and also had a hit with two promising juniors from the region, while Latisha hosted the Lacoste Special Needs Clinic, which involved children and teenagers who don’t let their disabilities hold them back when it comes to keeping active and enjoying tennis.

Latisha interacted with the children, posing for selfies, signing balls and answering their questions about what life is like as a professional tennis player.

“I always like coming to these clinics as it’s so much fun to make the kids happy and help them enjoy tennis,” she said. “It’s great to put smiles on their faces, and Dubai Duty Free always puts on a great show for the children.”

JP Morgan’s Breakfast With A Champion

Also in Dubai, hosts Mickey Lawler, President of the WTA, and former British No.1 Annabel Croft were joined by former doubles World No.1 Sania Mirza at JP Morgan’s Breakfast With A Champion.

In front of an audience made up of JP Morgan’s female bankers and employees, the event celebrated powerful female role models.

WTA Charities is the WTA’s global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. We’re dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.

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After picking up titles in the Middle East, Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina seem to have all the momentum as the tour heads to Indian Wells and Miami. But how do their performances stack up against the year’s other top performers?

In this edition of WTA Insider Heat Index, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen weighs in on who’s hot and who’s not after a fortnight in Dubai and Doha.

For more on the Heat Index and the methodology behind it, click here.

1. Serena Williams (Rank: No.1; RTS: No.1; Previous HI: 1)
2017 record: 8-1
Titles: Australian Open (January)
Recent activity: None.
Key Stat: Did not lose a set in Melbourne.

Serena has not played an event since winning her record-setting 23rd major title at the Australian Open in January, but given her propensity for party crashing some public courts, I’m guessing she’s still healthy and in good spirits. That bodes well for the upcoming Sunshine Double swing through Indian Wells and Miami.

2. Karolina Pliskova (Rank: No.3; RTS: No.3; Previous HI: 2)
2017 record: 15-2
Titles: Brisbane International (January), Qatar Total Open (February)
Recent activity: Doha champion.
Key Stat: The first woman to win two titles this season.

The World No.3 has looked virtually unbeatable in 2017. When it comes to quality wins, no one has been better. Two months into the season and Pliskova already has wins over Dominika Cibulkova, Caroline Wozniacki, Garbiñe Muguruza, and Elina Svitolina.

3. Elina Svitolina (Rank: No.10; RTS: No.2; Previous HI: No.8)
2017 Record: 17-2
Titles: Taiwan Open (February), Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (February)
Recent activity: Taiwan Open champion, Dubai champion.
Key Stat: Currently on a 13-match winning streak since the Australian Open.

This is what we were waiting for. After tallying five career titles on the International level and improving her year-end ranking year over year, Svitolina put it all together in Dubai to win the biggest title of her career and make her Top 10 debut. With her third straight win over Angelique Kerber, she ended the German’s quest to retake the No.1 ranking and followed it up with a cool performance to beat Caroline Wozniacki in the final.

4. Caroline Wozniacki (Rank: No.14; RTS: No. 5; Previous HI: Unranked)
2017 record: 15-5.
Titles: None.
Recent activity: Runner-up in Doha and Dubai.
Key Stat: Wozniacki already has 15 wins this year. Her 15th match win last year came at the US Open in September.

Is Woz back? It sure does seem that way. The Dane made back-to-back finals in February in Doha (l. Pliskova) and Dubai (l. Svitolina) and she’s continued the fantastic run of form that’s kicked in since the start of the US Open last fall. In fact, if you isolate the ranking points earned since the start of the US Open, Wozniacki is at No.3 behind Kerber and Pliskova. Wozniacki has beaten just one Top 10 player so far this season, a win over Agnieszka Radwanska in Doha, but with less than 200 points to defend from no until the US Open, there’s no doubt a return to the Top 10 — Top 5? — is coming soon.

5. Johanna Konta (Rank: No.11; RTS: No.6; Previous HI: No.2)
2017 record: 15-3
Titles: Apia International Sydney (January)
Recent activity: Went 3-1 in Fed Cup (l. to Konjuh)
Key stat: Konta’s win over Radwanska in the Sydney final was her first over a Top 5 player in over a year.

Konta took her good form into Fed Cup and helped earn Great Britain a chance at promotion to the World Group. A foot injury prevented her from making her debut in the Middle East in Dubai, but with plenty of rest before the upcoming hard court swing, Konta should be in good form.

6. Angelique Kerber (Rank: No.2; RTS: No.9; Previous HI: No.6)
2017 record: 7-5
Titles: None
Recent activity: Dubai semifinalist.
Key stat: Kerber is 0-5 vs. Top 35 players.

After a disappointing January, Kerber showed signs of life in Dubai, playing cleaner, more aggressive tennis to make her first semifinal of the year. The quality was a step in the right direction. I still maintain it’s too early to write off the woman who won two hard court Slams last year. Now, if she continues to struggle through March…then it’s time to have the discussion.

7. Dominika Cibulkova (Rank: No.5; RTS: No.5; Previous HI: No.11)
2017 record: 8-6
Titles: None
Recent activity: Doha semifinalist.
Key stat: Made back-to-back semifinals in St. Petersburg and Doha.

The Middle East swing was a mixed bag for Cibulkova. She lost to eventual champion Pliskova in Doha, but in Dubai she was confounded once again by Ekaterina Makarova, who also beat her at the Australian Open. But much like Kerber, the level of tennis she played was an improvement on what we saw in January and she’s put in extra work with her mental coach to help her deal with the expectations of being a Top 5 player. She started to feel like herself again after Doha, and that’s good news for her tennis.

8. Agnieszka Radwanska (Rank: No.6; RTS: No.16; Previous HI: No.5)
2017 record: 7-5
Titles: None
Recent activity: Lost in Round of 16 in Doha (l. Wozniacki) and Dubai (l. Bellis)
Key stat: Has not won back-to-back matches in her last three events.

After solid outings in her first two tournaments of the year, the World No.6 has struggled to find her confidence and feel. Remember, this is a player who made the semifinals or better of her first four events last season. Her inability to solve 17-year-old CiCi Bellis in Dubai was a shocker. She’s frustrated and searching.

9. CoCo Vandeweghe (Rank: No.22; RTS: No.7; Previous HI: No.7)
2017 record: 8-3
Titles: None
Recent activity: Went 2-0 at Fed Cup; first round loss to Alison Riske in Dubai.
Key stat: Vandeweghe beat Kerber and Muguruza at the Australian Open. It was just the second time in her career she’s beaten two Top 10 players at a tournament (2014 Rogers Cup, Ivanovic and Jankovic).

The question for Vandeweghe after the Australian Open wasn’t whether she had Slam-winning tennis inside her — the quality during the Melbourne fortnight was top-notch — but whether she could maintain a consistent level. Indian Wells and Miami should serve as better litmus tests.

10. Kristina Mladenovic (Rank: No.30; RTS: No.14; Previous HI: Unranked)
2017 record: 8-4
Titles: St. Petersburg
Recent activity: Beat Pliskova in Dubai, semifinalist in Acapulco (tournament ongoing).
Key stat: Her win over Pliskova was her first Top 5 win since 2015.

Mladenovic will be the first to tell you her tennis can reach the highest of highs and, at times, head-scratching lows, but it makes her game all the more compelling. After winning her first title in St. Petersburg, Mladenovic scored a big win over Pliskova only to lose to No.76 Wang Qiang in straight sets the next day. Regardless, she’s been consistently dangerous early this season.

11. Garbiñe Muguruza (Rank: No.7; RTS: No.10; Previous HI: No.4)
2017 record: 9-5
Titles: None
Recent activity: Went 1-2 during Middle East swing.
Key stat: Two of her four tournaments this season has ended in a retirement.

The primary reason surrounding Muguruza’s notable drop in the Heat Index is injury related. She picked up a left Achilles injury in Doha, which forced her to retire from a match in Dubai for the second time this season. In January she retired from the Brisbane semifinals due to an abductor injury. It’s a disconcerting trend for the Spaniard, just two months into the season.

12. Venus Williams (Rank: No.13; RTS: No.4; Previous HI: No.10)
2017 record: 7-2
Titles: None
Recent activity: None
Key stat: This time last year, Venus was also 7-2. She lost in the first round of Auckland and the Australian Open before winning seven straight matches at Fed Cup and en route to the Taiwan Open title.

With the surges from Wozniacki and Mladenovic into this edition of the Heat Index, Venus drops two spots. She did not play a tournament in February, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she’s feeling in Indian Wells next week. If it’s anything like what we saw in Melbourne, it will be a treat.