| |
NOMINEE |
THE SKINNY |
| Overrated |
Anna Kournikova |
For all the flashbulbs, hype, and
breathless males that accompany her matches, tennis' czarina is still in search
of her first WTA Tour tournament
title. |
| Underrated |
Barbara Schett |
Little-know Austrian waltzed quietly
into the Top
10. |
| Annoying |
Richard Williams |
Without fail, he manages to taint
daughters' accomplishments by assuming center stage and spewing nonsense.
Martina Hingis is right: he does have a big
mouth. |
| Breakthrough |
Serena Williams |
After failing to advance past the
fourth round in six Grand Slam tournament tries, the younger half of the Sister
Act beats seven foes -- including fomer champs Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport
and Hingis -- to win the U.S.
Open. |
| Uplifting |
Steffi Graf and Todd Martin |
At the French Open, only a
few days shy of her 30th birthday, Graf outlasts an obstreperous Hingis to win
her 22nd (and final) Grand Slam singles title. Down two sets and a break to
hard-serving Greg Rusedski, grey-templed Martin pulls out a breathtaking
five-setter at the U.S.
Open. |
| MVP |
Andre Agassi |
A wizened divorcé at the age of 29, the
inimitable showman reinvents himself yet again, this time as a consistently
dominating force. Not only did he reach three Grand Slam finals -- winning two
of them -- and finish the year ranked No.1, but he but found love as
well. |
Storyline to
follow in 2000 |
Sampras, the Williams sisters and more |
Will Pete Sampras return to full force and
bag another Slam? Will the Williams sisters fulfill their destiny -- or at least
their father's pronouncements? Will a chastened Martina Hingis learn from her
mistakes? Will the U.S. Davis Cup team, a potential murderer's row, be as
Mac-nificent as advertised? Will Steffi Graf grow to like
Vegas? |
