The Net and Women's Rankings

Matt Cronin

A few years ago, a pair of now terrific players did not go into the net much -- even while playing doubles together. But this year, they became much better and now are the No. 1-ranked team in the doubles.

And in the singles, they have both reached the top 4, with Jessica Pegula winning her first WTA 1000 at Guadalajara in 2022 and the 19-year-old Coco Gauff winning her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

Doubles and Singles

Playing doubles has helped them in singles as bit by bit, they have become better at approaching the net and putting away the ball. Spanish coach Pere Riba, who worked with Gauff until recently, likes that they play doubles as much as they can.

"To play with one partner like Jessica Pegula that has a lot of experience, Coco is still in a process that is 19 years old. She needs to continue improving, continue evolving," he has said. "The key is that she is open to improve. I think playing doubles with Pegula has helped in her development."

Neither is going to start serving and volleying on every ball or rushing forward every point -- their net play is effective because it has been built on solid groundstrokes and footwork.

Gauff's forehand and forehand return have improved under new coach Brad Gilbert, who came on board a few weeks before the US Open. That's where her doubles experience has paid off, allowing her to get used to hitting volleys during the pressure of competitive play. She can react, bend low, scoop it up, and decide where to go with the ball. It was often a winning play at the US Open.

The veteran Pegula has played for a long time, going from tournament to tournament, and though she was consistent in singles it was only in 2022 that the 29-year-old got her big breakthrough. She does like to rally, but to beat the top players she has to take a deep breath and challenge herself.

Doubles has given her more ways to win points -- she's on the top of the net, seeing it coming, then she goes either way. When her opponent comes in, she can lob for a winner.

Pegula used net play and her lob to lift another trophy in Seoul, though she's still looking for a deep Grand Slam run. In my view her forehand must be stronger to have a better shot at doing that.

Sofia Kenin

Sofia Kenin, another American, could climb to another level the same way. The 24-year-old won the 2020 Australian Open and looked like she could establish herself towards the top of the game but her career has been repeatedly interrupted.

In February, she was ranked No. 210, but has had some solid tournaments this season and has hit Top 30 once again.

Kenin has a great ground game and can slice, spin, and lob once in a while. She can also slap it down the line with her the two-hander to change directions and keep her opponent on the move. Kenin has a lot of speed off the ground, along with good anticipation on the return, though she can become emotional during matches.

But the baseliner doesn't play a lot of doubles, which could help her develop some aggressive, offense play to go with her consistency.

It is not just groundstrokes that currently decide who gets to the top of the women's game. They have to, point after point, to change it up. That is a huge decision.

Variety is critical. If you look at the top players, they aren't predictable with their games.

Ash

Start with Ash Barty, who is now retired but won three Grand Slams with her one-handed slice backhand and rounded game, first climbing to the top in doubles.

The current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has also had doubles success. Even if she's not great at the net, she can go really low and pick it up when she is there.

A four-time Grand Slam champ and current No. 2, Iga Swiatek, can smash the ball, hit with spin. But she can also attack. Another one-hander with a slice, Ons Jabeur, always likes to mix it up.

Also adept in the front of the court is Barbora Krejcikova, who won the French Open in 2021. The Czech loves doubles, winning 17 titles with her friend, Katerina Siniakova.

A lot of other players occasionally come into the net, such as Canadian Bianca Andreescu, who won the 2019 US Open, and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina and Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the most recent champions at Wimbledon.

The conclusion? Adding volleys to good groundstrokes would set up women players for more success on tour. Wouldn't that be something?