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Depth vs. star power

ATP, WTA tournaments both have plenty to offer

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By Lee Geeker, CNNSI.com

	• Storylines • Aces/Double Faults • They Said It • Anna Kournikova Watch • Looking Ahead

Last week's men's and women's events showed the differences between the two tours.

The men's side featured a full week of riveting matches, and though the final lacked star power, it featured two very solid and deserving players in Thomas Enqvist and Tim Henman.

Meanwhile, the WTA event in Los Angeles saw very few upsets, with three of the top four seeds (not including Monica Seles, who withdrew before the tournament) advancing to the semifinals, and Serena Williams winning the title over Lindsay Davenport in a superb final.

Which is better, having five days of snoozer matches before the stars square off on the weekend, or having a week for of surprises that ends with two lesser-known but talented players competing for the title on Sunday?

The answer is probably neither, and maybe that's a good thing for tennis as a whole. The incredible depth of men's tennis makes it completely unpredictable from week to week, but that can be exciting. Meanwhile, on the women's side, fans are almost guaranteed at least one matchup of marquee players on the weekends.

With the year's final Grand Slam event fast approaching, look forward to plenty more excitement, and enjoy the great tennis sure to be played, whether it's between the top names in the game, or two talented surprises that have earned their shot at greatness.

Henman's hex

Tim Henman played a wonderful week of tennis in Cincinnati, but once again, the British No. 1 fell in a final. Despite some strong showings, he hasn't won a title in nearly two years, though he has reached seven finals during that time. Without a doubt, that has to be in his mind when he takes the court going for a title. Here's hoping that he gets another chance soon and breaks the streak.

Serena steps out

After watching sister Venus win Wimbledon and follow it up with two more WTA titles, Serena Williams got back into action last week and looked just as impressive as her sister. Right now, no one is playing at the level those two are, and it will be interesting to see if they end up matched up in the later rounds of the U.S. Open. Of course, it would be great to see them playing all the time, because women's tennis has certainly been more exciting with them than without, as it was earlier in the year.

ACE Thomas Enqvist Solid Swede finally wins a tournament after winning three times in 1999. He's been a solid player, and certainly deserved to win.

ACE Serena Williams Plays a fantastic final two sets to defeat Lindsay Davenport and defend her title in Los Angeles..

DOUBLE FAULT Andre Agassi Another week, another injury. The trend isn't good, and a quick exit at the U.S. Open wouldn't be too surprising if he's not at full strength.

ACE Gustavo Kuerten Sure, he lost in the semifinals in Cincinnati, but the French Open champ looked comfortable on the hard courts and has been the most consistent player on tour this year.

"It was about 180 seconds ago, maybe."

Tim Henman, when asked about his greatest moment in tennis after beating Pete Sampras in Cincinnati.

"If Plan A isn't working, I have Plan B, Plan C, and even Plan D."

Serena Williams, after the estyle.com Classic.

"The one wonderful think I've taken from the first seven months of the year is I still want to play desperately. I still enjoy every aspect except getting my tail kicked."

Todd Martin, after reaching the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.

She's one of the biggest stars in tennis, and makes millions in endorsements, yet 19-year-old Anna Kournikova has never won a WTA Tour singles title, earning her plenty of criticism. Week at a Glance will follow Anna's performance until she finally breaks through with her first tournament win.

2000 stats: 31-17 record, six semifinal appearances in 16 tournaments

Kournikova took the week off, but returned to action Monday at the du Maurier Open in Motreal, where she won her opening match. Next week, Anna will take another week off to rest before the U.S. Open begins.

This week - ATP Tour

There are two men's events this week, the RCA Championships in Indianapolis and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, DC. Those playing in Indianapolis include Gustavo Kuerten, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Thomas Enqvist, Lleyton Hewitt, and Marat Safin. Andre Agassi headlines a field in Washington that includes Alex Corretja, Mark Philippoussis, and Nicolas Kiefer.

This week - WTA Tour

The women are be in Montreal for the du Maurier Open, and 18 of the top 20 players are entered in the final major tuneup for the U.S. Open. Serena Williams is entered, but sister Venus is not.

Next week - ATP Tour

The final week before the U.S. Open will see the men playing the Hamlet Cup in Long Island. Patrick Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and Thomas Enqvist are among those scheduled to play.

Next week - WTA Tour

The women will have a final tuneup at the Pilot Pen in Connecticut. Venus Williams will headline a field that also includes Monica Seles and Amanda Coetzer.

 

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