Women's tennis has "found its future," as the latest generation of young players is the one fans "have been waiting for, the one that can carry the sport" after Serena and Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova retire, according to Tom Perrotta of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. This group of players born in the '90s -- French Open finalist Simona Halep and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard -- "announced their presence" earlier this month. They are "brash ... creative and play to the crowd." Others in this group include 20-year-old Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, who beat Serena Williams at the French Open, and Americans Sloane Stephens (21) and Taylor Townsend (18). Men's tennis during the past decade "built a new audience around the other-worldly accomplishments" of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. However, women's tennis "stalled" during that time. Several different players reached the No. 1 ranking, but due to "injuries, flawed games, and crises of confidence at critical moments, the new No. 1s of the past few years haven't lasted and haven't won." It would be "too bold to predict that any young player will go on to rival" what Serena Williams has accomplished, especially since she "could add a few more major titles to her collection before she's finished." But tennis coach Rick Macci said that with Bouchard, he "sees something that he hasn't seen in a while -- something that women's tennis desperately needs." Macci: "She has Grand Slams written all over her, and staying power. I see greatness" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/20).
