I think Lindsay is one of the nicest people on the tour. A real class act that represents the United States. Like Justine, Lindsay does not trash talk, but does her talking with her tennis racquet. I also really like her game. Especially her cannon of a forehand and serve. However, the last several times she has played Justine, JuJu blew her off the court. Here is the deal: Lindsay is not a good mover, but if you give her a ball in her “wheelhouse’ the point is over. Lindsay’s pitcher’s mound is what is called the “aggressive hitting zone” that is the area in the middle of the court, inside the baseline to about 5 feet outside the back of the service box. This area opens up angles and Lindsay is the best in the game at hitting winners from this area. Lindsay uses her powerful serve, service returns and groundstrokes to generate a soft ball in this zone, then she comes in for the kill. So what is the problem? Justine also finishes points from here, has such fast foot speed, she can defend a lot

she can defend a lot of Lindsay’s winners and does not hit very many balls in this zone due to her shotmaking ability. Justine can use her precision shots and disguises to wrong-foot Lindsay and make her 6-1 height a liability and not an asset. But against an inferior player, it is a blast to watch Lindsay go to work at the office

The challenge Lleyton Hewlett faces is, like Tim Henman, who has just retired, the game has changed dramatically in the past few years. Hewlett’s game is based on fitness, endurance and a combination pusher/counterpunching type of style. He likes to get into epic 5-setters in the slams and the hotter the better. There is no doubt he likes the “last man standing” approach to 3 hour slugfests over 90 degrees F. That said, the racquet and string technologies as well as the size, strength and fitness of today’s top-20 players creates challenges for his style. At the recreational level, we have all played that guy who does not really have any tangible weapons such as a big serve, big powerful groundies or a precision net game, but they can run everything down and counterpunch. We know at a certain level they force a lot of errors on their opponents as they try harder and harder to hit a ball past them. But one level higher, this player is dominated with the guy who hits harder, makes less errors and can

makes less errors and can run just as fast. This is the ATP of today and that is why Hewlett may find himself weaponless against the men who occupy the top-20.

if Amelie Mauresmo if healthy and playing well;Henin knows that Mauresmo is a tough customer for her on anything then clay! She knows this and has stated just that.Davenport is no match for Henin.Serena yes and Venus and Maria to some extent. Kuznetsova and Jankovic have a mental bloc against Henin and are too affraid of the Belgian. If Mauresmo;Sharapova;the Williams are all healthy;Henin will NOT dominate like she did in 2007!

Roger Federer is in a class of his own. His best will only come out when he is under some pressure from someone who has enough courage, trying to outdo him. Currently, his nearest rival is many light years away, I am afraid.

ROGER IS MILES BETTER THAN ANY OTHER PLAYER ON THE PLANET.

He will win in all the grand slams when it counts most. I think he will even will the french open...I think he finally has Nadal's number. But he will struggle in the less important tournaments against the likes of Nalbandian, Djokovic...and probably even Nadal. But Hewitt, Ferrer and Roddick...no way, not even close. They will never get the best of The Fed.

A new tennis threat in the form of Lleyton Hewitt for 2008? Absolutely! With the incomporable Tony Roche on his side, he will definitely be worrying Federer and Nadal this year. Hewitt has hunger now, and he knows that if he can't get a grand salm title with his legendary compatriot, then he never will. Hewitt has certainly got the desire and the energy, and with subtle tweaks to his unrelenting game, he will be able to reach his world no. 1 status again. Nadal is claymaster for now, Federer elsewhere, but with Lleyton's boosted baseline game together with added variety of some serve and volley tactics, aggressive serving and all round play which Tony Roche can train him with, then I see Lleyton kicking the current two horse race into touch that tennis has become of late - no bad thing. Let's get behind him and see tennis get a boost. P.S. Isn't it about time Tony Roche got a knighthood? No other coach has had such a positive influence and effect on so many grand slam title winners, as well as

On the womens tour, I believe a healthy Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova will definitely make Justine work for her wins. I think Serena Williams & Ana Ivanovic will be looking to make a statement as well. On the mens tournament, I think Roger is still going to win slams but not so easily. Djokovic, Ferrer and a determined Nadal could give him a run for his money.