Tennis: 2003 predictions

Jonathan Overend BBC tennis correspondent looks ahead to 2003

FUTURE STARS

Mikael Youzhny (Rus)
The undoubted hero of the Davis Cup final, who came in to play the deciding rubber and recovered from two sets down to win the match for Russia.

But this will not be Youzhny's only 15 minutes of fame.

He is a known threat on the circuit, especially when his glorious backhand, one of the best in the game, is working to full effect.

He has the potential to match the Grand-Slam winning achievements of compatriots Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Srichaphan stats

Born: 14 June 1979, Bangkok, Thailand

Turned Pro: 1997

Career titles: 2

2002 Champions Race Position: 18

Paradorn Srichaphan (Tha)
When talking to the press, Srichaphan is a mix of Tiger Woods and Andre Agassi - confident and extrovert yet thoughtful and analytical.

His play is dazzling at times and he will make significant progress this year, perhaps even reaching his first Grand Slam final.

If he stays injury-free he has every chance of reaching the end of season Masters Cup in Houston.

Alex Bogdanovic/Anne Keothevong (GB)

Bogdanovic could be the future of British tennis

How refreshing to find two teenagers as the current National Champions.

This can only bode well for the future but it is a crucial year. They have to make further progress to make critics of British tennis talent sit up and take note.

Bogdanovic, a promising junior for years, is still very raw but has a certain arrogance which is by no means a bad thing.

His biggest decision of the year could well be selecting a new coach.

At 18 he is entering the key phase, the time when he needs some kind of breakthrough.

There are high hopes for him and maybe an early plunge into the Davis Cup could do him the world of good.

Keothevong has a flowing style to her play which is both elegant and powerful.

Her decision not to quit the sport last year demonstrates her ambition - a change of coaching set up will be vital to determining the path her future career takes.

Academy: The stars of 2003

Review: Tennis 2002

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PREDICTIONS

Top tips

Agassi/Hewitt to dominate men's game

Serena Williams to win all four Grand Slams

Henman to win in SW19 - shoulder permitting

Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt will dominate the year on the world stage with Serena Williams having a real chance of motoring through the entire set of Grand Slams.

Pete Sampras' decision to continue in the sport is to be welcomed while Tim Henman's year hinges on his fragile shoulder.

If it is running smoothly by June he could finally achieve his lifetime ambition of winning Wimbledon, as long as he enjoys some good fortune in other sections of the draw.

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POTENTIAL SHOCK

Gilbert for Britain?
It is yet another vital year for British tennis.

The appointment of Patrice Hagelauer's successor as LTA Performance Director is sure to cause huge headaches down at The Queen's Club.

The list of interested candidates apparently stretches way beyond the confines of the regional academies.

What on earth would the flannel-clad garden party-attending traditionalists make of someone like Andre Agassi's outspoken former coach, Brad Gilbert, coming in?

Agassi's mental maestro

A brave appointment is what is required after years of trying to sort out the system has not worked.

Hagelauer put in four years of good effort and fine work.

The system has improved and a structure is now in place but without a radical change in direction there will be four more years of hoping and wondering.