WTA's "Fab Four" Keep Rising Heading into U.S. Open

It hasn't always been warm and fuzzy between them, but the WTA's "Fab Four" of Azarenka, Radwanska, Sharapova, Williams are pulling away from the rest of the tour as we enter the summer hard court season.

By Erik Gudris

(August 9, 2012) -- While the accolades grow for the men known as the "Fantastic Four" -- Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray -- as they continue to distance themselves from the rest of the ATP Tour, it could be that we are also seeing the beginnings of an equal and similar domination in the WTA by the women who make up the "Fab Four".

The impressive quartet of Victoria Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwanska, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams have spent 2012 trading places with one another when it comes to winning the biggest titles on tour.

If you look back at the results starting in January, all four women are responsible for taking home either a major and/or one of the Premier Mandatory events (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome) along with several of the smaller marquee events this year (Dubai, Doha, Charleston, Stuttgart). And though Radwanska lost early at the Olympics, many couldn't but help notice that it was Williams, Sharapova, and Azarenka who ended up on the medals podium, another testament to their stellar seasons so far.

Williams is only about 800 points outside of Azarenka's current rankings total of 8820; Radwanska and Sharapova are also nipping at Vika's heels. The next closest woman is current No. 5 Sam Stosur with 6195 points, 2000 of which are from her U.S. Open title run last year. Though we acknowledge that there's parity for the elite WTA athletes, players like Stosur, along with Li Na, Petra Kvitova, and rising German star Angelique Kerber just don't look like they are capable, at least this year, of breaking up the top four's hold on the sport. Any of these women could potentially win the U.S. Open or another major next year, but can we really expect them to be as consistent as the "Fab Four" have been on all surfaces? Probably not.

We certainly learned during Caroline Wozniacki's tenure at No. 1 that the majority of fans want more than just consistency from their top WTAer. They also want weekly matchups in the semis and finals of big events between the very best; these four ladies have been delivering that with a few exceptions, all year, mirroring what the "Fantastic Four" on the men's side have been doing for several years now.

What the ladies haven't mirrored is the good-natured, competitive camaraderie that exists among the top men.

From Radwanska complaining about Sharapova's trademark screaming in Melbourne, the Pole's dismissive handshake with Azarenka in Dubai to Azarenka, and Sharapova's shoulder bump in Stuttgart, it hasn't been all warm and fuzzy between the top ladies on the court. And though Williams has been complimentary in her praise of the other three, some have wondered if her recent comments about "having nothing to lose" and being "an underdog" before she goes out and only allows a few games, as we saw at the Olympics, are really genuine or just a subtle dig at her higher ranked opponents.

Some may not like these moments, but it only shows how real this rivalry is at at time when the WTA has been criticized for a lack of them since the days of "Martina vs Chris" or "Steffi vs. Monica".

After several years of complaints that it wasn't as compelling as the men's game, it may be finally time to admit that the women's game, thanks in large part to Azarenka, Radwanska, Sharapova, and Williams, has its own multi-dimensional rivalries and story lines teeming with comebacks, redemption, and promises fulfilled to keep fans happy for a while. How long it lasts is unclear, especially if the other three don't figure out way to stop Williams's recent mastery over them, but for now we should all be thankful that Vika, Aga, Maria and Serena are proving that a "golden age" is not just for the boys anymore.

(Photo Credit: AFP/Patrick Kovarik)