Who in the current WTA has the best chance of beating an in-form Serena?

Who in the current WTA has the best chance of beating an in-form Serena?

  • Azarenka

    Votes: 20 46.5%
  • Sharapova

    Votes: 8 18.6%
  • Radwanska

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Kerber

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Errani

    Votes: 2 4.7%
  • Kvitova

    Votes: 3 7.0%
  • Stosur

    Votes: 2 4.7%
  • Bartoli

    Votes: 1 2.3%
  • Li

    Votes: 7 16.3%

  • Total voters
    43

TennisCJC

Legend
Sloane Stephens, Vika Azarenka, and Sam Stosur (in form Stosur somewhere other than Australia).

I think all 3 of these have shot and possibly Li Na.

Sloane is a better athlete right now as in faster and I think may be better than Serena off the ground. If Sloane serves well enough to hold her serve, she has what it takes to win.

Vika has same profile as Sloane as she is also quicker and a better mover. If Vika can hold, she wins or if you can get 2 breaks per set.

Sam when serving well can hold and if she holds, she gets confident. She would have to play at her peak like her USO win.

Serena's serve is what seperates her from the pack. Most of the other top 10 struggle to hold. But, I think several have as good or better ground game.

I hope Vika works to improve her serve and net game as this is where Serena has the edge.

Same with Sloane, she need to improve her serve and net game. She should play some doubles to improve all court game. It will pay off in singles.
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
In form Kivitova or Sloane.

Serena was ailing in Aussie, but she was playing nearly full flight the last 3 games vs Slaone in the quarters and was shocked that someone could return her serve and groundies right back at her.

Sloane actually rather play someone who blast the ball at her. her defense to offense is better than her pure offense at the moment.
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
Oh come on. Sloane and Stosur have beaten her. Azarenka was serving out for the match last year at the USO.

Maybe you missed it but the title was "in form Serena". The answer would probably be someone like Na Li who can match her power, apart from the serve, almost always gives Serena a tough match, and tends to let loose and go for broke when she feels like the big underdog. Maybe Kvitova on a fast court if she gets her sh1t back together. Both of those are even a stretch though, the real answer is probably nobody currently on tour. There are a number of players who can beat Serena out of form (not Sharapova mind you).
 
Easy, Sloane Stephens just finished beating in form Serena at AO. Stosur destroyed Serena at the USO. Sharapova beat Serena at Wimbledon of all places at her peakiest peak.
 

President

Legend
I think it would be a player like Li Na or Kuztensova, really technically great players who can move well and have a really high A-game.
 
With the current shape of the WTA and the general inconsistency and unpredictability of the players... all bets are off. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day, tournament or round. But If I had to say, a Slam Serena (there is a difference between a slam serena and a 1000 serena) is most easily beaten by an in form Vika.
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
Pretty much agree with this.
Though maybe Azarenka if she's having a very good day and Serena is off.

true and if serena is off i think alot of ppl have chances. heck wozniacki beat her...
outside of france the only time i'm worried she might lose is kim kardashian either gets married or has that baby with kanye....
 

Goosehead

Legend
apart from the already mentioned sloane ranger..

who was that one that wasted Lance williams in the first rd of last years french open :twisted:
 

Soianka

Hall of Fame
Maybe you missed it but the title was "in form Serena". The answer would probably be someone like Na Li who can match her power, apart from the serve, almost always gives Serena a tough match, and tends to let loose and go for broke when she feels like the big underdog. Maybe Kvitova on a fast court if she gets her sh1t back together. Both of those are even a stretch though, the real answer is probably nobody currently on tour. There are a number of players who can beat Serena out of form (not Sharapova mind you).


I agree with you. Na Li is a good choice if Na is also playing well.
 

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
Incorrect. This is what Sharapova at her peakiest peak looks like vs an ok or pretty good Serena:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flflusBYttk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZfwFwuTiEo

Dude, are you Serena's promoter?

All you ever do is rhapsodize about her.

We all know Sharapova has an awful recent record against Serena but she did demolish her in the W final 2004, and beat her again in the YEC final in 2004, so please don't pretend Serena is some kind of unbeatable goddess. :roll:
 
Dude, are you Serena's promoter?

All you ever do is rhapsodize about her.

We all know Sharapova has an awful recent record against Serena but she did demolish her in the W final 2004, and beat her again in the YEC final in 2004, so please don't pretend Serena is some kind of unbeatable goddess. :roll:

Yup, well said, even for a *********! Masha destroyed a young and athletic Serena at her peak in 2004 on her best surface.
 

TennisCanada1

Professional
I think skill-wise Azarenka, but I think that Sharapova has this persona on court that displays NO fear of Serena, while Azarenka is a bit more emotionally flaky. I'd go with Sharapova, she's ruthless.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
LMAO at Sharapova having the best chance of taking an in-form Serena out.

I6GSf.gif
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
I think skill-wise Azarenka, but I think that Sharapova has this persona on court that displays NO fear of Serena

LOL when is the last Sharapova-Serena match you watched? 2005 or something. The fact Sharapova gets ANY dicussion on this topic is only proof this is an ATP only (correct that Federer only) forum which doesnt have the faintest clue of womens tennis. Anyone who actually does follow womens tennis knows Sharapova is the least likely person in the top 30 to beat any kind of Serena in a match anytime soon.
 
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TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
Dude, are you Serena's promoter?

All you ever do is rhapsodize about her.

We all know Sharapova has an awful recent record against Serena but she did demolish her in the W final 2004, and beat her again in the YEC final in 2004, so please don't pretend Serena is some kind of unbeatable goddess. :roll:

2 fluke matches in 2004 vs their complete h2h,are you serious? and serena was peak? serena was at the peak of a gurney maybe.....because a month later serena pulled out of the olympics....
 

Polaris

Hall of Fame
I agree with NadalAgassi that an in-form Serena is very hard for Sharapova to beat. My view is that Serena, even when she is in the best of form, is not the best mover. However, her combination of decent movement and incredible power is overwhelming for most players. So, to defeat an in-form Serena you would need one of two combinations:
(1) Enough power to return Serena's serve and pacy groundstrokes with interest, basically feeding Serena her own medicine.
(2) Excellent movement around the court and imagination to disrupt and neutralize Serena's power game.

Regarding (1), if Kvitova had a crazy day in which she actually concentrated for more than the length of a set, she could do it.

Regarding (2), I'd probably also go with Li Na. I don't know enough about Azarenka's best form to comment, since I automatically turn away from her matches owing to her godawful shrieking.
 
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TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
LOL when is the last Sharapova-Serena match you watched? 2005 or something. The fact Sharapova gets ANY dicussion on this topic is only proof this is an ATP only (correct that Federer only) forum which doesnt have the faintest clue of womens tennis. Anyone who actually does follow womens tennis knows Sharapova is the least likely person in the top 30 to beat any kind of Serena in a match anytime soon.

the laughable part is maria would disagree with them.
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
the laughable part is maria would disagree with them.

It is not a diss on Maria either. Maria is definitely one of the best active players, and her power and mental toughness is probably 2nd to only Serena. It is just that everyone who knows squat about womens tennis knows how that matchup has been for the last 8 years. Also when playing Serena is one of the few times Maria seems to lose her usual mental toughness and fight, Serena in addition to being a superior player and a horrible technical matchup has definitely got into her head as well.

Phoenix1983 as for your laughable post, yes Maria spanked Serena once almost a whole decade ago, and Serena has spanked Maria about 9 more times since then, including about 4 brutal beatdowns last year. So your point is what exactly? As for impying Serena is an unbeatable goddess, well if that is the implication we would be saying god Maria is obviously her toughest opponent just because she managed to beat her a whole 9 years ago, yet that is what nobody (except a few like yourself who follow no WTA) is saying.
 
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Goosehead

Legend
LOL when is the last Sharapova-Serena match you watched? 2005 or something. The fact Sharapova gets ANY dicussion on this topic is only proof this is an ATP only (correct that Federer only) forum which doesnt have the faintest clue of womens tennis. Anyone who actually does follow womens tennis knows Sharapova is the least likely person in the top 30 to beat any kind of Serena in a match anytime soon.

still not got over wimby 04..?..had you had already pencilled in a win for lance..:)..never mind.
 

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
Phoenix1983 as for your laughable post, yes Maria spanked Serena once almost a whole decade ago, and Serena has spanked Maria about 9 more times since then, including about 4 brutal beatdowns last year. So your point is what exactly?

My point was to bring you back to reality in terms of your ranking of Serena i.e. saying she is contention with Graf for GOAT, that it's impossible for Sharapova to beat her, and all the other ridiculous fanboyism you spout off on a daily basis about Serena.

As for impying Serena is an unbeatable goddess, well if that is the implication we would be saying god Maria is obviously her toughest opponent just because she managed to beat her a whole 9 years ago, yet that is what nobody (except a few like yourself who follow no WTA) is saying.

I do follow WTA. You just like to say I don't because I point out your silly arguments about the Seles stabbing, Serena, Capriati and others.
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
It is not a diss on Maria either. Maria is definitely one of the best active players, and her power and mental toughness is probably 2nd to only Serena. It is just that everyone who knows squat about womens tennis knows how that matchup has been for the last 8 years. Also when playing Serena is one of the few times Maria seems to lose her usual mental toughness and fight, Serena in addition to being a superior player and a horrible technical matchup has definitely got into her head as well.

Phoenix1983 as for your laughable post, yes Maria spanked Serena once almost a whole decade ago, and Serena has spanked Maria about 9 more times since then, including about 4 brutal beatdowns last year. So your point is what exactly? As for impying Serena is an unbeatable goddess, well if that is the implication we would be saying god Maria is obviously her toughest opponent just because she managed to beat her a whole 9 years ago, yet that is what nobody (except a few like yourself who follow no WTA) is saying.
no doubt maris is the best player not named serena but it is clearly a sampras -agassi situation with serena as pete and maria as andre.
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
no doubt maris is the best player not named serena but it is clearly a sampras -agassi situation with serena as pete and maria as andre.

That is a pretty disrespectful to Agassi. I mean Sharapova has not beaten Serena in what? Like 8 years now?

Agassi lost a lot of big matches to Sampras, but he was always a very worthy rival. Agassi went 3-6 against Pete in GS, 5-4 in master series matches, 2-4 in YEC championships, 7-9 in all finals they played, and was able score wins over Sampras regularly for 14 years . Also, Andre was superior to Sampras in 2 majors: AO and FO. Sharapova does not have the edge over Serena in any major
 
On a perfect day some players can beat serena. serena did not play bad against stosur but she played out of her mind in that USO final.


but doing this consistently is another story. Does anyone have a positive h2h against her (at least 4-5 matches)?
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
On a perfect day some players can beat serena. serena did not play bad against stosur but she played out of her mind in that USO final.


but doing this consistently is another story. Does anyone have a positive h2h against her (at least 4-5 matches)?

The top players with the closest head to heads with her are all retired, except for Venus who is a corpse:

Henin: 6-8
Hingis: 6-7
Capriati: 7-10

I think Stosur is 3-6 which is pretty respectable. Of the current top 10 the players with the best chances to beat an in form Serena in order:

1. Na
2. Kvitova
3. Stosur
4. Kerber
5. Azarenka
6. Bartoli

----huge gap----(aka the remaining players are all 0 or something below 0 in this scenario)


7. Radwanska
8. Sharapova
9. Errani


The best chances to beat an out of form Serena in order:

1. Azarenka
2. Radwanska
3. Kerber
4. Stosur
5. Bartoli
6. Na
7. Kvitova

-----huge gap----(aka the remaining players are something close to 0 even in his scenario)


8. Sharapova
9. Errani

Basically Sharapova and Errani are no hopers in either scenario at this point.
 
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TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
That is a pretty disrespectful to Agassi. I mean Sharapova has not beaten Serena in what? Like 8 years now?

Agassi lost a lot of big matches to Sampras, but he was always a very worthy rival. Agassi went 3-6 against Pete in GS, 5-4 in master series matches, 2-4 in YEC championships, 7-9 in all finals they played, and was able score wins over Sampras regularly for 14 years . Also, Andre was superior to Sampras in 2 majors: AO and FO. Sharapova does not have the edge over Serena in any major

agassi himself,in his book open said he had a bit of an inferiority complex to pete, seems like mmaria has one in regards to serena. that's really what i meant to say....
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
no doubt maris is the best player not named serena but it is clearly a sampras -agassi situation with serena as pete and maria as andre.

That is a pretty disrespectful to Agassi. I mean Sharapova has not beaten Serena in what? Like 8 years now?

Agassi lost a lot of big matches to Sampras, but he was always a very worthy rival. Agassi went 3-6 against Pete in GS, 5-4 in master series matches, 2-4 in YEC championships, 7-9 in all finals they played, and was able score wins over Sampras regularly for 14 years . Also, Andre was superior to Sampras in 2 majors: AO and FO. Sharapova does not have the edge over Serena in any major

yes, this ... nowhere close ...
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
That is a pretty disrespectful to Agassi. I mean Sharapova has not beaten Serena in what? Like 8 years now?

Agassi lost a lot of big matches to Sampras, but he was always a very worthy rival. Agassi went 3-6 against Pete in GS, 5-4 in master series matches, 2-4 in YEC championships, 7-9 in all finals they played, and was able score wins over Sampras regularly for 14 years . Also, Andre was superior to Sampras in 2 majors: AO and FO. Sharapova does not have the edge over Serena in any major

...but of the two in an overall view of their generation, it is easy to see how Sharapova--like Agassi to Sampras--fails to match up to Serena, even if H2H was not considered.
 
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