A stellar field befitting the Sony Ericsson Championship comprises of five players who have previously competed in these championships and three debutantes. Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams are previous winners while Svetlana Kuznetsova and Daniela Hantuchova will look to improve on disappointing past performances that saw them depart prematurely.

Only Henin and Hantuchova have the recent form to suggest potential success. Henin has not lost a match since her surprise defeat to Marion Bartoli in the Wimbledon semi-final. The Belgian has notched up 20 victories, four titles, including the US Open crown, and dropped only two sets in that time. She has been literally unstoppable and will go into this week’s Championships as the unquestionable favourite.

Hantuchova will also feel she has a chance if she plays as she did in Linz two weeks ago. That fine form saw the Slovakian seize her place in the season-ending showpiece, yet her failure at this season’s Slams betrays an inability to cope with the world’s best.

'She [Henin] has been literally unstoppable and will go into this week’s Championships as the unquestionable favourite'


Henin’s main competitor this week will likely be Serena Williams. The American began the year ranked 94th in the world but a stunning run to claim the Australian Open title put her firmly back where she belongs. Williams consistently plays her best tennis when it is most needed and in order to win the title, she will have to draw on all her reserves.

However, this year has seen Henin demolish the demons that previously stood in her way whenever a Williams honed into view. The No.1 had a 4-12 record against the sisters but 2007 has seen a mentally tougher Henin win four out of five contests, including defeats of Serena at the quarter-final stage of this year’s French Open, Wimbledon and US Open tournaments.

Svetlana Kuznetsova has proven herself to be one of the most consistent performers in 2007 with one title and five runners-up spots including one on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. One of the most underrated players on the Tour, the Russian looks the most likely to progress furthest out of her compatriots.

Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Anna Chakvetadze represent the new faces of women’s tennis and their appearance in Madrid comes after breakthrough years for the Tour’s brightest young stars. Ivanovic played in her first Major Final at Roland Garros and backed this up a month later with a semi-final showing at Wimbledon. Her Serbian compatriot, Jankovic, has amassed an outstanding 72 victories this year and captured four titles.

However, there will be some concern for the two Serbians after their recent form saw them both stumble at the first hurdle on their previous outing and Jankovic continue a three-match losing streak. Nevertheless, if their form is questionable, then Chakvetadze’s is diabolical after the young Russian has won just twice in six matches since the Fed Cup Final. The 20-year old will need to find form quickly in Madrid or her tournament may be short-lived.

Once again, the excessive demands of the Tour have been called into question after Venus Williams, the Wimbledon Champion was forced to withdraw from the tournament, thereby handing a berth to Maria Sharapova, who herself has only contested one match since the US Open after a prolonged shoulder injury. By her own admission, Sharapova rushed back too quickly in order to play at the Moscow tournament last month but an extra few weeks off leaves the Russian “determined to compete at the Sony Ericsson Championships.”

If the players find their top form, and can get through the week without any injuries, Madrid can look forward to one of the best season-ending Championships in years. While Henin has the ability to demolish all in front of her, Williams, Jankovic and a healthy Sharapova can, on their day, produce an upset.

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