Kasatkina, Krejcikova, Muchova, Jabeur: Stylish shotmakers that make tennis more enjoyable

Looking back, looking forward. With the 2024 WTA season in the books, Joel Drucker has nine notable storylines to consider over the next few weeks—before the next year of women's tennis begins. (On mobile devices, scroll down to read more WTA takeways; on desktop, you'll see additional entires on the left side of your screen.)

Here are four players I’d watch play versus anyone: Daria Kasatkina, Barbora Krejcikova, Karolina Muchova, Ons Jabeur. Yet as much joy as these racquet-toting artisans bring in matters of stylistic and tactical diversity, their brilliance mostly comes in bursts—and can therefore break your heart.

While the ninth-ranked Kasatkina can make the ball talk, she is often overpowered. Krejcikova dazzled at Wimbledon, but subsequently won just two WTA matches between then and the WTA Finals, and finished the season ranked 10th.

Muchova, the stylistic descendant of the eclectic Ash Barty, came painfully close to winning Roland Garros in 2023 and this year was within a makeable forehand volley of progressing to the US Open final. Currently ranked 22nd, can Muchova stay healthy and become a permanent Top Tenner?

And Jabeur, following two tough losses in the 2022 and 2023 Wimbledon finals, suffered a shoulder injury that ended her season in September and take her ranking down to No. 42.

Let’s hope for health and be grateful for each player’s sparkling moments.