Fairways and Forehands 2014 Top 25 WTA and LPGA Year In Review: #23 Mo Martin and Alize Cornet

Mo Martin (click to enlarge)

Like 2013, this year I will do a countdown of the top money list leaders from both the WTA and LPGA. Last year I did the top 30, but this year I will do the top 25. Note that as of this post, the retired Li Na has been removed from the WTA website money list rankings, but I will include her here. Thus, some WTA players will be off by one position on my list compared to the WTA website list. Also, Hyo Joo Kim is not on my LPGA list due to not being a member this year. I’m certain she will be on the list in the future. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for this top 25. Number 23 on this money list for each tour are Alize Cornet (WTA) and Mo Martin (LPGA).

MO MARTIN (United States)

2014 Official LPGA Prize Money: $680,624

Best Results: WINNER Ricoh Women’s British Open, T7 Marathon Classic, T17 Wegmans LPGA Championship, T14 Shoprite LPGA Classic

Social Media: Facebook

The eagle truly landed for Melissa “Mo” Martin at Royal Birkdale. After nearly recording an albatross on the 72nd hole of the Ricoh Women’s British Open, Mo dropped in an eagle that left her at 1-under for the tournament. It was all the 36-hole leader would need to sweep away a third round 77 stumble and win not only her first Major, but also her first LPGA Tour victory. What made her win resonate with me is her background. Her family didn’t have the money for expensive golf lessons. She walked on to the golf team at UCLA, where she was also an academic standout. She paid her dues for 5 years on the Futures (now Symetra) Tour. And in a time when youngsters are shining on the LPGA, Mo gets her first win on the other side of 30. With her family dynamics added to the mix, what’s not to cheer for with Mo Martin? The only unfortunate thing was that when she was at her hottest on tour, a persistent thumb injury compromised her ability to fully keep her “mo”mentum going.

Alize Cornet (click to enlarge)

ALIZE CORNET (France)

2014 Official WTA Prize Money: $1,163,655

Best Results: WINNER BNP Paribas Katowice Open, WINNER (w/Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) Hopman Cup, RUNNER-UP Dubai Tennis Championships, RUNNER-UP (singles and doubles w/Magda Linnette) Guangzhou International Women’s Open

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Website

Alize Cornet had the best season of her professional tennis career. She started her year by teaming with countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to carry France to victory at the Hopman Cup. She won in Katowice, Poland and was runner-up in both Dubai and Guangzhou. She also was a runner-up in doubles in Guangzhou with Magda Linnette. But let’s face it,what tennis fans will remember about Alize in 2014 is that she beat Serena Williams twice, once in Dubai and again on the biggest stage at Wimbledon when most tennis experts had dismissed her Dubai upset of the world #1. She actually had 3 wins against Serena if you count a first set retirement by Williams in their match at the Wuhan Open. Of course, that does count…and Alize became the first player to beat Serena 3 times in a year since Justine Henin in 2007. However, there’s something that feels incomplete and not settled when a player retires during the first set of a match. Nevertheless, Alize did finish two victories over Serena with fearless play. It actually makes one wonder why she isn’t a factor much more often. She’s shown some beautiful tennis at times. But she is only 24 and perhaps entering that phase of her career where we might see the best of her game.