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Nothing intrigues tennis like a new wave, a group of players with their own way of walking, talking, and hitting the ball. The game has come to know quite a collection of personalities in the last decade, from Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, to Agnieszka Radwanska and Dominika Cibulkova — all of whom more than made good on the promise they showed as juniors. But even as the next generation begins to rise, one from the last is still in search of that elusive crest.

With metronomic swings and effortless flow, a teenaged Tamira Paszek was a wave all her own. The Austrian burst onto the scene in 2005, playing a smooth game that contrasted a fiery competitive spirit. Best known for reaching back-to-back Wimbledon quarterfinals, Paszek admits to starting slow on the surface that would bring so much success.

“My first time ever playing on…