The "What's Wrong With Her?" Thread

[jones101]

Originally Posted by dangalak

I don't see how you could think that mentality is to blame for Maria's losses.

Serena isn't all that mentally strong RIGHT NOW, or at least not as much as certain parts of her fanbase claim she is. How else do you explain that "she is choking" is the first thing that they say, whenever she is struggling against a player she dominated in the first set?

She has not lost to a top 5 ranked player since her comeback, has 4 losses for this season, and looked stronger than Vika in the USO 3rd set when it came to crunchtime.

She may have a blip during a match but has the MENTAL RESOLVE to overcome and win the match, which is the definition of mental strenth.

She is 19-3 (6-0 this year) against Vika/Sharapova, WORLD NUMBER 1 & 2, who are considered the mentally toughest players.

And she is a an astonishing 44-9 combined against the current top 10.

A golden slam in singles and doubles to boot, yet she is not mentally strong.


Sorry but I dont see it myself.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by jones101

She has not lost to a top 5 ranked player since her comeback, has 4 losses for this season, and looked stronger than Vika in the USO 3rd set when it came to crunchtime.

She may have a blip during a match but has the MENTAL RESOLVE to overcome and win the match, which is the definition of mental strenth.

She is 19-3 (6-0 this year) against Vika/Sharapova, WORLD NUMBER 1 & 2, who are considered the mentally toughest players.

And she is a an astonishing 44-9 combined against the current top 10.

A golden slam in singles and doubles to boot, yet she is not mentally strong.


Sorry but I dont see it myself.

90% of these stats you accumulated are her being BETTER than the competition, not tougher.

[Brian11785]

Originally Posted by dangalak

90% of these stats you accumulated are her being BETTER than the competition, not tougher.

When one player is so superior to the field physically to the point that, anytime she loses it's considered a mental lapse, it is hard to compare her to anyone else. It's sort of a circular argument (Ex: "She is so much stronger than the field that she must've lost because of a lack of mental strength. Hence she is mentally weak.")

I don't buy it. I wouldn't necessarily say that mental strength is Serena's greatest asset. BUT her serves (second serve in particular) are generally clutch in big moments. To me, that is composure = mental strength.

[Ronaldo]

Originally Posted by Brian11785

When one player is so superior to the field physically to the point that, anytime she loses it's considered a mental lapse, it is hard to compare her to anyone else. It's sort of a circular argument (Ex: "She is so much stronger than the field that she must've lost because of a lack of mental strength. Hence she is mentally weak.")

I don't buy it. I wouldn't necessarily say that mental strength is Serena's greatest asset. BUT her serves (second serve in particular) are generally clutch in big moments. To me, that is composure = mental strength.

By this reasoning, Masha is mentally weak, has a lack of composure against Vika and Serena because her serve is shaky. Even today in China.

[Brian11785]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo

By this reasoning, Masha is mentally weak, has a lack of composure against Vika and Serena because her serve is shaky. Even today in China.

Hmmm....not so much. That's a real stretch of my original post.

It is not as if a solid second serve in clutch moments like Serena's is the ONLY determinant of a mentally strong player. Unless you actually believe I was saying something this myopic.....

Just because I said Serena having a clutch serve proves she isn't mentally weak, that isn't the same thing as me saying that you have to have a clutch second serve to be mentally strong.

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Originally Posted by dangalak

90% of these stats you accumulated are her being BETTER than the competition, not tougher.

Better indicates superiority, whuich trumps the flimsy notion of being "tough," since "tough" (if referring to Sharapova or Azarenka) did not lead to winning more than a single major, or making history at the Olympics.

What writer, ex-pro or large body of tennis fandom believes Serena is not the easy candidate for the strongest player in both mental and physical catagories?

[cc0509]

dangalak;6941040]I don't see how you could think that mentality is to blame for Maria's losses.

I didn't say it was the only reason for Maria's losses when she plays Serena as obviously it is largely a match-up issue but there is a mental element going on in that match-up and it is really the only time you see Maria's mental strength fade.

Serena isn't all that mentally strong RIGHT NOW, or at least not as much as certain parts of her fanbase claim she is. How else do you explain that "she is choking" is the first thing that they say, whenever she is struggling against a player she dominated in the first set?

Yes she is! I don't know what her fans say as I don't follow her that closely, but saying she is choking in a match which does not happen often, does not mean she is not mentally strong overall. You can't win 15 slams and be mentally weak.

[Ronaldo]

Originally Posted by cc0509

I didn't say it was the only reason for Maria's losses when she plays Serena as obviously it is largely a match-up issue but there is a mental element going on in that match-up and it is really the only time you see Maria's mental strength fade.



Yes she is! I don't know what her fans say as I don't follow her that closely, but saying she is choking in a match which does not happen often, does not mean she is not mentally strong overall. You can't win 15 slams and be mentally weak.

It's easy to grin / When your ship comes in / And you've got Serena Williams beat. / But the woman worthwhile, / Is the woman who can smile, / When her shorts are too tight in the seat. Checkout Masha's shorts in Finals. Tight as her fist, eh?

[jaggy]

Totty fest at Linz right now

[jamesblakefan#1]

Serena's 35-5 vs the other top 8 players in her career. That's just astounding.

Qualifier No.1: Victoria Azarenka
~ Azarenka vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 14-5
~ Azarenka vs. rest of elite eight in career: 31-26

Qualifier No.2: Maria Sharapova
~ Sharapova vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 11-8
~ Sharapova vs. rest of elite eight in career: 29-25

Qualifier No.3: Serena Williams
~ Williams vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 9-1
~ Williams vs. rest of elite eight in career: 35-5

Qualifier No.4: Agnieszka Radwanska
~ Radwanska vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 5-10
~ Radwanska vs. rest of elite eight in career: 17-32

Qualifier No.5: Angelique Kerber
~ Kerber vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 6-12
~ Kerber vs. rest of elite eight in career: 8-18

Qualifier No.6: Petra Kvitova
~ Kvitova vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 5-7
~ Kvitova vs. rest of elite eight in career: 15-13

Qualifier No.7: Sara Errani
~ Errani vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 2-8
~ Errani vs. rest of elite eight in career: 4-23

Qualifier No.8: Li Na
~ Li vs. rest of elite eight in 2012: 7-8
~ Li vs. rest of elite eight in career: 26-23

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/201210...256076_2946618

[Ico]

In her last WTA tournament of the year (still has Fed Cup), Ivanovic gets a bagel from Flipkens. Another puzzling year for the Ana fans.

[Ronaldo]

Originally Posted by Ico

In her last WTA tournament of the year (still has Fed Cup), Ivanovic gets a bagel from Flipkens. Another puzzling year for the Ana fans.

Will Ana qualify and play the yr-ending tourney in Sofia?

http://www.wtatennis.com/page/Tourna...1~1901,00.html

[boredone3456]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo

Will Ana qualify and play the yr-ending tourney in Sofia?

http://www.wtatennis.com/page/Tourna...1~1901,00.html

Even if she is offered a wildcard I believe she has commited herself to the Fed Cup final which overlaps this tournament.

[Ronaldo]

Originally Posted by boredone3456

Even if she is offered a wildcard I believe she has commited herself to the Fed Cup final which overlaps this tournament.

Thanks, never realized there is a conflict.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by boredone3456

Even if she is offered a wildcard I believe she has commited herself to the Fed Cup final which overlaps this tournament.

Off topic but how the hell is Serbia in the Fed Cup final w/ JJ mentally retired and Ana being inconsistent?

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by cc0509

I didn't say it was the only reason for Maria's losses when she plays Serena as obviously it is largely a match-up issue but there is a mental element going on in that match-up and it is really the only time you see Maria's mental strength fade.



Yes she is! I don't know what her fans say as I don't follow her that closely, but saying she is choking in a match which does not happen often, does not mean she is not mentally strong overall. You can't win 15 slams and be mentally weak.

Yes you can. Stop saying it like it's some sort of ******** dogma.

She won 13 of those slams several years ago.

[Ronaldo]

Originally Posted by jamesblakefan#1

Off topic but how the hell is Serbia in the Fed Cup final w/ JJ mentally retired and Ana being inconsistent?

Serbia lucky to meet Belgium and Russia this year.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by dangalak

Yes you can. Stop saying it like it's some sort of ******** dogma.

She won 13 of those slams several years ago.

By your definition, Federer's probably mentally weak, I'm guessing. Yes Serena has had moments of tightness this year in big matches, but what's she done in every single one of them? Win, period. Skill alone isn't enough to win, Serena's great but the mental part of the game is HUGE and often the difference between a slam champion and a perenial loser. To call Serena a mental midget or say she isn't mentally strong based on this year is a stretch to say the least.

[boredone3456]

Originally Posted by jamesblakefan#1

Off topic but how the hell is Serbia in the Fed Cup final w/ JJ mentally retired and Ana being inconsistent?

Because the Belgian team was I believe minus Clijsters and the Russians except for Sharapova(who I believe did not play that tie) are just as flakey and inconsistent and mentally dead as JJ and Ana. And Serbia still only won those ties 3-2..they did not blow them away.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by jamesblakefan#1

By your definition, Federer's probably mentally weak, I'm guessing. Yes Serena has had moments of tightness this year in big matches, but what's she done in every single one of them? Win, period. Skill alone isn't enough to win, Serena's great but the mental part of the game is HUGE and often the difference between a slam champion and a perenial loser. To call Serena a mental midget or say she isn't mentally strong based on this year is a stretch to say the least.

She isn't as strong as you claim she is.