Monday January 21, 2013
Senior women praise emerging teens
A RAFT of teenage women have made their mark at the Australian Open, unlike the men, and senior players are sitting up and taking notice of the emerging talent.
Eleven teenagers made the women’s draw’s second round and while only one – American Sloane Stephens – progressed to the fourth round, the potential was plain to see.
Fifteen-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who was 17 when she won the US Open and French Opens in 1999, believes it is only a matter of time before one of the new crop starts challenging the top names.
“I think it will happen again, probably soon,” she said about the chances of a teenager winning a major tournament, after overcoming impressive 19-year-old Spaniard Garbine Muguruza in the second round.
“I think if the person is strong enough, tall enough, or short, but if they’re strong enough physically and mentally, I think it’s completely possible.”
Williams said the game was now more demanding than when she was young.
But she highlighted fellow American Madison Keys (pic), who is just 17 but made the third round at Melbourne Park before losing to fifth seed Angelique Kerber in a close-fought match.
“I think the game has changed, but when I was 17 I think I was playing pretty good tennis, as well as (Martina) Hingis and the other teenagers who won,” she said.
“So I think the game is definitely physical.
“But I also think that there are some players, like Madison Keys is like 6’2“, and she’s very strong and she’s only 17. She has several years while she’s still a teenager to win a Grand Slam.”
Chinese No. 1 and world No. 6 Li Na was another to praise the athletic Keys after they met in Sydney this month.
“If she plays like this every match she will soon be in the top 20, top 15 and then top 10,” said Li Na after being tested by the teenager.
Former great Lindsay Davenport also sees a big future for Keys, tweeting: “Really fun watching Keys play. Regardless of how this tourney plays out, incredible potential. Best hope I’ve seen for US since Williams’.”
Another promising talent is Stephens, whose poise and power has seen her compared to a young Williams, who praised her fellow American as “a great player” with massive potential.
At 19, she is the only teen still standing after coming out on top of her third round clash with 18-year-old Briton Laura Robson, who is also rapidly improving and shocked eighth seed Petra Kvitova in the previous round.
Other teenagers who did their reputations no harm at Melbourne Park included Croatian Donna Vekic, 16, German Annika Beck, 18, and Russian Daria Gavrilova, also 18. – AFP
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