Williams and Djokovic ready to dominate on clay
Serena Williams poses with the Sony Ericsson Open tournament's women's trophy at Crandon Park in Miami on March 31, 2007. Reuters |
But as the focus shifts from North American hardcourts to European clay and the French Open, Williams and Djokovic have grabbed the tennis spotlight following their victories at the Sony Ericsson Open at the weekend.
After playing just four events last season, Williams was not expected to make early impact on the circuit she once dominated.
But the muscular American has been quickly back to form, losing just one match this season and capturing the two biggest prizes on offer thus far, the Australian Open and the Sony Ericsson with a stirring 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 comeback win over world No 1 Justine Henin.
Ranked 95 at the start of the year, Williams moved up to No 11 on Monday but to those who witnessed her performances in Melbourne and Miami the 25-year-old has already embarked on another reign as the top player in women's tennis.
So complete has been her early season dominance that it has already triggered talk of a 'Serena-slam' - winning all four grand slams - something she has not ruled out.
Voted the ATP's most improved player last year, Djokovic has confirmed his immense potential this season reaching the Masters Series final in Indian Wells then following up with an impressive straight sets win over Argentine Guillermo Canas in the Ericsson final on Sunday.
Employing an all-round game that has drawn comparison with world No 1 Roger Federer's, Djokovic stands out among a list of great Miami champions, joining Ivan Lendl (1989) as the only player to lift the title without dropping a set.
The victory vaulted Djokovic to a career best No 7 in the rankings but the supremely confident Serb has targeted bigger goals, including the number one ranking.
"I'm always comparing myself to the best players in the world because that is what I want to be one day," Djokovic, 19, told reporters. "Right now I feel like for the first time in my career that I am on that level, that I deserve to be one of the three best players in the world.
"People probably think that I am the biggest potential of tennis right now. I just hope that I'll become the best player one day."
Having won more matches than any other player this season, Djokovic sees no reason he cannot carry his superb form over to clay, a surface he counts as one of his favourites.
"I know there is a lot of expectations right now because I'm No 2 in the (ATP) Race right now," said Djokovic.
Agencies
(China Daily 04/04/2007 page23)
