Karolina Pliskova
Embed from Getty Images
Ended 2017: Disappointed as the top-ranked player over the summer, but played better at the WTA Finals where she advanced to the semifinals.
Starting 2018: Looking to defend her title in Brisbane.
Coaching Changes: After firing David Kotyza (former coach of Petra Kvitova, and now coach of Barbora Strycova) in September, is now working with Tomas Krupa (Strycova’s former coach). The Czech coaching carousel continues to spin.
Prospects: Free of the pressure that comes with being ranked number one (at least for now), 2018 may be the year Pliskova wins her first major.
Venus Williams
Embed from Getty Images
Ended 2017: Advancing to the championship match at the WTA Finals.
Starting 2018: As the top seed next week in Sydney.
Coaching Changes: None.
Prospects: She was the most consistent WTA player at the majors last year, but failed to win any titles in 2017. A letdown in 2018 seems inevitable for the 37-year-old after her best year in almost a decade.
Elina Svitolina
Embed from Getty Images
Ended 2017: Failing to advance passed the round robin stage at the WTA Finals.
Starting 2018: Playing Brisbane as her Australian Open warm-up.
Coaching Changes: None.
Prospects: Svitolina led the tour with five titles in 2017, but is yet to advance further than the quarterfinals at a major. I see her getting over that hump in 2018.
Jelena Ostapenko
Embed from Getty Images
Ended 2017: Playing very well in Asia, going 12-4 with one title.
Starting 2018: Defeated Serena Williams in an exhibition match last week. This week she’s in Shenzhen, and will also play next week in Sydney.
Coaching Changes: After Anabel Medina Garrigues left her team to become the Spanish Fed Cup captain, she hired David Taylor. Taylor has coached many WTA players, most notably Samantha Stosur.
Prospects: Ostapenko backed up her French Open title with strong results through the end of 2017. With a new coach in place, will she be able to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump? A dip at some point this year seems likely, but I don’t expect this fiery competitor to slump for long.
