Lucie Safarova - what's going on?

[johnny ballgame]

Some pretty bad results dating back to last fall. She really impressed me in the first half of '07, had her pegged for more deep slam runs. Then she faded and still seems to be really struggling.

Anyone know the scoop? Battling injuries I guess?

[Topaz]

I've wondered the same thing...last year in Paris she took out Henin on her way to the final.

I know every time she plays, she has her thigh wrapped...wonder if that is a recurring injury that is keeping her back?

[jazar]

its in her head as well i reckon

[marc tressard]

This to my eyes points to far greater depth on the much maligned (at TW) WTA tour than heretofore. On any given day top main draw types must be 100% against hungry, well trained up and comers and stallwarts. Check out Petrova's results too. How about Bartoli? And Szavay, Vaidisova... I find the parity far more entertianing than what passed for a women's tour "back in the day":
Chrissie vs Martina; Graf and Seles; Court and King...

This fact also makes the #1 quest a true endurance test. So hard in fact that players like the Willaims sisters long ago gave up on it.

[johnny ballgame]

Safarova's poor results continue this week. Chakvetadze having a bad start to 2008 as well. Two of my favorite players, hope they turn it around.

[flyer]

I've only seen he play once, she didn't impress me that much, maybe shes just not that good, like every player has good results and bad results relative to how good they are, so maybe shes right were she belongs in the rankings, you know nothing wrong with her just shes not as good as we all initially thought at the beginning of last year

Originally Posted by johnny ballgame

Safarova's poor results continue this week. Chakvetadze having a bad start to 2008 as well. Two of my favorite players, hope they turn it around.

Anna did beat Agnes Szavay in the final in Paris in February.

I could be wrong but it seems Anna is playing a slightly lighter schedule than some of the other players.

As for Lucie, I've also been wondering what's happened to her. Hopefully she can get back her confidence.

[daddy]

Originally Posted by flyer

I've only seen he play once, she didn't impress me that much, maybe shes just not that good, like every player has good results and bad results relative to how good they are, so maybe shes right were she belongs in the rankings, you know nothing wrong with her just shes not as good as we all initially thought at the beginning of last year

Flyer, she is a pretty good player. Some time last year she showed a potential of whom any women on WTA tour could fear, she was the new thing. I thought she was hitting a lot with Berdych cause speed did not bother her at all, she hit back everything and with interest. These days its just falling apart. Somethign hapepned, what I dont know. If she was Federer there would be like 100 threads on this, she is not. But give her credit, she was great last year.

As for the WTA tour and fight for nr1, it is silly to say many women fight for the spot. There are 3 obvious greats here, Serena, Justine and Maria. Then you have a gap, then Venus on grass, then a gap and there go Ivanovic, Jankovic, Chekvetadze, Kuznetsova and others.

[Tshooter]

Me thinks she's in love. Maybe it's effecting her concentration/game.

[flyer]

Originally Posted by daddy

Flyer, she is a pretty good player. Some time last year she showed a potential of whom any women on WTA tour could fear, she was the new thing. I thought she was hitting a lot with Berdych cause speed did not bother her at all, she hit back everything and with interest. These days its just falling apart. Somethign hapepned, what I dont know. If she was Federer there would be like 100 threads on this, she is not. But give her credit, she was great last year.

As for the WTA tour and fight for nr1, it is silly to say many women fight for the spot. There are 3 obvious greats here, Serena, Justine and Maria. Then you have a gap, then Venus on grass, then a gap and there go Ivanovic, Jankovic, Chekvetadze, Kuznetsova and others.

I haven't seen Safarova enough to really give a 100% informed opinion. I was just throwing the possibility that people are over analyzing out there, as for your view of the top players I agree but I think Invanovic has consistently shown she belongs with the top 3 or close to it, id put her between your groups one and two, other than that your on the money

[split-step]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I've wondered the same thing...last year in Paris she took out Henin on her way to the final.

That was Henin's first tournie back from her long absence after her divorce. I wouldn't read too much into that win.

[johnny ballgame]

Originally Posted by split-step

That was Henin's first tournie back from her long absence after her divorce. I wouldn't read too much into that win.

Well she beat Vaidisova and Kuznetsova before Henin, so clearly she was playing well in that event. Also in first half of '07, she beat Mauresmo in both Melbourne and Roland Garros, Chakvetadze in Berlin, Hantuchova in Fed Cup, and lost 6-7 in the third to Serena in Hobart.

I don't know, maybe the scouting report is out on her now. Or maybe she is just slumping or slightly injured.