1. Will Anna strike back?
Forget the glamor-girl hype and instead focus on her career-high No. 8 singles and No. 1 doubles rankings. Special K can play! Few can match her athleticism, physique, and even her much-underrated determination to regain her elite form. And she recently beat Jennifer Capriati in an exhibition. True, she has yet to win a tournament, but she's knocked off nearly every top player. If injury-free, the rebounding Kournikova, 20, will infuriate her critics by capturing two or three tournaments and reaching a Grand Slam final in 2002. And women's tennis TV ratings - not to mention her prodigious Internet popularity - will soar even higher.

Final Answer: For sure.

2. Does Lleyton have enough game?
With a blazing 2001 finish that produced U.S. Open and Masters Cup titles, fiery Hewitt grabbed the No. 1 ranking. He also took some justifiable hits for his offensive comments. Hewitt's attributes closely resemble Bjorn Borg's: incredible speed, concentration and stamina (despite occasional breathing problems), plus relentlessly steady groundstrokes and clever counterpunching. Like Borg, he relishes competition, saying, "I can't remember a time when I haven't been mentally tough." The wiry Aussie lacks a huge weapon in an era when power predominates. But if he becomes an opportunistic groundstroke-and-volleyer a la Jimmy Connors, he should win a Slam a year for the next five to seven years.

Final Answer: Probably.

3. Will Serena surmount her sibling rivalry?
Serena admits that looking up to big sis Venus all these years has made it more difficult to beat her. Muscular Serena, younger by 15 months, boasts better strokes and more athletic talent, as well as a burning ambition to capture major titles. "I'm tired of people being ahead of me that don't deserve it. I'm on a mission to be No. 1," she declares. Her 1999 U.S. Open crown at 17 was no fluke. But Serena has to forget fashion school and play a full schedule (viz., 17 or more tournaments) in order to learn how to close out nip-and-tuck matches, stay match-tough, and reach her considerable potential. Serena will conquer her little-sister mentality and whip Venus twice in 2002, once in a Slam final.

Final Answer: Definitely.

4. Has the sun set on Sampras?
Just when "Pistol Pete," who hasn't won a tournament since the 2000 Wimbledon, was widely written off as over the hill, he reached the U.S. Open final. But what did that prove? Supporters were heartened that he wiped out former U.S. Open champions Patrick Rafter, Andre Agassi, and Marat Safin, dropping only one set. Detractors stressed that Sampras looked old, slow, and demoralized in his 7-6, 6-1, 6-1 debacle against Hewitt. On fast grass in cool weather at Wimbledon, the seven-time champion will likely remain a contender until he retires. However, the twilight of his career turns out, and it may not be pretty, although Sampras is still "the greatest ever" in my book.

Final Answer: Probably.

5. Will the WTA finally get a fair and accurate ranking system?
Amazingly, the WTA copied the ATP's fatally flawed "Best 14" ranking system, using a "Best 17" formula. In 2001 Venus, who grabbed Wimbledon, U.S., and Ericsson titles, severely hurt her ranking cause by playing only 12 events. However, Jennifer Capriati, the Australian and French champ, Ericsson finalist, and Wimbledon and U.S. Open semifinalist, surely deserved No. 1, if Venus didn't. (Capriati was named the ITF World Champion for 2001.) Instead, Martina Hingis, whose atrocious first-round Wimbledon loss was not counted, ranked No. 1 for most of the year. Lindsay Davenport, who failed to reach a Slam final and eventually copped the top spot, conceded, "I fully believe that Venus would be No. 1 if she played more." For 2002, the WTA commendably (albeit belatedly) increased the points value of the four Slam events. But until the WTA counts all tournament matches, it will continue to produce wrong and widely ridiculed rankings. And that's a shame.

Final Answer: No.

6. Will marriage and fatherhood distract Andre?
Steffi and newborn Jaden Gil may be the best things ever to happen to Agassi, but how they'll affect his tennis remains uncertain. In 1997, one of the dismal years he took off in his roller-coaster career, Andre confided, "I enjoy tennis when I'm intense about it. I enjoy my life when it's intense. And you can't have both." The mature Agassi, now 31, knows he must maintain his intensity both on-court and off-court - where his training is often grueling - to have any chance of winning another major title or two with his aggressive baseline game. Graf, who epitomized hard work and competitiveness during her legendary career, will likely inspire him and also give him excellent advice.

Final Answer: Probably not.

7. Will Guga remain a champion only on clay?
With three French Open and one Italian Open titles among his 13 clay court crowns, Gustavo Kuerten reigns as the premier player on that surface. The highly popular Brazilian, 25, may even match Bjorn Borg's record six titles at Roland Garros, where Guga showed his appreciation for his boisterous fans by drawing a heart on the red clay and sitting inside it blowing kisses after triumphing there last June. Only three of his titles have come on hardcourts, although the prestigious 2000 Masters Cup clinched the No. 1 ranking. Guga, who dislikes Wimbledon and skipped it last year, citing an injury, declare: "Wimbledon treats the players badly and I don't care whether I ever win this one." One wonders just how driven he is to succeed on surfaces other than clay, even though his hard-hitting game - aside from his long backswings and too-deep backcourt position - is suitable for hardcourts.

Final Answer: Yes.

8. Will a teenage sensation win a Grand Slam in 2002?
Andy Roddick, who turns 20 on August 30, has the best chance. While he can improve his shot selection, volleying, and his hyper-active temperament - which may have cost him a victory against Hewitt in the U.S. Open quarters - he blasts 130 mph-plus serves with unusual consistency and boasts a killer forehand. His never-say-die spirit also stamps him as a future champion. Wimbledon finalist Justine Henin possesses the strokes and athleticism, but lacks the physical strength. French Open finalist Kim Clijsters and Jelena Dokic, who finished the year ranked No. 8, bring size and power, but not enough versatility.

Final Answer: Maybe (Roddick).

9. Which Marat will show up this year?
Will it be the Safin who finished 2000 with a newfound maturity and seven titles, including the U.S. Open where he overpowered Sampras? Or the 2001 Safin who won only two of 27 events, dropped to No. 11, and was unapologetic about leading the ATP Tour in smashed rackets, saying, "Sorry, but I was No. 1 in the world. Everybody is trying to tell me that it is bad for me. I've been doing this since I was a kid. It's my character." Safin also self-destructed by playing in pain when he should have rested and recuperated, to help support his parents and younger sister, Dinara, a potential world-class player. Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras's former coach, calls Safin "the most talented young player in the world." The strapping 21-year-old also owns near-perfect, explosive strokes. Perspicacious and patient coach Mats Wilander should bring out the best in the unpredictable Russian this year.

Final Answer: The 2000 Safin.

10. What will be the biggest controversy?
Catfights featuring Martina, Anna, Venus, Serena, and even Jennifer will spice up the women's game in the media. Irrepressible Richard Williams will make outrageous and even inflammatory remarks on almost everything. The more substantive issues, though, will be equal prize money at the French Open and Wimbledon; frequent and late tournament withdrawals by leading women players; precautionary measures to protect players from terrorist threats; bogus ranking systems that produce nonsensical rankings; proposals to revitalize doubles on both tours; and guarantees ("If we don't show up, how are you going to make money?" claims Venus Williams). The most important controversy will likely be a revolutionary proposal to replace deciding sets with super tiebreakers in doubles events now and singles events later.

Final Answer: Super tiebreakers.