US look to life after Davenport, Williams sisters

MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (Reuters) After one of the worst years of under-achievement in the history of US women's tennis, next week's Australian Open may provide clues to the next generation of American grand slam hopefuls.

The 2006 season proved eminently forgettable with the Americans relying on Lindsay Davenport and the Williams sisters for the vaguest crumbs of comfort.

No US woman reached a grand slam semi-final while no female finished in the year-end top 10 of the rankings for the first time since they were first established by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

With a quarter-final place for Davenport in Melbourne and at the US Open, and Venus reaching the last eight at Roland Garros, it was the thinnest of years in the grand slams.

Expectant mother Davenport is now unlikely to return to the tour after a 13-year career which garnered three grand slam titles, while the Williams sisters have been blighted by a string of injuries and have more than one eye on their burgeoning interior design and fashion business empires.

But while US Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison is more aware than most of the vacuum of talent in the women's game -- the Americans have not won the team title since 2000 -- she believes there is plenty of scope for optimism.

She is quick to point out that 11 American women finished in the top 100 at the end of 2006 with the likes of Vania King, Shenay Perry, Ashley Harkleroad and Jamea Jackson ready to step in as the next generation of slam winners.

On her reappointment as captain in December, Garrison said King and Jackson were the players best suited to make the major breakthrough.

''They both have made strides into the world of professional tennis. I'm very excited about Vania, she's been playing extremely well. She's very hungry.

''We have two young players that I think are doing a good job.'' Garrison reserved special praise for the 17-year-old King, who started the 2005 season ranked 721st and is now at 57.

The Californian-born right-hander made her Fed Cup debut in April last year and conceded just one set when winning her maiden WTA Tour title in Bangkok in October.

''I actually tell Vania all the time, I compare her to someone like Lindsay. The confidence that she has within herself I think will take her a long, long way,'' Garrison said.

''She's a very strong baseliner, her serve is improving each and every day. I haven't seen someone that has the heart that she had in a very long time. That's what it takes to be a champion.'' Reuters DKS VP0747