Azarenka deserves respect for defending her title

[NadalAgassi]

I am not a big Azarenka fan and was rooting for Na Li to beat her last night. However she deserves more respect than she seems to be getting. She defended her title, something that seems rare these days in womens tennis. The last 2 slam finals she was in where both thrilling encounters, the U.S Open final narrow loss to Serena, and last nights narrow win over Na Li, which both Serena and Na contributed to as well of course. She is also the first #1 since Henin and Serena some years back to both play consistently enough on the regular tour to be ranked #1, and to have the capacity to regularly contend and win some of the big titles to justify that ranking. Yes she took a questionable MTO, but this is the WTA, who doesnt do that in the last 15 years.

[OrangePower]

Ok, she deserves respect for her game, which is good.

But I can't respect her gamemanship. Not the MTO (although that was suspect also), but the horrible wailing, which is clearly not necessary and is a constant hindrance to her opponent, not to mention an assault on the ears of the hapless spectators.

[gavna]

Cheater.......

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

Ok, she deserves respect for her game, which is good.

But I can't respect her gamemanship. Not the MTO (although that was suspect also), but the horrible wailing, which is clearly not necessary and is a constant hindrance to her opponent, not to mention an assault on the ears of the hapless spectators.

couldn't agree more with this.

[SLD76]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

Ok, she deserves respect for her game, which is good.

But I can't respect her gamemanship. Not the MTO (although that was suspect also), but the horrible wailing, which is clearly not necessary and is a constant hindrance to her opponent, not to mention an assault on the ears of the hapless spectators.

this

/thread

[Clarky21]

Maybe she should dish out some respect before thinking she's entitled to it. Anyone who is nasty to the ball kids is instantly blacklisted for me. And that's not the only thing I dislike about her, either.

[Sid_Vicious]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

Maybe she should dish out some respect before thinking she's entitled to it. Anyone who is nasty to the ball kids is instantly blacklisted for me. And that's not the only thing I dislike about her, either.

What did she do?

[Amelie Mauresmo]

I agree with the OP with the terrible slamless number one players like Caroline Wozniacki women's tennis finally has a young player who is a multiple slam champion. Maybe Victoria's success is going to inspire the other women. Women's tennis needs more mentally tough players like Azarenka who can come through a slam and win titles. I wasn't sure about Azarenka before the Australian Open if she's the real deal but she proved it by defending her title.

[DMan]

Originally Posted by Amelie Mauresmo

I agree with the OP with the terrible slamless number one players like Caroline Wozniacki women's tennis finally has a young player who is a multiple slam champion. Maybe Victoria's success is going to inspire the other women. Women's tennis needs more mentally tough players like Azarenka who can come through a slam and win titles. I wasn't sure about Azarenka before the Australian Open if she's the real deal but she proved it by defending her title.

Where was Azarenka's mental toughness when she couldn't close out Sloane Stephens? Oh that's right, she was running off court, with a bogus injury. Instead, she got a lovely 10 minute break to compose herself. How mentally tough of her!

She may have won one tennis match. But she lost FOREVER the respect of so many people. But then why you are a CHEATER, that's to be expected!

[DeShaun]

Originally Posted by Amelie Mauresmo

I agree with the OP with the terrible slamless number one players like Caroline Wozniacki women's tennis finally has a young player who is a multiple slam champion. Maybe Victoria's success is going to inspire the other women. Women's tennis needs more mentally tough players like Azarenka who can come through a slam and win titles. I wasn't sure about Azarenka before the Australian Open if she's the real deal but she proved it by defending her title.

After Kvitova won Wimby she was widely proclaimed to be the next big thing. Her ball striking was sweet but she never had enough fire in her eyes to take over and retain number 1. Enter Vika...while playing Serena in the USO in 2011 I believe, Vika caught my eye. She was the only girl since Henin to actually stand up to Serena on that feral level on which Serena likes to intimidate opponents. Justine in her own way used to stare back at Serena on this same animalistic level, but there were no other women with balls enough to even try UNTIL Vika showed up. I did not know then (2011) whether Vika had the game to overtake Woz but I knew she had the fire to stand up to Serena.

[Steve0904]

Originally Posted by DeShaun

After Kvitova won Wimby she was widely proclaimed to be the next big thing. Her ball striking was sweet but she never had enough fire in her eyes to take over and retain number 1. Enter Vika...while playing Serena in the USO in 2011 I believe, Vika caught my eye. She was the only girl since Henin to actually stand up to Serena on that feral level on which Serena likes to intimidate opponents. Justine in her own way used to stare back at Serena on this same animalistic level, but there were no other women with balls enough to even try UNTIL Vika showed up. I did not know then (2011) whether Vika had the game to overtake Woz but I knew she had the fire to stand up to Serena.

Yes right. Just like she stood up to her in the USO final last year right? Gimme a break. Azarenka is just as intimidated by Serena as the rest of them are. She just masks it with her wailing and fist pumping like Sharapova does.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Sid_Vicious

What did she do?

http://www.onthebaseline.com/2010/07...a-not-so-much/

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=411692

[Crisstti]

I was very disappointed Na Li lost

She was playing so good until Azarenka broke her in the first set... who apparently had just 2 winners up until then.

Disappointed Li couldn't keep her game together.

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Li did not deserve to win, and was not as "impressive" as some tried to sell her. When facing a real opponent in Azarenka, the Li wheels fell off, and she had no answers. Then again, her coach may have much to do with that, as one of his former clients also reached a point where she had no answers for real opponents.

Azarenka fully earner her second major, and as far as the new guard is concerned, she's in a top class above the rest.

[DMan]

Originally Posted by THUNDERVOLLEY

Li did not deserve to win, and was not as "impressive" as some tried to sell her. When facing a real opponent in Azarenka, the Li wheels fell off, and she had no answers. Then again, her coach may have much to do with that, as one of his former clients also reached a point where she had no answers for real opponents.

Azarenka fully earner her second major, and as far as the new guard is concerned, she's in a top class above the rest.

The only legitimate part of that statement is that Azarenka is in a top class above the rest

when it comes to CHEATING!

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Originally Posted by DMan

The only legitimate part of that statement is that Azarenka is in a top class above the rest

when it comes to CHEATING!

Bolded, colored words in a larger font size will not make your post true. It simply means you are pissed off that the superior player won the AO title. No official has even hinted that Azarenka was cheating...because she did not, and there is no evidence of this alleged cheating.

Blame Stephens and Li Na for not having enough game to stop her.

[Ico]

Azarenka was very fortunate that Hampton, Serena, and Li all had (actual) health concerns. But you can only play the cards you're dealt so good for Azarenka to make the best of her situation.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Ico

Azarenka was very fortunate that Hampton, Serena, and Li all had (actual) health concerns. But you can only play the cards you're dealt so good for Azarenka to make the best of her situation.

They felt like Azarenka needed a lesson on what qualifies as a medical timeout.

[mellowyellow]

Kills me how because she grunts or whatever, their is so much hate to the point of supporting a female LA in the sport of tennis. I think the ESPN commentating said it all, she is better mover at 31? 32? than Vica, and than she ever was, and funny she don't look as fit as Nav did in her early 30's (she about wrote the book on it) and she clearly was showing signs of slowing down at that point in age. Hmmm makes you wonder doesn't it, not just about Li, but about anyone that would support her, throw in her slip comment about her Russian or was it a German "Nutritionist".

To the origianal point, yes she does deserve all the credit, she even payed for the possible exaggerated MTO dealing with 2 and the 10 min fireworks on her serve in the 3rd...

[Tafmatch]

Li was the same trainwreck she was in the final against Clijsters. Winning the first set but in such a negative, angry, stressed-out state of mind that her opponent only had to keep the ball in play to win the match.

If anyone deserved to win it was Azarenka. Terrible, ugly match.