I just never got the feeling that Fernandez ever felt a desperate 'I HAVE to win this point, this game, this match' intensity that baseliners a la Evert, Austin, Sanchez, Seles etc never really escaped from. They had to win every single possible point through tenacity and focus. To play that style, you have to be so driven, so emotionally invested in just not losing todays match that the kinds of shortcomings you mention here are not permitted to penetrate. There is a total belief that a loss today, will lead to tomorrows, and the next days losses. Its a zealot's protection of an athlete's fragile ego, that Fernandez did not possess.
M.J. Fernandez: Super cool. Super sweet. No slam... why?
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LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
My wife and I have had the opportunity to chat with her a few times at some junior tournaments over the past few years and she is a very nice lady. Also I would not describe her as frail or weak. She has that look of being a former world class athlete. I think a lot of us guys would want to be as strong as she is.
I also did not walk away thinking she was fragile in her thinking or lacks determination. I think she was the typical tennis parent with all the determination etc. one wants to have their kid be successful in their pursuits.
I also did not walk away thinking she was fragile in her thinking or lacks determination. I think she was the typical tennis parent with all the determination etc. one wants to have their kid be successful in their pursuits.
Musterrific
Hall of Fame
For a player who was slight you'd think she'd be light on her feet, but I don't recall her movement being particularly great. Also, she didn't have a big shot to put elite players in uncomfortable positions consistently.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Good observation; MJF seemed to be heavy-footed and could be beaten by simply having her reaction to shots tripped up by her own lack of great movement and speed.
She was not physically strong enough to win slams against Graf or Seles. She was a very smart player with an outstanding game, but did not have the physical ability to do better.she faced some pretty good opponents like graf, seles and Sabatini. she was good but not as good as them.
she would have needed some luck to win a slam (or a terrible era like now).
boredone3456
G.O.A.T.
She was also insanely mentally inconsistent on top of this
martinezownsclay
Hall of Fame
Really I thought one of her strengths was her consistency and focus.
Olli Jokinen
Hall of Fame
Of course she was strong. You don't get to a FO final if you're frail. She was a top athlete among other top athletes, and some of them were just a tad better than her. She's still a better tennis player than 99.99999 % of all people who ever lived.
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
Strange you replied to me as I agree with you. You should respond to the other folks in this thread that don't.....
Olli Jokinen
Hall of Fame
Just supporting your point of view. Sorry you took it the wrong way, mate.
LOBALOT
Hall of Fame
OK, sorry about that!
R. Schweikart
Professional
MJF had a great forehand, even Queen Steffi herself acknowledged this.
R. Schweikart
Professional
I have watched this strange behavior quite often in football matches as well.
The players never seem to smile, obviously not enjoying being on the field.
