This year will be an exciting year for tennis. On the women's side, new talents and names keep coming up with results and great tennis.Here are some of the names to watch….

Ana Ivanovic: Born Belgrade, Serbia, 6.11.87. Plays right-handed (two-handed backhand), status Pro (August 2003). Began working with Scott Byrnes (strength and conditioning coach) in July 2006, started playing tennis at five after watching it on TV (in particular Monica Seles), remembering the phone number of a local tennis school and begging her parents to take her.

2007 was Ivanovic's breakthrough season culminating in her first top-10 finish, highlighted by third, fourth and fifth career Tour singles titles and first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. Ana failed at the beginning of the year to win in Australia, but there is no doubt that this young star will be a Grand Slam winner - even during 2008.

'Vaidisova has an erratic player at times, but when she is focused she is dangerous'


Anna Chakvetadze: Born Moscow, Russia, 5.3.87. Plays right-handed (two-handed backhand), status Pro (2003). Breakthrough season was 2007, culminating in first top 10 finish, highlighted by winning third to sixth career tour singles titles and reaching first Grand Slam semi-final. Coached by father, Djambuli, she was introduced to tennis by mother, Natalia, at age eight. The seventh ranked player in the world, Chakvetadze has been advancing and playing with more and more confidence. She might not be Slam material, but can be a top 10 player for many years to come.

Nicole Vaidisova:Born Nurnberg, Germany, 23.4.89. Plays right-handed (two-handed backhand), status Pro (2003). Coached by stepfather, Alex Kodat; now working with physios Pavel Kovac and David Hogarth. Third straight top-20 finish after consistent season, marred somewhat by illness and injury; quarter-final or better at 10 of 14 events. Vaidisova has an erratic player at times, but when she is focused she is  dangerous.

Tamira Paszek:Born Dornbirn, Austria, 6.12.90. Plays right-handed (two-handed backhand), status Pro (2005). 2007 was first top 100 season for youngest player in top 280 of year-end rankings, highlighted by reaching first two Grand Slam fourth rounds. Coached by Richard Brooks and Roland Santos. The young Austrian is not a great athlete, but has the power and fighting spirit to make it big. If she can reach the top 30 this year, the sky is the limit.

Dinara Safina: Born Moscow, Russia, 27.4.86. Plays right-handed (two-handed backhand), status Pro (2000). Third consecutive top 20 finish in 2007 season was highlighted by fifth career tour singles title and first major title in doubles. Safina is a moody player and that is why her results have not been consistent. A powerful player who still hasl some way to go technicaly (specially her forehand), but a big star in the making.

Shahar Peer:Born Jerusalem, Israel, 1.5.87. Plays right-handed (two-handed backhand), status Pro (2004). 2007 was Shahar's second straight top 20 finish in season highlighted by her fourth tour singles final and first two Grand Slam quarter-finals plus runner-up at Memphis. Peer can still improve her serve and net game.

Other players to watch: Akgul Amanmuradova (Uzbekistan) and Ayumi Morita (Japan).