// BEGIN editorial data
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface.sPubDate = "6/17/2008 8:47:34 PM GMT";
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface.appHeader = "Kings and queens of the courts";
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "Bud Collins and Tracy Austin share their thoughts on the top five men and women on each tennis surface.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","Bud's best on grass","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","1. Roger Federer","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_RogerFederer_grass_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Alex Livesey", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
The master of this surface just has too many weapons that come into play on the lawns. The Swiss owns Centre Court and has been unbeatable at Wimbledon since 2003.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","2. Rafael Nadal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_RafaelNadal_grass_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Alex Livesey", "Getty Images", "273", "378", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
He embraces the challenge of becoming a champion on the surface. His play on grass continues to strengthen, and proof of that was clearly seen in 2007 when he came within a point or two of beating Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","3. Andy Roddick","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_AndyRoddick_grass_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "366", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
He has the serve and verve to get past everybody on the lawns. If it weren’t for Federer he would likely have at least two Wimbledon titles. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","4. Novak Djokovic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_NovakDjokovic_grass_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Adrian Dennis", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "234", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
This rising Serbian star is gaining experience on turf and showing all the signs he could win championships on the surface. He hasn’t played a lot on grass, but he’s played enough to draw the attention of many to his talents. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","5. Mario Ancic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_MarioAncic_grass_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Kirsty Wigglesworth", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "225", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
A tough long-reaching serve-and-volleyer, he’s the last man to beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon (in 2002). He’s good enough on grass to come away a winner in about two thirds of his matches.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","Tracy's best on grass","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","1. Venus Williams","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_VenusWilliams_grass_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "230", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She won back-to-back Wimbledons in 2000 and 2001 but was far from done with taking home championships from the lawns of the All-England Club, emerging as champion again in 2005 and 2007. Her serve is a huge weapon on the lawns, where she moves well and has tremendous confidence. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","2. Serena Williams","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_SerenaWilliams_grass_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Glenn Campbell", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "378", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
A two-time Wimbledon champion (2002 and 2003), she beat sister Venus for both those titles. Just like Venus, Serena has a big serve that piles up the points and is very tough to break on this surface. Also a huge asset for her on grass are her hard, flat groundstrokes. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","3. Maria Sharapova","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_MariaSharapova_grass_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "223", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She won the first major of her career on grass, capturing the Wimbledon title in 2004. With a big serve and hard, flat groundstrokes she has a game well suited for grass. Her shots move through the surface very well. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","4. Ana Ivanovic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_AnaIvanovic_grass_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Alessia Pierdomenico", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "398", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She has made steady progress on the surface since 2005, and her game on grass has much potential. She made the Wimbledon semifinals in 2007. The young star has a potent serve and a massive forehand. Another big advantage for her is that she feels more comfortable on grass than most of the other women on tour. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","5. Svetlana Kuznetsova","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_SvetlanaKuznetsova_grass_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Daniel Berehulak", "Getty Images", "273", "385", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
The Russian has made the Wimbledon quarterfinals three of the last five years. She benefits from solid experience on the lawns and plays her best when aggressive on the surface. ";
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","1. Roger Federer","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_RogerFederer_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Chris Mcgrath", "Getty Images", "273", "379", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
Opponents are almost always in hot water when they face him on this surface. He’s so good on the hard stuff that he’s won four U.S. Opens and three Australian Opens.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","2. Novak Djokovic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_NovakDjokovic_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Matthew Stockman", "Getty Images", "273", "375", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
It wasn’t long before his talent on hardcourts came bursting through for all to see. Of his first 10 titles won, seven came on this surface. Another can’t miss sign was that he should have beat Roger Federer in the 2007 U.S. Open final.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","3. Andy Roddick","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_AndyRoddick_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Don Emmert", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "398", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
This year he should easily surpass 300 career wins on hardcourts. He took the U.S. Open in 2003, and only Roger Federer could keep him from repeating that feat in 2006.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","4. Mikhail Youzhny","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_MikhailYouzhny_hard_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jamie Squire", "Getty Images", "358", "254", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
He’s smooth and stylish on the pavement. He’s got the game for the surface, and he makes the most of it. The Russian’s best on the hardcourts is likely yet to come. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_JoWilfriedTsonga_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "397", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
His breakthrough on this surface came at this year’s Australian Open, where he made a run to the final before losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic. Still, how well he played on the hard stuff Down Under is a sign of things to come for the amply talented Frenchman. ";
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","1. Maria Sharapova","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_MariaSharapova_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "373", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
This year’s Australian Open champion and the 2006 U.S. Open champion, she grew up on hardcourts, so this is the surface she feels the most confident on in terms of her movement. She can use her big serve and powerful groundstrokes to great advantage on hardcourts. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","2. Serena Williams","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_SerenaWilliams_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "379", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She’s a three-time Australian Open champion and two-time U.S. Open champion. With its big serves, great offense and great defense, her game is perfect for hardcourts. With each shot she’s trying to finish off points. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","3. Venus Williams","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_VenusWilliams_hard_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "358", "234", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She captured consecutive U.S. Opens in 2000 and 2001. It’s no secret that she’s toughest on hardcourts when she limits her unforced errors, gets a lot of first serves in and shows confidence in her second serves and in her forehand. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","4. Svetlana Kuznetsova","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_SvetlanaKuznetsova_hard_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Al Bello", "Getty Images", "273", "360", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
The 2004 U.S. Open champion makes it her mission on hardcourts to try and set up her big forehand off which she can rack up winners. She can do that when she gets a big, booming first serve. The more forehands she can hit on this surface, the better a match it will be for her.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","5. Ana Ivanovic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_AnaIvanovic_hard_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Elsa", "Getty Images", "358", "245", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
Her game is rising on the hardcourts as could be seen when she made the final of the Australian Open this year. To play her best on this surface she must have her serve and her forehand working well. With more experience her consistency will improve and titles should follow. ";
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","1. Rafael Nadal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_RafaelNadal_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jacques Demarthon", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "404", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
Maybe only Gibraltar could stand up to him on his favorite surface, where’s he’s won over 20 titles. Borg won the French Open a record six times. Barring serious injury, it’s easy to like Nadal’s chances at surpassing that mark.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","2. Roger Federer","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_RogerFederer_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Rose", "Getty Images", "273", "382", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
The only one he can’t take out on dirt is Nadal. Federer has worked hard to improve on clay, and he has increasingly attacked at the right times, volleying more often and with better results. He can build a lead on Nadal on this surface, but he hasn’t been able to finish the job.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","3. Nikolay Davydenko","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_NikolayDavydenko_clay_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jacques Demarthon", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "206", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
He hasn’t yet found his way against Nadal on clay but who has? The Russian is able to keep an opponent out on the dirt for marathon matches, sometimes lasting five hours. ";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","4. Juan Carlos Ferrero","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_JuanCarlosFerrero_clay_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jacques Demarthon", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "271", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
Revived 2003 French Open champion can muster up a game that’s tough to handle on clay ... just ask Nadal, who lost to him on dirt at this year’s Italian Open. Of course, Nadal’s injured right foot contributed to the outcome.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","5. David Ferrer","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080515_DavidFerrer_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Thomas Coex", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "373", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
Like Nadal and Ferrero, a Spaniard who excels on dirt. He has over 120 career wins on clay. He can be a very formidable adversary on the surface.";
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spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","1. Serena Williams","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_SerenaWilliams_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Michael Steele", "Getty Images", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She won the French Open in 2002 and has been a semifinalist twice and a quarterfinalist five times at Roland Garros. She uses her athleticism to move around the court beautifully and slide into her shots. With her power she often can hit through the slow clay so her shots don’t lose much zip on the dirt.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","2. Svetlana Kuznetsova","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_SvetlanaKuznetsova_clay_v.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Pierre Verdy", "AFP/Getty Images", "358", "231", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
A French Open finalist in 2006, she is helped on clay by her ability to move around the court. An opponent really has to have a good day to beat the Russian on this surface. She’s very athletic and has a big forehand -- two definite advantages on clay.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","3. Ana Ivanovic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_AnaIvanovic_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "406", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
In 2007, playing in just her third French Open, she made the final at Roland Garros. In 2008, her talent and skills paid off, and she captured the championship. Ivanovic's biggest challenge is to handle the pressure that comes with the high expectations that surround her game.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","4. Jelena Jankovic","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_JelenaJankvoci_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Clive Brunskill", "Getty Images", "273", "407", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
She's a real tough customer on the dirt who makes opponents work hard for every point. When she’s in a good mindset and feels ready to grind out matches on clay, she’s extremely difficult to beat. Making the semifinals at the French Open in 2007 sends a message she may be on the verge of big things on this surface.";
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i++] = new Array("","5. Maria Sharapova","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Components/Photo-Sports/May/080516_MariaSharapova_clay_h.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Christophe Simon", "AFP/Getty Images", "273", "387", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_tennis_bestoneachsurface[i-1].body = "
In her five French Opens she’s been a quarterfinalist three times and a semifinalist in 2007. Although she struggles to move on this surface, she has the mindset to succeed on clay because she knows she has to be patient to win points on the slow stuff. And she’s plenty tough mentally to take on the challenges of vying for championships on dirt. ";
// END editorial data