Over the next two weeks, as the new season begins and the Australian Open nears, our panel of writers and editors will debate the five burning questions on each tour.
NINA PANTIC, Associate Editor: American tennis wants nothing more than to have another great champion, but when you want something too badly, there’s a greater chance of screwing it up. Outside of the Williams sisters, there are 11 American women in the Top 100 (five of which are in the Top 50). At No. 33, Madison Keys should be the best bet. The 19-year-old had a breakthrough 2014 season, but she hasn’t yet made it past the third round of a major. The next few Americans behind her share similar stories—flashes of brilliance amidst mediocre performances, especially at Slams—and that isn’t the best recipe for a deep run in Australia.
The most exciting thing to happen to U.S. tennis in 2014 was 15-year-old CiCi Bellis’ third-round run at the U.S. Open, and she’s not even a pro. The odds seem good for a star to emerge, but on further inspection, rankings depth isn’t enough. America will have to wait.
STEVE TIGNOR, Senior Writer: Most Likely to Succeed in this category would be Keys. She’s now ranked ahead of Stephens, and she got a tournament title under her belt at Eastbourne last year. Her gunslinging game gives her a chance to upset anyone, and she has played well in Australia before. The problem for Keys will be putting together the five back-to-back wins she needs to reach the semis—she has yet to show that kind of consistency.
Another young American who could surprise in Oz is Coco Vandeweghe. The 23-year-old Californian with the killer serve was one of the tour’s most improved players in 2014, jumping from No. 110 to No. 39. Hard courts are her thing, too.
