Elena Baltacha
Have you seen the field this year? It looks pretty open, many potential winners maybe.
Yeah, people have been saying that for quite a while that, you know, any one of a handful of women could win.
Sam Stosur
I have a crazy personality.
Serena Williams
I know I can do well, and I'm really gonna try my best to do well again.
Marion Bartoli
Right now, I think whatever I'm doing is definitely working because I'm doing much better than I have in a while.
Melanie Oudin
The complex moved on, and people focused their attention elsewhere, but Oudin was still there, a person living inside the narrative, living inside her head while still not even old enough to drink legally.
Howard Bryant
Who did you dream of kissing when you were a teenager?
Marat Safin, and he knows it!
Marat Safin, and he knows it!
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Obviously, she wants to run around that backhand and slam that forehand.
Elena Baltacha, referring to Stosur
My perspective changes every week. I just want to do my best and not be overwhelmed.
Venus Williams
It was just pure joy.
Marion Bartoli, on the response to her 2011 quarterfinal win
I was reading your conversation with Ash below and I was reminded that it took Serena awhile to get all her chickens in a row between her first slam win and then becoming a dominant player.
ReplyDeleteI mean a lot changes...she's still maturing...and going from being so low-key to being constantly in the spotlight...also coming into money...I mean that's a big motivation changer too.
What it took for Serena to get back on track? Her boyfriend dumped her.
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Also, do you know what Petra's going to do for the Olympics? I doubt she will play Womens Doubles since CZE has so many strong teams already...but will she be teaming with Berdych again for mixed? Have you heard?
The last I heard, Eric, Berdych (like many players) was feeling squeamish about playing in three events. So I don't know if either of them has committed to playing mixed doubles at the Olympics.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I, too, have considered that Petra just needs some time. It's a huge change in her life.
Berdych is playing men's doubles too? I feel like these players need to be smarter -- the chances of winning a medal in mixed doubles is greater. There are less teams and the chances that a country has a strong men's player plus a woman with a serve that's difficult for a male pro to return is less...
ReplyDeleteAdd a woman with a strong return of serve too and there are only a few women who come to mind:
- Serena
- Petra
- Venus (maybe)
- Stosur
(I don't count Lisicki...bc her return of serve isn't as strong...I guess I shouldn't count Stosur either...but her serve and doubles skills make up for that.)
Although women's serving is getting better and better...there seems to be a new name to the good server's list every week...(Lucie Hradecka comes to mind...)
What are these people thinking?
And after watching Roddick today, I don't think Serena should choose him... I mean he still has all the skills, but his attitude would bring any team down.
I haven't heard Berdych talk about it lately, so I don't know what he's planning, but when I last heard him talk about it, it certainly sounded like he was planning to play doubles.
ReplyDeleteThe other really, really strong returner of serve won't be at the Games--Marion.