You know women’s tennis? Then join John Bolan in his 2014 year-end ranking predictions and win a WTA player autograph

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For the third straight year Women’s Tennis Blog’s regular contributor John Bolan is brave enough to share with the world his WTA year-end ranking predictions. Quite a daring feat in the unstable world of women’s tennis! Plus, John is traditionally providing an award to the best predictor among you. Comments received by January 1st, 2014 will be eligible for the prize. I’m giving the word to John, he’ll further explain everything!

Please join me in predicting the Top 10 for 2014! Who do you think the Top 10 players will be at the end of 2014? I don’t think it will be as easy as in 2013 to pick the Top 10 for the coming year. If your picks are the most accurate, you will win an autographed picture of one of your favorite players.

Sabine Lisicki and John Bolan
Sabine Lisicki and John Bolan

There is no question Serena must be picked number one. She was unbeatable in 2013 – the best year of her career. She has focused on her game since her serious illness and is dedicated to her career. I believe she is thinking about her legacy and her standing among the greats, the very top female players of all time. The statistics show her now to be the fifth best all-time player. In 2014 she could easily move up to third place on the statistical all-time list.

Victoria Azarenka

As usual, I looked at the most recent head-to-head matches, the number of tournaments played, the injury reports, possible comebacks, coaching and personal situations. Injuries always have a big effect on the outcome of the Top 10. This year I did not include Vera Zvonareva and Andrea Petkovic, who are coming off serious injuries, because of the difficulty of coming back and the higher chance of re-injury occurring. I was unsure if I should include Maria Sharapova because she is so prone to injury and her right shoulder has been so heavily abused over the years.

Ana Ivanovic

Li Na will be the top contender for Serena’s crown. My top six picks are the best players in the WTA, and they should continue their dominance over the up-and-comers. The best two of these up-and-comers are Simona Halep and Sabine Lisicki. Halep just missed the Top 10 in 2013, finishing 11th and only missing the Top 10 by less than 200 ranking points. Lisicki finished 15th in 2013 and should have made the Top 10 before this, but injuries have kept her down. The two defensive wizards – Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic – should remain in the Top 10.

These are my Top 10 choices for the end of 2014:

1. Serena Williams
2. Li Na
3. Victoria Azarenka
4. Maria Sharapova
5. Agnieszka Radwanska
6. Petra Kvitova
7. Simona Halep
8. Caroline Wozniacki
9. Jelena Jankovic
10. Sabine Lisicki

Once again, I realize many of you will disagree with my picks. Errani, Kerber, Stephens, Ivanovic, Suarez Navarro, Stosur, Flipkens, Makarova and some others are capable of a Top 10 finish. Please use the comment section to make your own picks. If yours are the most accurate compared to the actual 2014 final rankings, you will receive an autographed picture of one of your favorite players. Good luck – remember I only missed one in 2013!!!

25 COMMENTS

  1. 1. Azarenka
    2. S Williams
    3. Halep
    4. Li
    5. Kvitova
    6. Jankovic
    7. A Radwanska
    8 Lisicki
    9 Sharapova
    10 Makarova

    Dreaming? You betcha. 🙂

  2. Here’s my predictions:

    1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Petra Kvitova
    4. Li Na
    5. Maria Sharapova
    6. Caroline Wozniacki
    7. Agnieszka Radwanska
    8. Simona Halep
    9. Sam Stosur
    10. Sloane Stephens

    I think Serena will remain strong next year, but maybe not as invincible. I don’t see her winning more than 2 Slams.

    I was thinking whether I should put Azarenka to no. 2 because of her poor finish to the season and her injury worries but I think she’ll bounce back strongly.

    Kvitova is one of the most unpredictable players on the WTA, but I HOPE that she would find her 2011 form. It would be about a time, Petra.

    I think Li Na, as much as I like her on- and off-court, won’t be able to remain as consistent but I do believe she will have some great results. On the other she did lost early at RG this year, so she will have a big chance to earn big points there next season.

    Sharapova is a total question mark, but she’s just so great fighter that I think she will stay in the top 5. But no GS for Maria next year.

    Then we have Caro. I once again hope great results for her and I think that this new coach, Hogstedt, will bring her confidece back and she’ll have great wins. Maybe even a GS…? Yeah I know it’s a long-shot but who would’ve guess that Bartoli would win the Wimbledon this year?

    Radwanska will stay pretty consistent but I don’t believe she will do anything big at the Slams. I honestly think she has already found her limits and will go down from here. Sorry Aga fans.

    I believe Halep will continue her rise towards the Top 5. She will probably be one of the future top contenders for the Slams but not next year yet.

    Sammie Stosur had a great finish to a disappointing season and she doesn’t have that many points to defend so I guess she will be back at top 10.

    I wasn’t sure if I should put Sloane here because sometimes she’s being so passive and just absolutely does nothing to the ball even though she is very athletic and has that power. It’s frustrating at times. But let’s hope Annacone as her new coach will change that. I hope her a good season and if she really will find her aggressive game, she can be knocking on the door of Top 5.

    Anyway, sorry for such a long comment, I just wanted to explain my predictions! 😀

  3. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Petra Kvitova
    4. Na Li
    5. Maria Sharapova
    6. Agnieszka Radwanska
    7. Angelique Kerber
    8. Simona Halep
    9. Caroline Wozniacki
    10. Sam Stosur

  4. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Petra Kvitova
    4. Na Li
    5. Maria Sharapova
    6. Agnieszka Radwanska
    7. Angelique Kerber
    8. Simona Halep
    9. Caroline Wozniacki
    10. Sam Stosur

  5. Maggie, my friend, dreaming is the way to go – except when a dream consisting of ten items contains four which properly belong to a nightmare (i.e., your nr’s 1, 2, 6 and 9).
    As for me, being a dreamer hopelessly impervious to ‘scientific’ influences, I’ll stick to my prediction from a year ago, except for, striving for a perfect score, replacing my only miss-hit by Jelena Dokic (who, I gather, is back, one more time) or, should she for (un)foreseen reasons drop out again, by … uhm, let’s say … Jamie Hampton. There.

  6. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Maria sharapova
    3. Victoria azarenka
    4. Agniezska radwanska
    5. Li na
    6. Petra kvitova
    7. Jelena jankovic
    8. Sloane Stephens
    9. Angelique Kerber
    10. Simona Halep

  7. 1. Victoria Azarenka
    2. Serena Williams
    3.Li Na
    4. Maria Sharapova
    5. Simona Halep.
    6.Aga Radwanska
    7. Jelena Jankovic
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Sloane Stephens
    10. Sabine Lisicki

  8. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Aazarenka
    3. Na Li
    4. Maria Sharapova
    5. Petra Kvitova
    6. Agnieszka Radwanska
    7. Simona Halep
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Caroline Wozniacki
    10. Sam Stosur

  9. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Aazarenka
    3. Na Li
    4. Maria Sharapova
    5. Petra Kvitova
    6. Agnieszka Radwanska
    7. Simona Halep
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Caroline Wozniacki
    10. Sara Errani (sorry, I got confused)

  10. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Agnieszka Radwanska
    4. Li Na
    5. Maria Sharapova
    6. Simona Halep
    7. Petra Kvitova
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Caroline Wozniacki
    10. Jelena Jankovic

    I’m a big fan of Ana Ivanovic but based on her current situation, she is not gonna climb up the ranking sooner. She knows confidence is the main issue but doesn’t take any proper action to raise it. Just hope miracle gonna help her.

    🙂

  11. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Aga Radwańska
    3. Victoria Azarenka
    4. Maria Sharapova
    5. Ana Ivanović
    6. Simona Halep
    7. Caroline Wozniacki
    8. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
    9. Na Li
    10. Eugenie Bouchard

  12. Here’s my slightly wacky list for 2014.

    1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Petra Kvitova
    4. Li Na
    5. Simona Halep
    6. Caroline Wozniacki
    7. Agnieszka Radwanska
    8. Eugenie Bouchard
    9. Maria Sharapova
    10. Sloane Stephens

  13. Wishful thinking as to teh German players 😉
    1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Li Na
    4. Petra Kvitova
    5. Maria Sharapova
    6. Agnieszka Radwanska
    7. Angelique Kerber
    8. Simona Halep
    9. Sabine Lisicki
    10. Sloane Stephens

  14. 1: Serena
    2: Azarenka
    3: Aga Radwanska
    4: Sharapova
    5: Li Na
    6: Kvitova
    7: Kerber
    8: Halep
    9: Stosur
    10: Wozniacki

  15. Some readers know I am a big fan of JJ. I admit I was shocked that she made it back into the elite top 10, weather she stays there is yet to be seen. I was glad Li made it to World #3, that speaks just how far she has come in her career and speaks wonders that she is still competing at a high level in her 30’s. Very similar story with Serena too, being that dominate in her 30’s as well and considering all the talent in women’s tennis today too. Boring part over, time for the fun part.

    #1. Na
    #2. Williams
    #3. Azarenka
    #4. Kvitova
    #5. Radwanska
    #6. Jankovic
    #7. Halep
    #8. Shrapova
    #9. Stephens
    #10. Lisicki

    That is all 10 of them, some bold predictions but sometimes that is what it takes. Some may have noticed that I put Li at number one, more history for China. I don’t think Williams will be as dominate. Towards end of the year the ladies were beginning to catch up to her as well as the year beginning to take its toll on her body. I think Maria will struggle in the early part of the season with injury. I was thinking about including Cirstea, but she is at #22. JJ proved it is possible to make into top ten being that far down but JJ also won a title and a deep run at a slam, plus several QF and SF at big tourney’s. Halep and Lisicki will carry good form into this year. JJ will have another good year and by some miracle win the French Open she so desperately wants. Ivanovic showed some good results throughout the year and several towards end of season. Maybe that will continue. 🙂

  16. 1. Victoria Azarenka
    2. Na Li
    3. Maria Sharapova
    4. Serena Williams
    5. Agnieszka Radwanska
    6. Petra Kvitova
    7. Caroline Wozniacki
    8. Sloane Stephens
    9. Sabine Lisicki
    10. Sorana Cirstea

  17. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Li Na
    4. Maria Sharapova
    5. Petra Kvitova
    6. Caroline Wozniacki
    7. Sam Stosur
    8. Agnieszka Radwanska
    9. Angelique Kerber
    10. Sabine Lisicki

  18. My bet?

    1. Serena Williams
    2. Li Na
    3. Victoria Azarenka
    4. Agnieszka Radwanska
    5. Maria Sharapova
    6. Petra Kvitova
    7. Sloane Stephens
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Samantha Stosur
    10. Simona Halep

    😀

  19. Serena has a lot to defend, she’s totally capable of doing that. But I think she would be at no.2 by 2014.
    Here is my prediction for WTA year-end 2014 ranking:
    1. Li Na
    2. Serena Williams
    3. Maria Sharapova
    4. Victoria Azarenka
    5. Agnieszka Radwanska
    6. Simona Halep
    7. Petra Kvitova
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Jelena Jankovic
    10. Sabine Lisicki

  20. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Maria Sharapova
    3. Petra Kvitova
    4. Caroline Wozniacki
    5. Victoria Azarenka
    6. Li Na
    7. Aga Radwanska
    8. Simona Halep
    9. Jelena Jankovic
    10. Sloane Stephens

    Happy New Year!

  21. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Maria Sharapova
    3. Victoria Azarenka
    4. Petra Kvitova
    5. Li Na
    6. Jelena Jankovic
    7. Agniezska Radwanska
    8. Sabine Lisicki
    9. Ana Ivanovic
    10. Simona Halep

  22. Ok here we GO 2014

    1. SERENA William
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Agnieszka Radwanska
    4. Maria Sharapova
    5. Li Na
    6. Jelena Jankovic
    7. Petra Kivitova
    8. Sara Errani
    9. Caroline Wozniacki
    10. Angelique Kerber

    It was hard choosing Aggie over Maria for #3 but considering Maria’s other interest I think she’s got a lot going on. And Caroline just might surprise us ! Let’s go Ladies !❤️❤️

  23. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Maria Sharapova
    3. Victoria Azarenka
    4. Li Na
    5. Agnieszka Radwanska
    6. Petra Kvitova
    7. Simona Halep
    8. Angelique Kerber
    9. Ana Ivanovic
    10. Sara Errani

    Hope I’ll win this one! 🙂

  24. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Victoria Azarenka
    3. Maria Sharapova
    4. Agnieska Radwanska
    5. Jelena Jankovic
    6. Simona Halep
    7. Li Na
    8. Ana Ivanovic
    9. Caroline Wozniaki
    10. Dominika Cibulkova

  25. 1. Serena Williams
    2. Na Li
    3. Victoria Azarenka
    4. Agnieszka Radwanska
    5. Jelena Jankovic
    6. Maria Sharapova
    7. Ana Ivanovic
    8. Eugénie Bouchard
    9. Simona Halep
    10. Petra Kvitova

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