Thanks to everyone who participated in this week's poll (385 votes for the boys, 253 votes for the ladies) asking which ballers would make the biggest impact on the ATP World Tour and WTA Tour this season.
Based on their outstanding performances at last month's Aussie Open, Fernando Verdasco + Jelena Dokic received the most overall votes. Nando reached his first Grand Slam semifinal and played the longest match in Oz history falling to eventual champ Rafael Nadal in five epic sets. JD was the feel good story of the fortnight coming out of the tennis doldrums to reach the quarterfinals after defeating Anna Chakvetadze + Caroline Wozniacki along the way.
The full results of the polls are as follows:
Fernando Verdasco - 54%
Gilles Simon - 16%
Juan Martin del Potro - 13%
Ernests Gulbis - 8%
Marin Cilic - 4%
Gael Monfils - 2%
Bernard Tomic - 1%
What's interesting here is Ernests Gulbis, who has yet to win his maiden ATP title, received more votes than Marin Cilic who already has two singles titles under his belt this season (Chennai, Zagreb) and three overall. Where's the love peeps?!
Jelena Dokic - 37%
Victoria Azarenka - 24%
Carla Suarez Navarro - 19%
Alize Cornet - 11%
Laura Robson - 3%
Michelle Larcher de Brito - 1% (5 votes)
Alisa Kleybanova - 1% (4 votes)
The result of the ladies poll isn't too surprising though most voters don't seem to think Alisa will build on her upset of Ana Ivanovic and the fourth round showing in Oz. In fact, she was beaten out by up-and-comer Laura and barely by Michelle. I wonder if this decision was based on the Russian teen's seeming lack of fitness because the girl can sure hit a ball.
If you voted, I'd love to hear the reasons you chose the ballers you did.
THIS WEEK'S POLL: Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have both come out against the new WADA anti-doping measures while Roger Federer has defended them. What do you think about the WADA policy being implemented in tennis? VOTE NOW!
(images via Getty)
Monday, February 9, 2009
DtL Weekly Poll Results: Nando + JD most likely to make biggest impact this season
Labels: Fernando Verdasco, Jelena Dokic, tennis, weekly poll
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I can definately see dokic as a contenter, kind of a sharapova fill in for the time being..lol but as far as verdasco, he kinda reminds me of last year oz open with tsonga having a miracle run...its just a moment thing, but I dont think his great playing will last throughout the year..Personally for me, it just seems that the aussie open is the only tournament where sudden "new comers" pop up and then arent ever heard of again, or some person who has been on tour a while, has an amazing run in their portion of a draw...its the magic of Oz I guess, but Dokic will definately do good as long as she keeps up her confidence!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Australian Open always has surprise winners on a hot streak. Tsonga, Baghs and Gonzalez? Although, I think Tsonga will be a major player for a while and a threat as long as he's healthy. Baghs, I love Baghs but he's even more injury prone that Tsonga, and that's saying something.
ReplyDeleteAzarenka? I can honestly say I haven't seen too much of her game to make a judgement. Sure, she played Serena tough before she fell ill but - as Rafa once said "can you sustain that kind of amazing play, is the question?"
I'm not sure she has it in her to go toe to toe with the big babes ALL the time, even if she's an annoying shrieker too.
Kleybanova, she can bludgeon a ball eh? She needs to get in shape before anyone takes her seriously. Any big baby can yank her from side to side and she's done because her fitness is so poor. Oh, and anyone beating Ana these days is not an upset to me anymore. She's STILL got ball toss issues as recent as her Fed Cup match.
Yeah, maybe Ivanović should just toss the ball to the other side of the net, if hitting it is so problematic?
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