tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post3344137211243522172..comments2024-03-11T05:26:34.143-05:00Comments on Women Who Serve: Memo from Serena: Respect your eldersDianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-80342139033472590732013-02-17T14:06:51.082-06:002013-02-17T14:06:51.082-06:00Thanks, Doug :)
I have such informed, intelligent...Thanks, Doug :)<br /><br />I have such informed, intelligent, articulate readers. That's a pleasure.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-66322975905525329032013-02-17T02:41:56.595-06:002013-02-17T02:41:56.595-06:00I agree with everyone too. It's all quite obv...I agree with everyone too. It's all quite obvious, isn't it. Love this blog!!Doug Messengernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-2724800687542946142013-02-16T22:31:38.138-06:002013-02-16T22:31:38.138-06:00I'm going to agree with everybody :)
I do thi...I'm going to agree with everybody :)<br /><br />I do think that Kvitova's talent is stunning. I thought so even before she became a "player to watch." <br /><br />However, she makes me think of one of my favorite players of all time--her countrywoman, Hana Mandlikova. Mandlikova's game was both beautiful and scary-good, but her head got in her way. She won four majors, but--despite being sandwiched between two all-time greats (Evert and Navratilova)-- she nevertheless "should" have won more.<br /><br />The mental part of tennis is very important, and Serena has mastered it. Kvitova has a lot of mental skills, in that she knows how to select shots and when to select them. But she doesn't close well. And while it's true that she has some physical challenges, I think that her main challenge is psychological. I really, really hope she overcomes it.<br /><br />Serena Williams is one of the two most mentally consistent and tough players I've ever seen on the WTA tour. The other is Evert.<br /><br />For the record--and I'm speaking as a very experienced psychotherapist--Azarenka exhibits no signs whatever of narcissism (that would be a certain retired Belgian), nor does she exhibit any signs of what we used to call sociopathy (that would be Roscoe Tanner).<br /><br />However--I do understand and respect those who are disappointed in her for what happened at the Australian Open. I tend not to see things as either-or. One can be disappointed in Azarenka's actions at the AO, and still be disgusted with the field day the media had because they already didn't like her.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-15564319666879481792013-02-16T21:43:11.748-06:002013-02-16T21:43:11.748-06:00Anonymous, if Petra failed to beat a Serena who w...Anonymous, if Petra failed to beat a Serena who was suffering from the flu, served at below 50% during the match and who was outplayed for most of the match, when will she beat Serena? <br /><br />Petra does not have the consistency that the top 4 in women's tennis has right now. Whether that is due to her ongoing asthmatic condition, or her fitness related issues remains to be seen. Not for nothing no one outside of hard core tennis fans who knew anything about her. She is 22 years old. At 22 years old recall what Serena was doing then. The women in her age group have reached milestones and all Petra keeps doing is regressing. She will never be consistent because she does not have the mentality that it takes to reign in your game when it is not working. In this way Petra reminds me of Venus. However, Venus was able to reign in parts of her game and enhance other parts which allowed her to get some amount of consistency on her shots. I doubt if Petra will ever realise she needs to do it. <br /><br />Finally, you are out playing your opponent. You are hitting winners from every part of the court. You are serving lights out. Acing your opponent at every opportunity. You win the 1st set comfortably. What does Petra do? She calls her coach down, not because she was facing any difficulty. No, she called him down because she needed someone whispering in her ear that she was doing well. As far as I could see that coaching change did her in. You just showed your opponent that you are not mentally ready to beat her. Same thing with Sharapova today. She lost the first set, she goes and calls her coach down for coaching and ends up being hammered in the second set. When will these women learn. Get a game plan before the match. Stick to it. Don't show your hand. Have they never played poker?Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14548283336955001884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-50356083101668437032013-02-16T20:57:46.970-06:002013-02-16T20:57:46.970-06:00I dissent about Vika. Her medical time-out a few ...I dissent about Vika. Her medical time-out a few weeks ago was deplorable. Being nervous does not qualify for a twenty minute break. She does not care at all what you or I or anyone thinks. In my view she is either a narcissist or worse, a sociopath, who will do anything to win, short of lobbing a hand grenade at her opponent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-26769270405105125752013-02-16T20:38:57.536-06:002013-02-16T20:38:57.536-06:00In short, no. Azarenka will never stop being punis...In short, no. Azarenka will never stop being punished. She'll have to have a Serena-like career for that running commentary to stop and I don't think we'll see that from Vika. Though I do think we'll see great tennis for quite some time from her.<br /><br />Serena (and to a lesser extent Venus) were "bad" and "wrong" and "bullies" and "inappropriate" for so long. It didn't really end until it became clear Serena wasn't going anywhere and she simply didn't seem to care that she was still seen as "bad" and when Venus did what she was <i>supposed</i> to do - age and lose a step. <br /><br />Vika doesn't seem to give two shites which is good bc she shouldn't. It seems to me that makes it easier to deal with it all anyway!<br />sventenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-76708351410851874182013-02-16T17:45:27.342-06:002013-02-16T17:45:27.342-06:00When Petra matures and calms down, she will beat S...When Petra matures and calms down, she will beat Serena unless Serena serves the lights out for a whole match, which she will now and then. Petra has finer strokes, more variety, BUT she is young an immature. She's a girl from a tiny farm town. The corporate and media demands do not suit her temperament and she is learning slowly how to deal with that. Give her a year or two more, and she will be number one. I've never seen anyone with so complete a game on the women's tour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-37441175789098116762013-02-16T15:16:24.418-06:002013-02-16T15:16:24.418-06:00I am sorry but I have to disagree with you guys in...I am sorry but I have to disagree with you guys in relation to Serena's game vs Petra and Sloane. These ladies do hit harder than Serena & have more power but what they don't have is the ability to rein in their games when it matters most. It is all well and good coming out and trying to stand toe to toe with Serena, you will get her in the opening sequence but you have to keep it up and as we saw in the Petra match and to a lesser extent in Australia (even though she lost), when the going gets tough, Serena will do what she does best, she will calm herself down and she will start hitting through the ball. <br /><br />Serena is so talented that she has many levels that she can raise her game. In her match against Petra, at 4-1 down you visibly saw her calm herself down and gathered herself together. The ball started finding its mark. Her serve came back into the equation and even more importantly her groundstrokes started finding their mark. As soon as that started to happen, Petra's game went away. <br /><br />One of the most frightening sounds for me in tennis is the silence when Serena is hitting the ball well. You don't hear any grunts, no moans, no shrieks. All you hear is the sound of the ball on the racquet and possibly her breath as she exhales. You know right then and there that she has raised her game. Until other players are able to get to another level, I really don't see the next generation consistently beating Serena. Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14548283336955001884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-65762286991601478722013-02-16T14:41:02.195-06:002013-02-16T14:41:02.195-06:00Yep, time and again, Kvitova has had a 3-0 or 4-1 ...Yep, time and again, Kvitova has had a 3-0 or 4-1 lead in a deciding set and has lost the match. Time and again, she has held set points, and failed to win the set. She has also held many break points but has not converted any (v Sharapova in Australia, 15 break points wasted in one set).<br />Maybe she'll mature and figure it out. She should not lose as often as she does. In fact, she should not lose to Serena if Serena serves fewer than 20 aces. <br /> Doug Messengernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-57049897905147522952013-02-16T14:31:26.375-06:002013-02-16T14:31:26.375-06:00Watching Serena off balance, barely getting the ra...Watching Serena off balance, barely getting the racquet on ball after ball, and winning many of those points is mind-boggling. Her opponents, Petra included, do not attack the net when those openings are for the taking. That is why Serena won yesterday. Frankly, Serena's groundies are erratic at best. I have the impression that few of the women realize that there is not a wall at the baseline and that they should venture into the court much more often than they do. Petra has to grow up. There's something naive there. She is the more talented player and it was evident both at Wimbledon and yesterday in Doha. She just doesn't know how to finish things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-74409019889388854582013-02-16T10:00:20.846-06:002013-02-16T10:00:20.846-06:00You're welcome, Eric :)
I should mention here...You're welcome, Eric :)<br /><br />I should mention here that it was also fun to watch Errani play Azarenka. The word "feisty" is way overused in tennis, but it fits perfectly when used about Errani.<br /><br />Also, Aga was great fun to watch.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-28264480573685189892013-02-16T07:27:09.040-06:002013-02-16T07:27:09.040-06:00I saw a clip on youtube...and Serena wasn't ev...I saw a clip on youtube...and Serena wasn't even in the frame for a lot of Petra's winners. Amazing. If Petra can get it together...<br /><br />Also...the women's game is certainly improving. When I watched Serena/Sloane and Serena/Petra...it didn't feel like Serena was blowing them out of the water. In fact, I kind of felt like Serena didn't have as much shot penetration as Sloane's forehand and Petra's groundies. But obviously her serve is more effective so...<br /><br />But what a great thing for the game.<br /><br />======<br /><br />I am really enjoying how the women are all pretty respectful of each other. I know they're never going to be BFFs, but I hope the professionalism carries over.<br /><br />And Serena is totally correct -- it's not lonely at the top anymore. I think this stint means more to her not only bc of her health problems, but bc she knows the quality of her peers is very high. She's gotta stay on her game. (But I also thinks she needs a break to recover from niggling injuries.)<br /><br />Thanks again, Diane!!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861122308109064514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-34075875490315544742013-02-16T07:17:32.834-06:002013-02-16T07:17:32.834-06:00Thanks Diane!! :)
You're a lifesaver. Nice ...Thanks Diane!! :)<br /><br />You're a lifesaver. Nice recap!! Hope you're doing well!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861122308109064514noreply@blogger.com