The Chase For Year-End Supremacy

Top 16 players who qualified for this week’s chase championships at Madison Square Garden

Position: 1

Player: Lindsay Davenport

Comment: Has won five of six titles since Wimbledon; her power game has boosted her to No. 1

*

Position: 2

Player: Martina Hingis

Comment: A bad year? Swiss teenager has lost only 11 times and reached U.S. Open final.

*

Position: 3

Player: Jana Novotna

Comment: She has attacking style and can win on any surface; defending champion.

*

Position: 4

Player: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario

Comment: Probably the hardest working player in women’s tennis; won her third French Open.

*

Position: 5

Player: Monica Seles

Comment: Rededicated since death of her father, she’s a three-time winner of this event.

*

Position: 6

Player: Mary Pierce

Comment: Another power player who has won four tournaments this year.

*

Position: 7

Player: Conchita Martinez

Comment: Prefers to hit topspin from the baseline; would be an upset for Spaniard to win at Garden.

*

Position: 8

Player: Nathalie Tauziat

Comment: 31-year-old has had surprising year with victories over some of the top players.

*

Position: 9

Player: Patty Schnyder

Comment: Favorite surface is clay, but she’s won five titles this year, one more than Hingis.

*

Position: 10

Player: Dominique van Roost

Comment: One of the few players who is married; making her debut in this event.

*

Position: 11

Player: Anna Kournikova

Comment: Has one of best all-court games, but magazine covers aren’t just for tennis.

*

Position: 12

Player: Sandrine Testud

Comment: Frenchwoman has split her last four meetings with Davenport.

*

Position: 13

Player: Amanda Coetzer

Comment: Her only championship of the year came on clay.

*

Position: 14

Player: Natasha Zvereva

Comment: Always a force in doubles, free spirit has had some strong performances.

*

Position: 15

Player: Steffi Graf

Comment: Is she match tough enough after wins at Leipzig and Philadelphia?

*

Position: 16

Player: Irina Spirlea

Comment: Known more for bumping Venus Williams; all-court game features variety of shots.

Bob Greene, Associated Press