Hingis/Williams "Lines":

"It is impossible for Martina to beat me down. The only way I'm am going to lose is to make all the mistakes."
-- Venus Williams thoughts on the current #1

"I have five Grand Slam titles. Venus and Serena each have one and Lindsay has three. But she's 24. The Williamses, they're my age. I think so far, I've been better than them."
-- Martina Hingis spewing some Grand Slam realities

Is the changing of the guard happening in women's tennis? As the 2000 season unfolds the answer appears to be "yes." While the verbal cat fighting between Hingis and Venus Williams is nothing new, with Venus's full assault comeback to the Tour they are taking on a different tone. Venus (and for that matter Serena) have always excelled at "talking the talk" but have not until this year have they "walked the walk." The sisters's goal to become the top two players in the world and their (and certainly Richard Williams's) plan appears to be on track.

Hingis however needs not worry, her place in tennis history is secure. My guess is that she just wants everyone to remember that she is still a force despite the current media blitz touting the WTA as the "Williams" Tennis Association. Hingis does have five Grand Slam titles to date, and from 1997 through 1999 racked up an impressive record. Hingis's 1997 is a one she will unlikely ever be able to repeat, winning three Slams and reaching the final of the other (it is hard to believe that only 3 years ago Iva Majoli downed Hingis at the French). Despite her French Open meltdown in the final to Graf and her no-show first round loss to Dokic at Wimbledon, 1999 was also impressive with the Australian Open title and appearances in two other Slams.

Much has been made recently of Hingis's lack of Grand Slam titles over the past two years. This is certainly an irrefutable fact. After to her near Grand Slam in 1997, Hingis has only captured two Australians (1998 & 1999) -- 2 of the last 11 Slams. It is certainly worth argument, that Hingis is the least dominant #1-ranked player in the Open Era over the past two years. What Hingis has been is the most consistent and injury-free player on the Tour. Deservedly so, those two facts have kept Hingis at #1 for and why, in a very achievable more 25 weeks, she will usurp Monica Seles's #4 spot on the "all time total weeks at #1" list.

Hingis's guile on the court is under attack by power players or what Mary Carillo dubbed "Big Babe Tennis." Since Hingis's last Slam (Australia in 1999), the next six Slams have been won by the hardest hitting women (Graf, Davenport, Serena, Davenport again, Pierce, Venus) on the Tour.

While Davenport and the Williams sisters have fewer Grand Slam titles than Hingis, the potential to add to them has swung in favor of the Hingis's nemeses. Davenport took control over Hingis earlier this year and only a handful of injuries have kept her from regaining the #1 ranking (even as recently as the Canadian Open a couple of weeks ago). The Williams sisters have similarly fallen victim to their own bodies and were off the radar for a good part of this year. Unlike Davenport, the Williams sisters lacked on-court consistency both in their shots and mental strength to seriously be considered contenders for the top two spots in the rankings. Serena's surprising US Open title last year I believe had a negative effect on both sisters - Venus being upended by her younger sister and Serena being hesitant to overshadow her elder sister. I offer that Venus needed to win a Slam before the two sisters, together, could begin their path to the top rankings. Granted this is 'Monday morning quarterbacking," but with the psychological barriers broken by Venus's Wimbledon title the summer assault by the Williamses leading up to the US Open is not the least bit surprising.

Hingis, Davenport, and the Williams sisters are a dangerous quartet. We should be seeing those four names in the semifinals of the Slams for the foreseeable future. Hingis's focus on her past accomplishments is telling. On the verge of her three-year Slam streak ending at Flushing Meadows, Hingis may be feeling her stranglehold on the Tour coming to an end. Monica Seles recently hired a trainer to improve her power and fitness. Seles confessed to her inability to keep up with the top players. Despite a paltry 2-10 record versus Hingis, Seles only cited Davenport and the Williams sisters as the "new generation."

Hopefully, Hingis will take a cue from Seles's statement. Not unlike Seles herself, Hingis might be swept from the top spot by the increasing power on the WTA Tour. Her opponents's delicate bodies are the only hope for Hingis over the next year.