Who's the Queen Headcase?

Queen Headcase.....

  • Safina

    Votes: 63 56.8%

  • Kuznetsova

    Votes: 4 3.6%

  • Dementieva

    Votes: 5 4.5%

  • Petrova

    Votes: 3 2.7%

  • Zvonareva

    Votes: 14 12.6%

  • Chakvetadze

    Votes: 1 0.9%

  • Ivanovic

    Votes: 9 8.1%

  • Jankovic

    Votes: 2 1.8%

  • Azarenka

    Votes: 4 3.6%

  • Other/Rule by committee

    Votes: 6 5.4%
  • Total voters
    111
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Rather than torture myself arguing the merits of some girls, I'm just going to list some I feel deserve to be considered:

I'll post a poll later only because there's too many to consider.

My list of nominees and reasons:
  • Safina (oh GOD! I still support you, but there are times you do things that make me want to hang myself)
  • Kuznetsova (once THE definition of headcase... still is one, but things looking up)
  • Zvonareva (2009 we saw the good, the bad, and the ugly...)
  • Petrova (I really feel sorry for her loyal, long-suffering fans)
  • Ivanovic (has had more boyfriends than titles the past 19 months)
  • Jankovic (think she's the center of attention, has the longest list of excuses for losing NOT named Serena, and she's crazy)
  • Dementieva (you give fans hope, occasional joy, and unforgettable grief and sorrow... all in the same year usually)
  • Vaidisova (I'm beginning to think NTRP 5.0 men can beat her at this point... after all Stacey Tan did 6-2 6-1)
  • Hantuchova (went out like a coward vs Venus at Wimby... seems afraid to win.... time after time)
  • Chakvetadze (find a coach, girl! and to think she studies psychology.)
  • Kanepi (how many straight matches did she lose last year? and to think she was in the top 20)

Still considering:
Azarenka (anger management issues.. that and choking away big leads)

Feel free to nominate and I'll make the poll.
 
S

Serendipitous

Guest
soyizgood said:
Rather than torture myself arguing the merits of some girls, I'm just going to list some I feel deserve to be considered:

I'll post a poll later only because there's too many to consider.

My list of nominees and reasons:
  • Safina (oh GOD! I still support you, but there are times you do things that make me want to hang myself)
  • Kuznetsova (once THE definition of headcase... still is one, but things looking up)
  • Zvonareva (2009 we saw the good, the bad, and the ugly...)
  • Petrova (I really feel sorry for her loyal, long-suffering fans)
  • Ivanovic (has had more boyfriends than titles the past 19 months)
  • Jankovic (think she's the center of attention, has the longest list of excuses for losing NOT named Serena, and she's crazy)
  • Dementieva (you give fans hope, occasional joy, and unforgettable grief and sorrow... all in the same year usually)
  • Vaidisova (I'm beginning to think NTRP 5.0 men can beat her at this point... after all Stacey Tan did 6-2 6-1)
  • Hantuchova (went out like a coward vs Venus at Wimby... seems afraid to win.... time after time)
  • Chakvetadze (find a coach, girl! and to think she studies psychology.)
  • Kanepi (how many straight matches did she lose last year? and to think she was in the top 20)

Still considering:
Azarenka (anger management issues.. that and choking away big leads)

Feel free to nominate and I'll make the poll.
Click to expand...

:shock::shock::shock::shock:

Uhhhh.......Na Li
 
Bloodshed

Bloodshed

Professional
At this moment if I had to play a WTA player to the point I would believe that I can beat her, I would choose without hesitating Vaidisova (I might still lose since I'm a 4.0 but who knows anything can happen.)


As far as players frustrating the **** out of me when I watch play as of late : Petrova, Safina and Dementieva I've lost hope for any of them to win a GS
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Bloodshed said:
At this moment if I had to play a WTA player to the point I would believe that I can beat her, I would choose without hesitating Vaidisova (I might still lose since I'm a 4.0 but who knows anything can happen.)


As far as players frustrating the **** out of me when I watch play as of late : Petrova, Safina and Dementieva I've lost hope for any of them to win a GS
Click to expand...

If you challenge Vaidisova, make sure Radek comes along. Her brain (what little of it that remains) might drift to some distant star system while she sprays the court with dozens of UEs. She doesn't seem to care about being on the court anyways.

As for those lovable crazies you mentioned, the AO in even years is usually a toss-up so there might be hope. But yeah those three can make a sane fan want to jump off a bridge.
 
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soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Ack!

I've pretty decided on the following:
Safina
Kuznetsova
Dementieva
Petrova
Vaidisova (might drop her as the others actually try to put up a fight)
Chakvetadze
Zvonareva
Jankovic

That leaves 2 or 3 spots:
Li vs Ivanovic
Kanepi vs Hantuchova
Azarenka vs A. Bondarenko
 
jamesblakefan#1

jamesblakefan#1

G.O.A.T.
soyizgood said:
Ack!

I've pretty decided on the following:
Safina
Kuznetsova
Dementieva
Petrova
Vaidisova (might drop her as the others actually try to put up a fight)
Chakvetadze
Zvonareva
Jankovic

That leaves 2 or 3 spots:
Li vs Ivanovic
Kanepi vs Hantuchova
Azarenka vs A. Bondarenko
Click to expand...

Ivanovic
Hantuchokeva
Azarenka

Don't forget Vika's chokeworthy performance at the YEC to lose a spot in the Semis. She deserves a spot in the poll.
 
Y

YouJaySoup

Semi-Pro
soyizgood said:
Rather than torture myself arguing the merits of some girls, I'm just going to list some I feel deserve to be considered:

I'll post a poll later only because there's too many to consider.

My list of nominees and reasons:
  • Safina (oh GOD! I still support you, but there are times you do things that make me want to hang myself)
  • Kuznetsova (once THE definition of headcase... still is one, but things looking up)
  • Zvonareva (2009 we saw the good, the bad, and the ugly...)
  • Petrova (I really feel sorry for her loyal, long-suffering fans)
  • Ivanovic (has had more boyfriends than titles the past 19 months)
  • Jankovic (think she's the center of attention, has the longest list of excuses for losing NOT named Serena, and she's crazy)
  • Dementieva (you give fans hope, occasional joy, and unforgettable grief and sorrow... all in the same year usually)
  • Vaidisova (I'm beginning to think NTRP 5.0 men can beat her at this point... after all Stacey Tan did 6-2 6-1)
  • Hantuchova (went out like a coward vs Venus at Wimby... seems afraid to win.... time after time)
  • Chakvetadze (find a coach, girl! and to think she studies psychology.)
  • Kanepi (how many straight matches did she lose last year? and to think she was in the top 20)

Still considering:
Azarenka (anger management issues.. that and choking away big leads)

Feel free to nominate and I'll make the poll.
Click to expand...

Queen of Headcase - Safina. Reached 3 finals,yet failed to win one major. Understandable against Ivanovic,she was only a top 20 player in her first final then,but how could she have lost to Kuzy who was a headcase too and whom she had beaten many times before?! And at least put up a more convincing fight against Serena at the AO09?!

Princess of Headcase - Zvonareva and Dementieva. Just when it seems they will close out the match for sure,having match point...it all goes downhill from there. Not really reliable.

Seems like many of the Eastern European clones are headcases.
 
Bloodshed

Bloodshed

Professional
soyizgood said:
Ack!

I've pretty decided on the following:
Safina
Kuznetsova
Dementieva
Petrova
Vaidisova (might drop her as the others actually try to put up a fight)
Chakvetadze
Zvonareva
Jankovic

That leaves 2 or 3 spots:
Li vs Ivanovic
Kanepi vs Hantuchova
Azarenka vs A. Bondarenko
Click to expand...


if you want to drop any WTA players with no fighting spirits, might as well take off Hantuchova off the list.

Azarenka is just a crazy b1tch with a f*cked up temper that's why she chokes.

Bondarenko has a f*cked up coach would probably abuse her physically everytime she loses a match (I'm surprised she doesn't have the fighting spirit of her sister. Jealous perhaps?)

Kanepi should stay on the list , Li should definately stay with her stupid brainless bashing tennis and I would say if Ivanovic doesn't smarten up, she stays on the list as well.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
jamesblakefan#1 said:
Don't forget Vika's chokeworthy performance at the YEC to lose a spot in the Semis. She deserves a spot in the poll.
Click to expand...

You HAD to remind me of that, huh? :evil: I was utterly disgusted with Vika. I really want to root for her, but that was just... well immature and low class by her to say the least.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Bloodshed said:
if you want to drop any WTA players with no fighting spirits, might as well take off Hantuchova off the list.

Azarenka is just a crazy b1tch with a f*cked up temper that's why she chokes.

Bondarenko has a f*cked up coach would probably abuse her physically everytime she loses a match (I'm surprised she doesn't have the fighting spirit of her sister. Jealous perhaps?)

Kanepi should stay on the list , Li should definately stay with her stupid brainless bashing tennis and I would say if Ivanovic doesn't smarten up, she stays on the list as well.
Click to expand...

Problem is only 10 can make the poll. If I put in "other/too many to choose from" that leaves me with 9.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Poll added.

Too many choices, but by POE I narrowed it down.

* Made it top 10
* Played in YEC
* Won a tier-1
* Actually care to compete
 
namelessone

namelessone

Legend
Safina not only takes the cake in this one,but she eats it and comes back for seconds. She is sooooo mentally unstable it's painful to watch. While Safin also had some meltdowns he seems like a rock compared to his little sis.
And what's worse for her is that they seem to come in the latter stages of a tournament.She can just breeze through the competition and do a major choke/breakdown in semi's or finals.

The RG final between her and Kuznetsova was one of the most painful matches I have ever seen,not only because of the mediocre quality of play but because Safina was broken down mentally before the match started. Didn't she look to her coach and started to blame herself? And she was crying if I remember correctly.

I felt pity for Safina that day,it seemed like she wanted to be anywhere else but there in those moments and that's really sad considering it was a GS final. And what's weird is that I didn't think that she would turn out like this. I am not really a big fan of the WTA but when I first saw Safina she looked like a more serious,more focused version of her brother and dare I say,I almost liked her "in your face" attitude on court. But as the pressure mounted on her,she really started to lose it mentally and her game went south as well.
Basically she turned into another WTA choke artist.

I hope she gets some confidence back this year.
 
TheMusicLover

TheMusicLover

G.O.A.T.
All of them, but Safina is the top-choker. You can see it runs in the family...

Thanks Henin and Clijsters for saving women's tennis!!!
 
J

JankovicFan

Semi-Pro
soyizgood said:
Jankovic (think she's the center of attention, has the longest list of excuses for losing NOT named Serena, and she's crazy)
Click to expand...

* think she's the center of attention, - she's theatrical, and some don't appreciate it

* has the longest list of excuses for losing NOT named Serena, - what does that mean? She shows up and wins more than most and was third place money winner in 2008, very close to Serena and Venus in spite of no slam. Hard to remember after a nothing year in 2009.

* and she's crazy) - since when? Why do you write that? Okay, so you don't like her personality.

Why have a poll if you introduce it prejudicing the voting? The only one that is truly nuts is Zvonareva, although Chakvetadze is pretty spooky. Start by defining "headcase".

Obviously I would have some sensitivity, so I thought I would challenge your statements. The only thing wrong with JJ is not being strong enough to hit the ball as hard as she would like to. Being and staying competitive isn't easy as girls get bigger and bigger.
 
D

Dutch-Guy

Legend
Safina but i'm going to give my vote to Vika.She choked 5 MPs against Wozzy at the YEC then suddenly got "injuried". What a joke!!!
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
JankovicFan said:
* think she's the center of attention, - she's theatrical, and some don't appreciate it

* has the longest list of excuses for losing NOT named Serena, - what does that mean? She shows up and wins more than most and was third place money winner in 2008, very close to Serena and Venus in spite of no slam. Hard to remember after a nothing year in 2009.

* and she's crazy) - since when? Why do you write that? Okay, so you don't like her personality.

Why have a poll if you introduce it prejudicing the voting? The only one that is truly nuts is Zvonareva, although Chakvetadze is pretty spooky. Start by defining "headcase".

Obviously I would have some sensitivity, so I thought I would challenge your statements. The only thing wrong with JJ is not being strong enough to hit the ball as hard as she would like to. Being and staying competitive isn't easy as girls get bigger and bigger.
Click to expand...

I criticized some of my faves (Safina, Dementieva, Zvonareva, Kuznetsova) as well and included them in this poll. We're all prejudiced in some form. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Jankovic last year commented that she felt she was #1 in the world and put herself right up there with Serena. This while she didn't even have a title of any sorts (correction: one minnie mouse title) before Cincy and didn't even make a slam QF.... She never passes up an opportunity to get photographed. It's like she thinks she's right up there with Sharapova and Ivanovic in the looks department or something. Actually, I think Jankovic is attractive and funny, but her gamesmanship (countless injury timeouts, lame excuses when she loses, *****ing at her coach) and her pushing is a turn-off. If she spent more time fixing her serve and building a legit 2nd weapon (she almost never hits forehand winners), she might not be so much of a headcase. She blamed her conditioning coach for her struggles and I think even fired her coach before bringing him back... Always someone and something else at fault but her.
 
Last edited:
N

Narcissist

Semi-Pro
Ivanovic. Winning and GS and getting the no 1 ranking and then falling into oblivion. At least Safina for all her binned finals is still ranked 2.
 
cork_screw

cork_screw

Hall of Fame
I'm going to say this very quietly. But most of them. I believe women are over-coached. Men are coached heavily, but women almost rely on their coaches to make all their decisions and tell them what to do, how to think. That's why their groundstrokes are so mechanical.
 
djokovicgonzalez2010

djokovicgonzalez2010

G.O.A.T.
cork_screw said:
I'm going to say this very quietly. But most of them. I believe women are over-coached. Men are coached heavily, but women almost rely on their coaches to make all their decisions and tell them what to do, how to think. That's why their groundstrokes are so mechanical.
Click to expand...

Why are you saying it quietly?
 
anointedone

anointedone

Banned
Tanya said:
Umm Vaidisova without question



.....to my disdain.
Click to expand...

Yes what a mental midget. She needs to retire already. So much talent and one of the best hard hitters which should be perfect for todays game, yet her career has gone down the toilet completely.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Safina. In one year (June 2008-9), she made Kuzzy a revived elite player, gifted Ivanovic her likely only slam, and forever made Dementieva a Russian legend in front of the world.

Dementieva comes close. In 2004, she gifted her biggest nemesis, Myskina, her one shining moment and then followed it up losing to another countrywoman at the USO. Carried the torch for Russia this decade while others (Myskina, Kuznetsova, Sharapova) cleaned up.
 
matchmaker

matchmaker

Hall of Fame
I voted before seeing the poll results and yes, my vote went to Safina.

OT1H side she has shown some consistency in her results and in maintaining the number one position for some time, also in reaching GS finals. These are all things you cannot underestimate.

But her pathetic chokes really make her headcase number one IMO.
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
If I made this poll a year ago, I'd bet Kuznetsova would have won in a landslide with Petrova and Dementieva fighting for headcase princess. Man, how things change so quickly.

She won 4 titles in 2008 which also tied for the most. Safina won 3 titles in 2009 which tied for the most on the WTA. Same for fellow headcases Kuznetsova, Dementieva, and Azarenka. Problem for Safina was her performance in finals.

Azarenka 3-0
Serena 3-1
Kuznetsova 3-1
Dementieva 3-1
Wozniacki 3-2
Safina 3-5

Most of those 5 finals losses (Sydney, AO, FO, Cincy) were just bad. Stuttgart wasn't too bad as Kuznetsova was on fire that day. Still a top player, particularly one ranked #1, should win most of her finals appearances. In her defense her finals opponents in 7 of those finals were ranked in the top 10, but even then she barely beat Errani at Portoroz.

Her collapse after losing Cincinnati was just horrible (losing to some no-name Chinese girl ranked 226, losing to Kvitova, and to Rezai to name a few). In one year she went from being fearless and dangerous to being defensive, timid, insecure, and just downright miserable. She just does not usually perform well when expected to (seems to be a Russian habit).

I don't really think she's more nutty than Dementieva/Zvonareva/Kuznetsova/Petrova, but yes she is Queen Headcase in my book....
 
Last edited:
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Chakvetadze, a former top-5 player, couldn't even make it past qualifying at a MM event, Hobart. She can provide advice on other's psychological issues but is clueless with her own.
 
Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
soyizgood said:
Jankovic last year commented that she felt she was #1 in the world and put herself right up there with Serena. This while she didn't even have a title of any sorts (correction: one minnie mouse title) before Cincy and didn't even make a slam QF.... She never passes up an opportunity to get photographed. It's like she thinks she's right up there with Sharapova and Ivanovic in the looks department or something. Actually, I think Jankovic is attractive and funny, but her gamesmanship (countless injury timeouts, lame excuses when she loses, *****ing at her coach) and her pushing is a turn-off. If she spent more time fixing her serve and building a legit 2nd weapon (she almost never hits forehand winners), she might not be so much of a headcase. She blamed her conditioning coach for her struggles and I think even fired her coach before bringing him back... Always someone and something else at fault but her.
Click to expand...

Don't forget Jankovic's behavior in the championship ceremony at whatever slam it was when she made the final (US Open, I think). She gets to do her loser speech. Then she interrupts the winner's speech with some stupid remarks, and the master of ceremonies basically has to tell her to shut her mouth.

And I don't like her doing the splits. She does it for show. And mugging at her own image on the big screen. Yikes.

Still, I wouldn't mind seeing her win a slam. She deserves it more than Safina.
 
J

JankovicFan

Semi-Pro
Cindysphinx said:
Don't forget Jankovic's behavior in the championship ceremony at whatever slam it was when she made the final (US Open, I think). She gets to do her loser speech. Then she interrupts the winner's speech with some stupid remarks, and the master of ceremonies basically has to tell her to shut her mouth.
Click to expand...

That's not what happened. Carillo simply cut her short, despising her before the interview started. The problem is not allowing enough time for those interviews, and everyone being stressed about the network cutting away. JJ was trying to enjoy the moment, but a) there was no time allowed for it and b) the interviewer was hostile (b!tchy).

Cindysphinx said:
And I don't like her doing the splits. She does it for show.
Click to expand...
Not true. She does it because she can. It is part of her exceptional court coverage ability.

Cindysphinx said:
And mugging at her own image on the big screen. Yikes.
Click to expand...
She is theatrical. It has no effect on the game unless it takes time. Who's to say whether it is justified. If you like her, it's fine. If you don't, she's a bum.

Cindysphinx said:
Still, I wouldn't mind seeing her win a slam.
Click to expand...
Not likely against bigger girls and better servers. Staying in the top grouping is fine and very lucrative.

Cindysphinx said:
She deserves it more than Safina.
Click to expand...
So now we have to be mean to Safina too? What's up with that?
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
Eek! I know there aren't a lot of Safina or even WTA fans on TT, but folks picking Safina without even considering the other headcases. I voted for Safina, but I'm a fan who still has some hope for her. I guess Dementieva/Petrova/Kuznetsova can rest easier now.
 
jones101

jones101

Hall of Fame
I voted for Вера Звонарёва, anyone who seen her USO QF against Pennetta would agree, she is insane.

Also the three bridemades for me are

- Надежда Петрова - Could have been so much more if her head was right, has a nice all round game.

- Анна Чакветадзе - Insane, not other word for her.

- Динара Сафина - I think the FO loss (she said during the match ''why am I such a chicken?'' last year really hurt her menally, coupled with her execution by Venus a few weeks later, she has not been the same player since. She has choked more big matches than anyone in recent memory
 
soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
jones101 said:
I voted for Вера Звонарёва, anyone who seen her USO QF against Pennetta would agree, she is insane.

Also the three bridemades for me are

- Надежда Петрова - Could have been so much more if her head was right, has a nice all round game.

- Анна Чакветадзе - Insane, not other word for her.

- Динара Сафина - I think the FO loss (she said during the match ''why am I such a chicken?'' last year really hurt her menally, coupled with her execution by Venus a few weeks later, she has not been the same player since. She has choked more big matches than anyone in recent memory
Click to expand...

Vera lost in RD16, not the QF. Anna C. and her camp are crazy. Petrova is a mess even though her skills are there (top 5 easily but her head is a mess while her recent injuries have slowed her down).

Safina in my opinion only choked away the Olympics final. She was too exhausted to fight Ivanovic, Serena dominated from the get-go (the way she played that day nobody would've beaten Serena), and her old strategy of "pushing until Kuzzy becomes THE headcase" didn't work.

IMO Safina really collapsed after losing Cincy. She should have destroyed a tired Jankovic who barely won the "Chokefest of the Year" match with Dementieva the previous night. Instead, Safina came out flat while Jankovic was able to move Safina around like a puppet. Ever since then Safina's performances were just abyssmal all the way to the YEC.

Safina has NOTHING to fall back on if plan A does not work. Her backhand is the only reliable shot she has. Her forehand is streaky, she's poor vertical mover, she stays so far behind the baseline a drop-shot specialist would have a field day, and she gets very few cheap points from the serve despite her height and power. That and she relies too much on her coach when in a jam (works for Tier-1s but not slams).

At the same time, prior to Berlin 2008 Safina was an underachiever that was out-of-shape, had not won anything of mention save for some Minnie mouse titles and runner-up at 2 tier-1s, and was called out by her own brother for not putting the effort. Yet, since then she's won 7 titles including 5 tier-1s, made 15 finals (including 3 slams, Olympics, 6 tier-1s) advanced to the SF at Wimbledon and USO (her 2 worst surfaces), and went from #16 to #1 in less than a year. I'm sure any headcase would take those results gladly.
 
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soyizgood

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
namelessone said:
How the hell can you make 70 UE's in two freaking sets? That's gotta be some record. And against Safina of all people...
Click to expand...

Kuznetsova last year in a match made 40 UEs in the first set (still won it) and 69 UEs for the match (went 2 sets). I think that was at the AO in the 4th round.
 
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