Serena out of Australian Open
- Thread starter Mainad
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Chadillac
Guest
Womens tennis has been better without serena, if she were to retire she may get a thread that goes 3 pages.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
70後
Hall of Fame
As I have seen, with Serena at the very top leading them, the others will work harder, play better with the real Everest target to aim for and climb up to, but will win less. Conversely whenever Serena is out for a while, as in 2011 or 2017, the women, without their pack driver, will drop off after a bit, be more inconsistent, injured, and the trophies will get scattered around more. I regret to say that for a number one, Halep was not very impressive. I do wish she had done better game level wise in 2017. She was playing better when she wasn't number one.
For example, Azarenka worked really hard, tried incredibly hard in 2012, 2013. She was so fit and playing so well, she was able to almost reach Serena's level for a little while, she was the only one (I should count Kerber as well) in the past 10 or so years to come close, yet she was still held down by an even stronger hand. imo, an Azarenka playing at her '12, '13 level in 2017 absent Serena would have won nearly everything, definitely French and US. I'd say that 2012 Azarenka on her form then would certainly have swept all four of the RG and US finalists, Halep, Ostapenko, Keys and Sloane. They haven't been anywhere as good as 2012 Aza. Maybe Wimbledon Aza would have won as well. I don't know what her form is like now or how fit she is.
For example, Azarenka worked really hard, tried incredibly hard in 2012, 2013. She was so fit and playing so well, she was able to almost reach Serena's level for a little while, she was the only one (I should count Kerber as well) in the past 10 or so years to come close, yet she was still held down by an even stronger hand. imo, an Azarenka playing at her '12, '13 level in 2017 absent Serena would have won nearly everything, definitely French and US. I'd say that 2012 Azarenka on her form then would certainly have swept all four of the RG and US finalists, Halep, Ostapenko, Keys and Sloane. They haven't been anywhere as good as 2012 Aza. Maybe Wimbledon Aza would have won as well. I don't know what her form is like now or how fit she is.
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Nothing got to do with what I said about Serena's having won more than enough. And this thread isn't about Federer you troll.
heftylefty
Hall of Fame
I agree it has been better but it is a long way back to where it should be. Women's Tennis has declined for a long time.
I think the trophies get more scattered because Williams isn't taking most of them, with her freakish power for a woman. Really with that power Williams should have even won more than she has, no other woman could really live with that on a regular basis. In many ways on a technical level she isn't that good, loads of errors, suspect temperament, not much variety in strategy, limited shotmaking flair but that is wiped out with the physical advantages, most of the time.
Has it been good for women's Tennis, surely not, watching such a beast in woman's sport is a massive turn off for many, like watching a 15 year old junior playing a 12 year old, add the overall package from match fixing questions, missing drugs tests, questionable TUE use, abuse of officials, all brushed under the carpet by the WTA, who have let her play when she wants, get away with everything, when all the rest have to conform.
As for the present bunch there is promise that it might get better moving forward, Halep is never going to dominate the tour she isn't big enough, she will be overpowered on quicker courts but she is a fine athlete and shotmaker and good for the game. Probably nobody will dominate for a long time but there are improving players playing good Tennis, it will be interesting to see whether the next band of winners will be the hitters who have followed Williams style, or the more rounded players like Muguruza, who has made a good start beating both sisters in Grand Slam finals.
ausfrewimuso
Semi-Pro
bigserving
Hall of Fame
Serena's absence at the AO is a bad thing for the game of professional tennis as well as bad for the event. When the very best player (and the defending champ) does not play an event, the event suffers. Somebody will win, but there will be huge doubt about whether that player would have won against the best.
Serena will be missed until she returns.
Serena will be missed until she returns.
Nope. Unlike you I'm consistent because I considered those players with 10+ slams have won more than enough.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
Nah. I can't agree with that and I'm not a big Serena fan. Women's tennis is terrible at the moment. There are absolutely no star players in the top ten who draw in the crowds. It's a who's who of basket cases, chokers and players who can't be consistent to save their lives.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Well, she made the final of the AO last year and only got stopped by Little Sis who won't be there to stop her this time around. Over to you Big Sis!
Gosh, let's hope so.
FrontHeadlock
Hall of Fame
I disagree.
We all know the WTA is weak right now, but the only thing worse than the WTA being historically weak is seeing Serena lumber to titles that add to her "legacy". I mean good God, 2015 was just horrific to watch until Roberta Vinci saved the season.
darrinbaker00
Professional
My one and only post in this thread:
If Serena had taken half the substances she has been accused of taking by TTW posters, there’s no way she would have been able to give birth to a healthy baby. Her reproductive system would have been severely damaged, if not irreparably damaged.
Goodbye.
If Serena had taken half the substances she has been accused of taking by TTW posters, there’s no way she would have been able to give birth to a healthy baby. Her reproductive system would have been severely damaged, if not irreparably damaged.
Goodbye.
ausfrewimuso
Semi-Pro
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
I'd rather an ATG win more titles than see these other muppets who have no star power and consistency, win by default. The only one at the top I can stomach to watch most of the time is Kerber because at least she tries every single time and isn't a mental midget. The top ten is just awful. You have Halep who can be fun to watch but she's simply dreadful when under pressure on the biggest stages. Wozniacki is a fighter but her tennis isn't exactly always scintillating to watch. Muguruza is good to watch when on but the problem is she's "on" infrequently and is bratty a lot of the time. Venus--I never was much of a fan and let's face it, she's not going to win another slam. Pliskova--total headcase. Konta--huge crybaby and looks like a special needs person when she serves, etc. etc. etc.
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70後
Hall of Fame
That is too bad to hear it about Azarenka.
It will take a little later for Serena to start to dominate the slams again, maybe starting with Wimbledon 2018, French 2018 may still be too early to be her first major win after her comeback, although I will not be surprised if she does win it and restore order. In Serena’s absence at this Australian Open, I will go with Venus whom I think is the best and most reasonable choice after Serena and Azarenka.
Without Serena, I can see the women are already falling back into their bad old habits and wild ways without also possessing her ball control, accuracy, spin, finesse and defences. Serena is the only WTA whose hand can command both iron and silk. She seems to be the one WTA who intuitively understands the duality principle of the full spectrum of opposing forces that both reduce and complement simultaneously. To reach her level, Henin, Azarenka and Kerber all overclocked their limits before falling off as they just couldn’t maintain that standard. It is a certain kind of greatness to be inspired by a peer. I think it was Henin who also said something similar, that Serena/Venus forced them all to work really hard. These days the way to go is all about running and tactical rallying, to gain the upper hand in the rally by outmanoeuvring, to control the forces on the court by court coverage and shot array, there is no shot in the codex of tennis that does not have its purpose. For years and years I’ve been saying the players must master the whole book like Serena to carry on the game after Serena. Or the standard of the WTA will drop off a cliff without a truly great player at the top. Serena will not be always there to lead them.
(edit, maybe Cori will be a hope, but although she is already tall and powerful, I don't yet get the feel she has Serena's innate talent.)
It will take a little later for Serena to start to dominate the slams again, maybe starting with Wimbledon 2018, French 2018 may still be too early to be her first major win after her comeback, although I will not be surprised if she does win it and restore order. In Serena’s absence at this Australian Open, I will go with Venus whom I think is the best and most reasonable choice after Serena and Azarenka.
Without Serena, I can see the women are already falling back into their bad old habits and wild ways without also possessing her ball control, accuracy, spin, finesse and defences. Serena is the only WTA whose hand can command both iron and silk. She seems to be the one WTA who intuitively understands the duality principle of the full spectrum of opposing forces that both reduce and complement simultaneously. To reach her level, Henin, Azarenka and Kerber all overclocked their limits before falling off as they just couldn’t maintain that standard. It is a certain kind of greatness to be inspired by a peer. I think it was Henin who also said something similar, that Serena/Venus forced them all to work really hard. These days the way to go is all about running and tactical rallying, to gain the upper hand in the rally by outmanoeuvring, to control the forces on the court by court coverage and shot array, there is no shot in the codex of tennis that does not have its purpose. For years and years I’ve been saying the players must master the whole book like Serena to carry on the game after Serena. Or the standard of the WTA will drop off a cliff without a truly great player at the top. Serena will not be always there to lead them.
(edit, maybe Cori will be a hope, but although she is already tall and powerful, I don't yet get the feel she has Serena's innate talent.)
AiRFederer
Hall of Fame
Then she wouldnt have been able to play and win last Aussie and would still probably be out for this Aussie.
Venus, you better slay.
Of course Serena couldn't have gotten pregnant 2 months earlier, grr
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
AiRFederer
Hall of Fame
I wouldnt. Serena GOATId be ok with that, bc Venus would have won the AO
Seles GOAT, not Williams.
C
Chadillac
Guest
Posting a direct quote from her Vanity article is trolling?
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