2013 Australian Open WTA Discussion Thread

[soyizgood]

Didn't see one up, so here it is. I'll put up a poll and some other good stuff shortly.

The draw: http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-A...13/901/MDS.pdf

[soyizgood]

Yes, I know Stosur is #9, but who are we kidding? I was debating putting up a thread of which top 10 gets knocked out the soonest, but feared there might be a tie.

The top 3 seem to be the favorites, but Radwanska comes in winning two events this month. Kerber has to be gutted losing to Cibulkova, Li comes in on a roll, Kvitova, Wozniacki and Stosur are epic messes, Errani isn't impressing anybody.

Unlike ATP, you don't have to wait until the 4th round for any surprises when it comes to WTA.

[Roy125]

I think Azarenka will make it to the semis, Sharapova will fall before the quarters, Radwanska to fall in or before the fourth round, and Serena to win. Those are just my predictions.

[soyizgood]

Serena's streak is going to end at some point, so I don't want to just jump in on the Serena bandwagon. After all, an erratic player like Makarova stomped her last year.

Azarenka lacks guts and is clearly intimidated by Serena. She conveniently gave Serena a walkover this month. She's a contender, but I doubt she'd beat Serena if they face off in the SF.

Sharapova has an easier road to the finals. It would be really interesting if she runs into Radwanska in the SF. I like Li, but if I see a Sharapova-Li matchup here I'm going to get drunk and vomit (always a complete UE-fest).

[RodSmooth]

Everybody tries to forget what happeNd when Serena lost to makarova here randomly. Also when she lost at the French last year to someone she could have beat 1,1.

Serena can Lose in a early round as easy as she can win the title.

[Vanhool]

It's no shock I'm all in for Serena. If anyone beats her, I think it will be Vika, but hopefully not. Anything's possible...she did lose 4 times lat year. That Makarova thing is way overblown. She sprained her ankle in Brisbane and just played AO to get points. She rightly figured she could win the first few rounds just standing on the baseline, and with a little luck maybe more. I thought she did pretty good making the fourth round. The FO thing was a mental meltdown. The Woz Miami and Kerber wherever that was were outright wins with no mitigating circumstances. Of course, now that they beat her they must be punished! Still seems the pushers are the ones that can get her. Vika can push but she's getting some all around skills and came real close at USO, so she's the one that makes me nervous.

[kishnabe]

Serena with no resistance.

[GhostDog]

Originally Posted by RodSmooth

Everybody tries to forget what happeNd when Serena lost to makarova here randomly. Also when she lost at the French last year to someone she could have beat 1,1.

Serena can Lose in a early round as easy as she can win the title.

This would truly be a shock with the form she's in right now. She's been lights out since Wimby.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Serena's streak is going to end at some point, so I don't want to just jump in on the Serena bandwagon. After all, an erratic player like Makarova stomped her last year.

Azarenka lacks guts and is clearly intimidated by Serena. She conveniently gave Serena a walkover this month. She's a contender, but I doubt she'd beat Serena if they face off in the SF.

Sharapova has an easier road to the finals. It would be really interesting if she runs into Radwanska in the SF. I like Li, but if I see a Sharapova-Li matchup here I'm going to get drunk and vomit (always a complete UE-fest).

Azarenka still has more chance to beat Serena in the semis, no matter how small it may be, than Sharapova would in the final. If it is a Serena vs Sharapova final, Maria will barely get games once again.

[soyizgood]

Out of the top 10, the only ones I could see giving Serena an issue would be Azarenka or Li. Li and her firepower usually gives Serena a challenge despite the H2H. Azarenka can pin Serena behind the baseline and has arguably the best return of serve, but lacks a real weapon to keep Serena guessing.

If Serena can lose twice at majors to players outside the top 20 last year, anything can happen.

[-RF-]

Radwanska got this. I can feel it. She's mentally very strong and on-form at exactly the right time.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Out of the top 10, the only ones I could see giving Serena an issue would be Azarenka or Li. Li and her firepower usually gives Serena a challenge despite the H2H. Azarenka can pin Serena behind the baseline and has arguably the best return of serve, but lacks a real weapon to keep Serena guessing.

If Serena can lose twice at majors to players outside the top 20 last year, anything can happen.

Serena was injured going into last years Australian Open so things were quite different to this year which she enters on fire, even dominating a minor tournament which Serena usually cant even be bothered with. That said I dont think she had any real injury at Roland Garros and still was out in the 1st round to Razanno, and of course there is the U.S Open final shocker to Stosur, so yes anything can happen. I do think if someone beats her it would be in an early round or someone like Kerber catching Serena on an off day in the quarters. Once she reaches the semis I dont think she can be beaten. I agree of the top players Na and Azarenka are the two most likely to score a win, but if she loses it will mostly likely not be to a top player, as Serena owns all the current WTA elite. The last person in the top 100 who will ever beat her is Sharapova though.

[boredone3456]

Originally Posted by GhostDog

This would truly be a shock with the form she's in right now. She's been lights out since Wimby.

Thats what everyone said before the US Open in 2011 and the French last year and she lost in both of those places where everyone said she was odds on favorite and a lock and all that jazz. Although her draw to the 4th round is in all honesty a joke and this is her best major I still would not be surprised if she lost to Kirilenko or somebody else. She has won 2 of the last 6 majors she has played and in all she lost it was to someone no one would have expected to beat her in a million years.

Is she on the short list of favorites...yes. Is she a lock? NO

[Doublebounce]

Sharapova is off to a quick start. Venus also up an early break.

[SLD76]

Stosur is looking....ripped as ever.

I can clearly make out her arm muscle definition even when the camera is panned well away from her

[romeo8880]

Originally Posted by SLD76

Stosur is looking....ripped as ever.

I can clearly make out her arm muscle definition even when the camera is panned well away from her :O

Hahahaha. Funny stuff.

[-RF-]

Radwanska. Sort this out please.

[jaggy]

Voted Serena though i hope not. tough to see her losing it (the tourny not her head)

[Doublebounce]

ARad in trouble. down 5-4 to Bobusic. the crowd is heavily against aga too

[-RF-]

Originally Posted by Doublebounce

ARad in trouble. down 5-4 to Bobusic. the crowd is heavily against aga too

Bobusic chokes serving for set, 5-5.