tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post8028635301434491841..comments2024-03-11T05:26:34.143-05:00Comments on Women Who Serve: Australian Open: Some thoughts on day 1Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-24899039183942125452010-01-22T14:51:49.362-06:002010-01-22T14:51:49.362-06:00I read this post several days ago and still come b...I read this post several days ago and still come back to savor your writing. The "Hitchcock" reference is sublime. I love this blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-17576081424040833982010-01-19T09:03:55.697-06:002010-01-19T09:03:55.697-06:00Yes, Paul, that is exactly what she's doing. A...Yes, Paul, that is exactly what she's doing. And she's making a fool of herself doing it.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-86489241393986683472010-01-19T03:14:21.363-06:002010-01-19T03:14:21.363-06:00Maybe Pam Shriver (not sure how you pronounce that...Maybe Pam Shriver (not sure how you pronounce that?) is making up for the fact that just a few months ago, she'd apparently never even HEARD of Yanina Wickmayer... so now she's having to talk about her non-stop in order to make herself seem semi-knowledgeable? ;)Paul Ballnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-14975296556864431682010-01-18T20:17:05.708-06:002010-01-18T20:17:05.708-06:00I don't think you can have time to train every...I don't think you can have time to train every day for hours and do the photoshoots, meetings, parties, appearances and all that other stuff simultanesly. After she came back, she said that she didn't realise how much training is required to achieve the high level of performance. She doesn't look interested in that part of her career, doesn't have the time, there is so much other interesting things she could be doing...No wonder good results are not coming!Beatkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12436073067450004264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-32855068749788251632010-01-18T14:06:27.516-06:002010-01-18T14:06:27.516-06:00Diane, it could be a loss of confidence. Sometime...Diane, it could be a loss of confidence. Sometimes I wonder just how motivated she is to continue. Prior to this her motivation was without question and you could see it in her on court demeanour and that of her father, but I think now that she has all this money, the endorsements, the name recognition, what could possibly motivate her to want to go on a tennis court to hit a ton of balls over and over again. I recall she said in one of her interviews that she would ask herself why is she doing this and then she came out to her first match and said that the adrenaline rush is what made her pick up a racquet again. I think that adrenaline rush is over. In addition, that Nike contract must have some performance clauses in there and I guess the pressure is getting to her. Who knows. What is instructive though is that her ever present father is nowhere around right now. For him to hand over the reins that he has had for so long to Michael Joyce must mean that they are not as serious and/or dedicated to tennis as they would want us to think.Overhead Spinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13838462340734632101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-75972972864295574662010-01-18T11:17:14.188-06:002010-01-18T11:17:14.188-06:00Karen, I also don't understand why Wickmayer c...Karen, I also don't understand why Wickmayer couldn't notify authorities of her whereabouts, as I have written before. Having a problem with the Web form is not an excuse; make a phone call! But a 2-year ban? That part, in my opinion, was ridiculous. There appears to be no standard for consequences in these matters.<br /><br />I'm not sure what's going on with Maria, but my best guess is that we're finally seeing the crack in the confidence. She was out for a long time, and there are a lot of expectations on her. I hope she can turn this around.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07124489754017593105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229616072187725718.post-27006100465682474912010-01-18T10:43:12.669-06:002010-01-18T10:43:12.669-06:00Diane, why would the chair umpires change the habi...Diane, why would the chair umpires change the habits of a lifetime? They have always accommodated Sharapova's on court antics and this match was no different. I agree with you that Sharapova seemed like another person, but for me it was on court. She seemed disinterested, unmotivated and while she put up a good show in the second set, the fact that she was unable to take control of the match in any way whatsoever was just beyond belief. Could it be that all the off court activities are finally getting to her? No doubt MariaK played the match of her life. She was exceptionally good off the ground and when it came time to mix it up she did it well. She drew Sharapova into net and took advantage of her lack of mobility by moving her all over the court so that she had to try to go for winners from awkward places on the court, hence the 70+ UFE count. As to Wickmayer, count me as one of those who have little sympathy for her troubles. There is a rule. Obey it. End of discussion. She was lucky to get a get out of jail free card from the Belgian court and I hope she learns her lesson. If top players who have more demands made on them can give their whereabouts, I see no reason why she could not.Overhead Spinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13838462340734632101noreply@blogger.com