The "What's Wrong With Her?" Thread

[soyizgood]

Huh? Dinara lost already? So much for going after #1...
Mirza gone as well...

[soyizgood]

Chakvetadze is hopeless. Lost to a tournament fill-in in Morita. Peer would have easily beat this shell of a top player. Anna C. is performing like Vaidisova these days....

Kuznetsova went down early too. Unpredictability is a sure thing on the WTA these days.

[cork_screw]

ONE WORD, KLEYBANOVA. Lose some weight and stop ducking your head when you make a shot.

[soyizgood]

Dubai didn't do anything for the girls on this list. Peer got compensated economically and points-wise, but Dubai got egged and deservedly so.

Wozniacki got clobbered in the Memphis final, but I'll give her a pass given the way Azarenka is playing in 2009.

Safina was 300 pts off #1, but now she's 900 pts behind. Went out early in Dubai. She needs to pick up the pieces and maybe win Indian Wells (Serena and Venus aren't playing there).

And for those Maria fans, Sharapova dropped to #23.

[RealityPolice]

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Here we can discuss WTA players that for whatever reason just can't seem to get it together. This could be due to a minor or major slump, inconsistent results, mental fragility, not living up to the hype, a combination of things, etc.

Feel free to agree/disagree as well as suggest others to be included

...

Chakvetadze (has an real excuse for 2008, but not getting it together)

Chakvetadze is trying to play the power game, with poor results. She's been coachless for too long now, and her trial with Carlos Rodriguez didn't work out. May be working with Lansdorp again on the US spring circuit. Almost done with her psychology degree, which is highly appropriate.

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Hantuchova (an under-achieving enigma)

The broken foot that kept her out of the clay season last year healed poorly and continued to bother her throughout the rest of the year; rushed back into action to play Wimbledon and paid for it. Now working with Pat Etcheberry.

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Kirilenko (wins and loses when she's expected to)

Fired her coach--or, rather, her father fired her coach and retook control of her career. Another case of Idiot Dad Syndrome. Won a couple of low-budget titles last year, so not a complete catastrophe (although her last four Slam results certainly were). Look for Daddy to drive the bus off a cliff (if he can find the keys).

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Vaidisova (falling apart at 19 and not really giving a care)

Two words: dating Radek.

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Mirza (just use an extreme semi-western forehand then....acts like a diva without the wins to back it up)

The "diva" comment is BS, but Mirza is another one being coached by an unqualified father. Has gone through seven coaches since 2005. Had two major wrist surgeries in the last two years (can't get treated at home in India because her doctors have gotten death threats for treating her). Needs serious coaching to develop a sense of strategy, but won't get it.

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Mauresmo (playing past her prime, fell off the map after 2006, getting blown away by the younger girls)

Someone already mentioned the appendectomy. May have become satisfied with two Slam titles, although she did win Paris this month.

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Golovin (never saw anything special about her game, does look great in a swimsuit)

Numerous injuries, and now dealing with a degenerative spinal condition.

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Peer (beat Safina 3 times in 2008, but otherwise is so erratic)

Coaching carousel time again, having fired Conchita Martinez in 2008.

...

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Dementieva (though she has two titles to start the year... but yeah her serve is a wildcard)

Good start to the year--hard to complain. Her mother was pretty sick and missed the AO, which may have messed with her brain a bit.

[soyizgood]

SPOILER!

Radwanska bageled by Li???

[DMan]

Originally Posted by soyizgood

Here we can discuss WTA players that for whatever reason just can't seem to get it together. This could be due to a minor or major slump, inconsistent results, mental fragility, not living up to the hype, a combination of things, etc.

Feel free to agree/disagree as well as suggest others to be included

List:
Safina (just doesn't win on the big stage....Olympic/FO/AO finals)
Kuznetsova (can't win ANY finals even with Henin gone)
Ivanovic (FO '08 looking like a fluke win, can't stand her "ajde!" and fist-pumps)
Chakvetadze (has an real excuse for 2008, but not getting it together)
Hantuchova (an under-achieving enigma)
Kirilenko (wins and loses when she's expected to)
Vaidisova (falling apart at 19 and not really giving a care)
Safarova (haven't seen much of her... maybe that's the problem)
Mirza (just use an extreme semi-western forehand then....acts like a diva without the wins to back it up)
Mauresmo (playing past her prime, fell off the map after 2006, getting blown away by the younger girls)
Golovin (never saw anything special about her game, does look great in a swimsuit)
Peer (beat Safina 3 times in 2008, but otherwise is so erratic)
Radwanska (lacks a true weapon, doesn't intimidate anybody)

Added per feedback:
Dementieva (though she has two titles to start the year... but yeah her serve is a wildcard)
Petrova (Kuzzy's long lost sister?)
Sharapova (enough with that crazy reverse forehand... not going there on her grunts and moans, weak right shoulder)
Szavay (it's not like I noticed)
Jankovic (plays hard but not smart, truly thinks she's a diva, serve and forehand are pedestrian at best, volleys are just BAD)
Bartoli (grinds to the end but lacks the wheels and resolve to go far, out of shape, still has daddy holding her back)
Zvonareva (debatable, IMO. Yeah she can be emotionally fragile and loses finals, but at least she fights)

Safina - give her time. Only winnable match was Olympics. And remember, she is related to Marat Safin!
Kuznetsova - dumbest top 10 player of all-time. (But she is sweet off the court). Plus she doesn't know how to play tennis! She can run, do the splits, hit with power. But it's not playing tennis!
Ivanovic - not a real athlete. Power groundies will only get you so far. With more training and coaching, she'll possibly win another major.
Chakvetadze - Overrated to begin with. She was Hingis-lite. Had a good run in '07 only due to absence of other players. Does anyone remember her 07 US Open semi match (does anyone want to remember?) Has always been mentally fragile.
Hantuchova - Perhaps the most mentally fragile (not to mention physically fragile) woman ever to be in the top 10.
Vaidisova - next to Kutzy, the dumbest player I've seen. Still can't believe these 2 played a French semis a few years ago. Will never be a top player again.
Safarova - apart from a few good ones a few years ago, she's indistinguishable from dozens and dozens of girls on the WTA Tour over the last 25 years.
Mirza - another overhyped, oft-injured, and tactically bankrupt player.
Golovin - too many injuries. Wonder if she'll ever make it back.
Peer - a grinder with a weak serve. Describes 70% of the women on tour today.
Radwanska - what soyizgood said. The next incantation of Chakvetadze. By next year she'll be out of the top 20.
Jankovic - I think she is a pretty smart player. Still doesn't have the inner belief - even as she professes to love herself and her game ever so much. The serve is always going to be the main stumbling block to winning a non-clay major.
Bartoli - ugliest game of any player to ever get to a major final. If they ranked players by averages she'd never be ranked as high as she is. Only stays there because she plays a ton.
Petrova - mentally very weak; for a player of her physical talent, it's a shame she never had the mental ability or belief.
Zvonervea - had a breakout year in 2008. Will that be the highlight o her career? Or can she do better? Jury is out. The mental fragility is just underneath the surface. In the right set of circumstances I could see her winning the French, even beating a Williams sister there, and having a top 5 year. I could also see her lose every big match she'll ever be in.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by cork_screw

ONE WORD, KLEYBANOVA. Lose some weight and stop ducking your head when you make a shot.

I've only seen her play once. Her forehand is just awkward. She is a BIG girl. Almost like Davenport in her earlier years. Until she tones her body down, she's just a ball-bashing grinder. At least she's in the top 30 now.

I'm GLAD she beat Ivanovic at the AO. Watching highlights of that match Ana was beyond annoying with her fist-pumping on basically EVERY point she won.

[tahiti]

Ivanovic - She has great potential , she needs to realise what it takes to keep winning & mature. She'll come back with another slam.

Dementiava & Radwanksa, I have faith that they'll improve.

Kuznetsova- Lose weight, get fit, become more agile, she has got to win a slam soon.

Sharapova- get back to basics, stop worrying about doing things "pretty" she's got the game has to work on accuracy & concentrate more.

[Marigold]

Originally Posted by soyizgood

I've only seen her play once. Her forehand is just awkward. She is a BIG girl. Almost like Davenport in her earlier years. Until she tones her body down, she's just a ball-bashing grinder. At least she's in the top 30 now.

I'm GLAD she beat Ivanovic at the AO. Watching highlights of that match Ana was beyond annoying with her fist-pumping on basically EVERY point she won.

And i'm GLAD that Ana took revenge in Dubai

[Leublu tennis]

Originally Posted by YouCantBeSerious

Sharapova (screams too much, neighbors might care.)
Serena (everything.)
Kournikova (doesn't know how to play tennis, other than that perfect.)

You don't know anything about Kournikova's tennis, do you? Look it up before you make a fool of yourself again.

[soyizgood]

Bartoli ended her drought with a title. Granted it was against Li Na, but any title will do for Bartoli at this point. Bartoli rises to #11 now, I believe.

[soyizgood]

I'm on the verge of adding Kudryavtseva to the list. She just can't break the cycle of mediocrity.

[oneguy21]

Originally Posted by Leublu tennis

You don't know anything about Kournikova's tennis, do you? Look it up before you make a fool of yourself again.

Kournikova is a great doubles player.

[soyizgood]

Originally Posted by oneguy21

Kournikova is a great doubles player.

Also Kournikova is the alpha mommy of Russian women who can't serve properly.

[soyizgood]

Kirilenko is little more than eye candy at this point. Overrated at that...

Seriously, she seems allergic to the idea of making the top 20. Never know what to expect out of her. Maybe she spends too much time with the other Maria.

[timeisonmyside]

I always think Schnyder should be doing better than she is. IMO, she should be a consistent quarterfinalist.

Two girls I hope WON'T make this list: Caroline Wozniacki and Coco Vandeweghe.

[timeisonmyside]

Originally Posted by SaintClaires

I thought this thread was dead...apparently not....

We're keeping it on life support.

[soyizgood]

Bartoli and Kirilenko both reclaimed their spots here. Vaidisova looked good in stomping A. Bondarenko, who looks like a WW candidate.

Wozniacki has been a popular "star in waiting" pick. I just don't see it. More like Chakvetadze (minus the mental issues) in my book based on what little I've seen of her. Azarenka seems to have more of an upside and showed she won't back down to Serena.

[Jimmyk459]

I know that this is going to sound bad... don't get me wrong... women have been (generally) way more dominant than men in tennis past... however, I just feel that with the new form of game with the strings and such, it is way more difficult for a woman to stay at the top for long because of the physical toll that it takes to consistenty go deep in tournaments.

Back then you could serve and volley your way in... now it is so much more physical. That really hurts the women's side. You either have to be extremely diverse/talented (henin) or be extremely phyisical (serena/venus)...except for jankovic... which cant seem to get it together... poor girl