CAROLINE WOZNIACKI

Caroline Wozniacki is a sporting star in Denmark. Still only 20, she already lives in Monaco, a sure sign that she earns a lot of kroner. And she has just finished the year as the world's number one ranked woman tennis player. No wonder the Danish press hang on her every word and deed.

But is she the best player in the world? The doubters point to the fact that she has yet to win one of the four major "Grand Slam" tournaments, and to her never having beaten either of the Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters or Justine Henin. Since three of these are currently injured, Wozniacki owes her ranking to having played a lot of tournaments, doing consistently well in all of them, and staying injury-free. However, when it comes to the big events, she tends to falter at the final hurdle. Indeed, in the end of season tournament in Doha last week, which pitted the best 8 (injury-free) players against each other, it was Clijsters who emerged on top, defeating Wozniacki in the final in three sets.

So no, I don't believe that she is the best player in the world at the moment; for me, that would be Clijsters. However, Wozniacki's greatest advantage is that she is still very young, whereas her rivals are in their late twenties or older. She has time to improve her game, particularly at the net, they do not. Whether it is enough to win one of the majors, I think 2011 will be the crucial year that makes or breaks her.

In the meantime, let Denmark be happy that it has found a world-class sportswoman (even if she is half Polish).

Walter Blotscher