Modern day battle of the sexes

Newby · Oct 6, 2012

I stumbled upon this video of Jimmy Connors taking on Martina Navratilova in a exhibition where Connors was only allowed one serve and Navratilova was given extra space to hit into (about half the size of regulation doubles alleys). Jimmy won pretty handily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Qx3F7QiD4&feature=related

But just a curious thought...

What do you think would be Serena Williams chances against a top 10 ATP player today if he were only given one serve and she were allowed to hit into the doubles alleys? And I'm talking about the standard sized doubles alleys and not the half sized ones in the video above. Do you think she'd be able to run away with at least a set?

dangalak · Oct 6, 2012

Newby said:
I stumbled upon this video of Jimmy Connors taking on Martina Navratilova in a exhibition where Connors was only allowed one serve and Navratilova was given extra space to hit into (about half the size of regulation doubles alleys). Jimmy won pretty handily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Qx3F7QiD4&feature=related

But just a curious thought...

What do you think would be Serena Williams chances against a top 10 ATP player today if he were only given one serve and she were allowed to hit into the doubles alleys? And I'm talking about the standard sized doubles alleys and not the half sized ones in the video above. Do you think she'd be able to run away with at least a set?

Eh, possible. That rule really hurts the guys.

But if it's Isner or Federer....:lol: Those guys would probably hold easy even with only one serve.

merwy · Oct 6, 2012

Absolutely ridiculous that she got the doubles alley to play in. I know women should get some advantage, but these players are used to thinking that, when playing singles, the doubles alley is out. You can see that Connors is having trouble with running for the balls that Navratilova hits in those alleys because they are supposed to be out. And it's pretty easy to hit passing shots like this.. look at the passing shot in the first game at 15-30 for example. She could barely reach the ball there and just tried to get it into the court. Normally she wouldn't have made it but now it counts as an amazing passing shot?

AnotherTennisProdigy · Oct 6, 2012

You have to remember, a lot of the top ten's second serves are as good as Serena's first serve.

Here are the top 10 and what I think:

1. Roger Federer- No
2. Novak Djokovic- No
3. Andy Murray- No
4. Rafael Nadal- No
5. David Ferrer- No, the doubles alley rule won't help her much against a great defender like Ferrer.
6. Tomas Berdych- Very little chance, but Berdych is prone to choking. This can show in the one serve rule.
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga- No, too much game for Serena IMO. The doubles alley would help with the passing shots though.
8. Juan Martin del Potro- No, would overpower Serena easily.
9. Janko Tipseravic- No
10. Juan Monaco- Very little chance, but her best shot aside from Berdych on an off day.

RoachTennis · Oct 6, 2012

Any man in the top 50 would DESTROY any woman, Anytime, Any surface! Would be a waste of the mans time.

GS · Oct 6, 2012

Anyone remember Karsten Braasch? At the 1998 Aussie Open, the Williams sisters bragged that they could beat any guy ranked around 200 on the tour. Braasch took the challenge, after playing 18 holes of golf, downing a few beers, and having a few cigarettes. He beat Serena 6-1, and then Venus 6-2. Then, the sisters said they could beat any guy ranked around 350....

The Bawss · Oct 6, 2012

This thread is insulting for the top 10.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 6, 2012

AnotherTennisProdigy said:
You have to remember, a lot of the top ten's second serves are as good as Serena's first serve.

Here are the top 10 and what I think:

1. Roger Federer- No
2. Novak Djokovic- No
3. Andy Murray- No
4. Rafael Nadal- No
5. David Ferrer- No, the doubles alley rule won't help her much against a great defender like Ferrer.
6. Tomas Berdych- Very little chance, but Berdych is prone to choking. This can show in the one serve rule.
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga- No, too much game for Serena IMO. The doubles alley would help with the passing shots though.
8. Juan Martin del Potro- No, would overpower Serena easily.
9. Janko Tipseravic- No
10. Juan Monaco- Very little chance, but her best shot aside from Berdych on an off day.

Berdych won't choke against Serena in an exhibition match.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 6, 2012

GS said:
Anyone remember Karsten Braasch? At the 1998 Aussie Open, the Williams sisters bragged that they could beat any guy ranked around 200 on the tour. Braasch took the challenge, after playing 18 holes of golf, downing a few beers, and having a few cigarettes. He beat Serena 6-1, and then Venus 6-2. Then, the sisters said they could beat any guy ranked around 350....

:lol:

Ownage

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 6, 2012

Connors seemed to be making intentional errors for most of the match.

dangalak · Oct 6, 2012

GS said:
Anyone remember Karsten Braasch? At the 1998 Aussie Open, the Williams sisters bragged that they could beat any guy ranked around 200 on the tour. Braasch took the challenge, after playing 18 holes of golf, downing a few beers, and having a few cigarettes. He beat Serena 6-1, and then Venus 6-2. Then, the sisters said they could beat any guy ranked around 350....

Important parts bolded. :lol:

Seriously though, Serena and Venus around 2002-2003 would have a decent chance of being ranked insice 400-500.

Btw, you mentioned him playing 18 holes of Golf. I never really played Golf: is that exhausting enough for you to mention it here?

Evan77 · Oct 6, 2012

dangalak said:
Important parts bolded. :lol:

Seriously though, Serena and Venus around 2002-2003 would have a decent chance of being ranked insice 400-500.

Btw, you mentioned him playing 18 holes of Golf. I never really played Golf: is that exhausting enough for you to mention it here?

doubt it, not even 1000. Guys are much stronger. Most pro guys would simply blow them off the court with their much heavier ground strokes. I'm talking about a regular tennis match btw.

GS · Oct 6, 2012

Braasch said that the sisters weren't used to a male player's spin (much more than a female pro), and also weren't used to someone tracking down and returning all the shots they hit in the corners.
Speaking of golf, the only thing I find exhausting about it is the sport of Speed Golf, where you run to the ball after each shot. Plus, the last time I played regular golf, it was 36 holes, and afterwards, my feet were sore for days. I never played again.

sundaypunch · Oct 6, 2012

merwy said:
Absolutely ridiculous that she got the doubles alley to play in. I know women should get some advantage, but these players are used to thinking that, when playing singles, the doubles alley is out. You can see that Connors is having trouble with running for the balls that Navratilova hits in those alleys because they are supposed to be out. And it's pretty easy to hit passing shots like this.. look at the passing shot in the first game at 15-30 for example. She could barely reach the ball there and just tried to get it into the court. Normally she wouldn't have made it but now it counts as an amazing passing shot?

Apparently the fact that Connors easily won was lost on you.

Prisoner of Birth · Oct 6, 2012

sundaypunch said:
Apparently the fact that Connors easily won was lost on you.

I actually think she should've gotten the whole doubles alley. Connors was taking it easy and still won rather handily.

merwy · Oct 6, 2012

sundaypunch said:
Apparently the fact that Connors easily won was lost on you.

No, it was not. I wasn't saying that the advantage she got was too much, just that making the doubles alleys count for Navratilova makes it less "real tennis". Connors isn't used to running for balls that drop in the doubles alley and Navratilova isn't used to hitting to the doubles alley. I felt that, especially at the start of the match, both players had a little trouble with this and it just felt a bit awkward. These matches just shouldn't be taken too seriously, props to the two for making it look like a real serious match.

Also, don't you feel it's a little bit insulting to a legend like Navratilova to be given those advantages? This is what you would see when a 16 year old boy plays his 12 year old little brother. He would jokingly say: You can use the doubles alleys and I'll only use one serve, haha, even then I'll beat you.
It's a bit degrading, don't you think? Yes, I know Connors beat her easily. Yes, I know men are better than women at tennis and at sports in general. I know women's tennis is a joke. I know I only watch women's football whenever I need a good laugh. I know men and women shouldn't get equal prize money. But these kind of matches are just.. rubbing it in..

And to finally answer the OP's question: Connors beat possibly the GOAT female tennis player easily, in 1992. In modern tennis, power is much more important than back then. Male tennis players would now completely overpower the females.

Sid_Vicious · Oct 6, 2012

^^ I think it would be the complete opposite now. Having the doubles court available to hit into would be just too big of an advantage for even the top male tennis players to over come.

The-Champ · Oct 6, 2012

Even though Queen Serena for me is the greatest woman player ever, she would not stand a chance against a 1000 ranked male pro

Valdez737 · Oct 6, 2012

even if she gets the double lanes and had a partner no wta pro can beat a top 10

Nathaniel_Near · Oct 6, 2012

Juan Monaco is in the top 10? Good grief.

MichaelNadal · Oct 6, 2012

Why do we even care? Putting a woman against a man in almost anything, the man will win, we're acting all proud about it and beating our chests lol, so what?

S&V Specialist · Oct 6, 2012

I recently played a woman ranked in the 450's and won 6-4, 6-2. I'm definitely not a pro. She was easily overpowered and couldn't handle my serve.

dangalak · Oct 6, 2012

MichaelNadal said:
Why do we even care? Putting a woman against a man in almost anything, the man will win, we're acting all proud about it and beating our chests lol, so what?

You should've seen Serena after she hit an ace against Roddick, the worst returner in the ATP. She was hugging the people nearby as if she saved a nation.

Pathetic.

Nathaniel_Near said:
Juan Monaco is in the top 10? Good grief.

Yet THIS is the "strong era, on the highest level ever". :lol: Go figure.

The-Champ said:
Even though Queen Serena for me is the greatest woman player ever, she would not stand a chance against a 1000 ranked male pro

So basically, without a single leg to stand on, you consider he the greatest player ever.....because? She is about as much the greatest as Djokovic is.

Evan77 said:
doubt it, not even 1000. Guys are much stronger. Most pro guys would simply blow them off the court with their much heavier ground strokes. I'm talking about a regular tennis match btw.

Serena is no regular woman. And you probably should've watched 2002 Serena. Inside the top 500 is no joke.

Currently she would probably be a low end top 1000 at best.

SStrikerR · Oct 6, 2012

Serena would hit a few return winners once in a while (and miss many others)...that's about all she could hope to try to do.

Zarfot Z · Oct 6, 2012

Serena wouldn't win a single game off anyone in the top 10.

MichaelNadal said:
Why do we even care? Putting a woman against a man in almost anything, the man will win, we're acting all proud about it and beating our chests lol, so what?

Yep. Even at sports that don't require physical exertion, like darts and golf.

dangalak · Oct 6, 2012

Zarfot Z said:
Serena wouldn't win a single game off anyone in the top 10.

Yep. Even at sports that don't require physical exertion, like darts and golf.

Golf does require physical exertion. Kind of different to drive a gold ball as male.

Sid_Vicious · Oct 6, 2012

dangalak said:
You should've seen Serena after she hit an ace against Roddick, the worst returner in the ATP. She was hugging the people nearby as if she saved a nation.

Pathetic.

I remember a funny moment from the AO 2010 Hit for Haiti event. Djokovic throws up a serve, hits it meekly but with lots of direction, and aces Serena bad. Serena did not even more a muscle. Afterwards, Serena made Djokovic feel bad "Yeah, Novak. You looked really good aceing us".

DolgoSantoro · Oct 6, 2012

Sid_Vicious said:
I remember a funny moment from the AO 2010 Hit for Haiti event. Djokovic throws up a serve, hits it meekly but with lots of direction, and aces Serena bad. Serena did not even more a muscle. Afterwards, Serena made Djokovic feel bad "Yeah, Novak. You looked really good aceing us".

I remember that. Ha ha, double standard much?

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