THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

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*--* TENNIS RANKINGS AND COMMENTS MEN 1 LLEYTON HEWITT C’mon! Something to celebrate in the Clijsters/He witt household 2 ANDRE AGASSI Should get assist of the year for taking out Hewitt at U.S. Open 3 JUAN CARLOS FERRERO Shanghai surprise in pushing Hewitt to limit in five sets 4 CARLOS MOYA Did the right thing in playing full-out against Albert Costa at Masters 5 MARAT SAFIN Started year as an enigma. Why should the end be any different? 6 ROGER FEDERER Four months in the middle turned potentially great year into average one 7 JIRI NOVAK Had quietest million-doll ar-plus year in recent memory 8 PETE SAMPRAS Waiting game on all fronts: Arrival of first child and retirement decision 9 PARADORN SRICHAPHAN Biggest win in 2002 -- no compulsory military training required 10 FERNANDO GONZALEZ Two tournament victories and one final in 2002 for rising Chilean

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*--* WOMEN 1 SERENA WILLIAMS The final numbers: Eight titles, two finals and one black cat suit 2 VENUS WILLIAMS First year without a Grand Slam singles title since 1999 3 KIM CLIJSTERS Shook off 1-8 record vs. Williams sisters to beat them back-to-back 4 JENNIFER CAPRIATI Through 2001 Wimbledon, 4-1 vs. Serena; 0-6 since 5 AMELIE MAURESMO Will her wounded knee heal in time for Australian Open? 6 DANIELA HANTUCHOVA Jet lag from Canary Islands to Los Angeles took its toll 7 MONICA SELES One of the few who acted as if they wanted to be at WTA Championships 8 JUSTINE HENIN Was 1-3 vs. countrywoman Clijsters in 2002 9 LINDSAY DAVENPORT Qualified for season finale, but blew seven match points vs. Seles 10 JELENA DOKIC Memo to Ms. Dokic: There’s no comp time in tennis

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