AO 2013 SF: Li vs Sharapova

Kalin

Legend
I didn't see the match but seems like Masha desperately head a head coach to go with her strokes coach. Her self-distracting mannerisms, most obvious in her little mincing steps together with her general victim-in-waiting demeanour have been very disconcerting even when she was double-bagelling opponents and now it has all caught up with her.

Maybe Tsonga was right, after all...

Edit: maybe self-destructing is an even more appropriate description of her mannerisms... at times she makes Mary Pierce look like a pillar of mental stability
 
Last edited:

kpktennis

Rookie
I didn't see the match but seems like Masha desperately head a head coach to go with her strokes coach. Her self-distracting mannerisms, most obvious in her little mincing steps together with her general victim-in-waiting demeanour have been very disconcerting even when she was double-bagelling opponents and now it has all caught up with her.

Maybe Tsonga was right, after all...

What'd Tsonga say?
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
So Shara looks unbeatable vs weak opposition but at the first obstacle, she deflates like a balloon. There are few pleasures in life and seeing tactics and variety defeating brute (and loud) force is definitely one of them! bravo Li Na, brilliant display.
I assume you're being sarcastic? Because that exactly how Federer fans feel about your god Nadal! :oops:
 

ruerooo

Legend
She sure is. She's one of the few that's NOT a grunter/screamer/shrieker/wailer. Did you hear Sloane's opponent Jovanovski in the 4th round? It was like she was trying to break human decibel records. Incredibly annoying!!

That was ... truly a new level of over-the-top.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
her general victim-in-waiting demeanour have been very disconcerting

...


Ah you noticed it too? I was wondering if I was the only one. She always looks like she's suffering martyrdom on the court. It's so annoying. At first I genuinely tried to evaluate what was bothering her but she does it every match, so I just gave up.
 

Love Game

Talk Tennis Guru
1zwn2qe.jpg


Li Na my hero! One tennis spoiling screamer down, one to go ..... Let's go, Sloane! Put the hoot owl to sleep!
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Ah you noticed it too? I was wondering if I was the only one. She always looks like she's suffering martyrdom on the court. It's so annoying. At first I genuinely tried to evaluate what was bothering her but she does it every match, so I just gave up.
Seriously, EVERY one of your comments sounds more like you're talking about Nadal than anyone else.
 

kpktennis

Rookie
Clay isn't a surface? You're right we'll just remove wins on Roger's fav. surface and Nadal is sitting pretty at 7-0
 

kpktennis

Rookie
Use your brain a little and you will see the error in your logic, and if you don't trust me how many times have you heard the veteran player announcers talk about so and so training or learning the game on clay with regards to point construction. Slow surface=more shots per rally=having to construct a point. Try not to think so one dimensionally. I'm done with this discussion, clearly you know nothing about tennis
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
I assume you're being sarcastic? Because that exactly how Federer fans feel about your god Nadal! :oops:


They're just looking for excuses. There is nothing wrong with power per se. A lot of players have power as well as other assets like touch, variety, speed, etc. The problem is when a player uses power and nothing else, which is the case for Sharapova.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Use your brain a little and you will see the error in your logic, and if you don't trust me how many times have you heard the veteran player announcers talk about so and so training or learning the game on clay with regards to point construction. Slow surface=more shots per rally=having to construct a point. Try not to think so one dimensionally. I'm done with this discussion, clearly you know nothing about tennis
Um....hitting the same topspin shots over and over from the baseline is NOT point construction! Nadal just keeps hitting the same shots over and over until his opponent cries "Uncle!" and makes an error. That's as far from "point construction" as you can get!

Oh, and I know more about tennis and have been playing tennis for longer than you've been alive!
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
They're just looking for excuses. There is nothing wrong with power per se. A lot of players have power as well as other assets like touch, variety, speed, etc. The problem is when a player uses power and nothing else, which is the case for Sharapova.
You've just described Federer, not Nadal. :oops:

Nadal is the male Sharapova - just another baseline ball basher.
 

kpktennis

Rookie
Getting your opponent more and more out of position with every subsequent ball until you either force the error or can go for the kill IS bread and butter point construction, it is all about taking your opponent's time away. Sorry if your Fed fetish doesn't allow you to see this
 

President

Legend
You've just described Federer, not Nadal. :oops:

Nadal is the male Sharapova - just another baseline ball basher.

Nadal posesses a lot more variety than Sharapova, he just doesn't need to use it very often because his groundstrokes are so good. But he definitely uses a very disciplined (and repetitive) strategy to defeat Federer, it might be boring but it works. Nadal has great natural touch and feel, Maria can't say the same..
 

Polaris

Hall of Fame
Nadal is the male Sharapova - just another baseline ball basher.

I'm not a Nadal fan, but even I will take veroniquem's side here and say that that is way too harsh. :)

Nadal is a baseline player and may not possess the on-the-fly creativity of Federer, but he is not a mindless baseline basher of the Sharapova variety. If anything, he is one of the most strategically sound baseline players ever.
 

BreakPoint

Bionic Poster
Getting your opponent more and more out of position with every subsequent ball until you either force the error or can go for the kill IS bread and butter point construction, it is all about taking your opponent's time away. Sorry if your Fed fetish doesn't allow you to see this
No, you come to the net and put the ball away for a winner. THAT'S point construction! :)
 

CEvertFan

Hall of Fame
Good win for Li Na considering Sharapova's form during the tournament - only losing 9 games up to the semi. Frankly I did give Li a chance but not to beat Shrieka, umm I mean Sharapova so easily.

Too bad Stephens couldn't beat Azarenka - we could then have enjoyed a much QUIETER final. Happy that one of the finalists will be quiet though.
 
Last edited:

kpktennis

Rookie
Also look at highlights of all the sick flick backhand winners Nadal has hit over the years at the French against Rog to see how bad Fed has failed at that very play
 

kpktennis

Rookie
Good win for Li Na considering Sharapova's form during the tournament - only losing 9 games up to the semi. Frankly I did give Li a chance but not to beat Shrieka, umm I mean Sharapova so easily.

Too bad Stephens couldn't beat Azarenka - we could then have enjoyed a much QUIETER final. Happy that one of the finalists will be quiet though.

Li showed some great composure on the big points, unlike Vika today. Makes me like her chances for the final
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
In fairness, I don't think there's much variety in Li's game. She just had better depth, better angles, and didn't lose her head as she's done in the past.

Disagree. Li Na is capable of variety for sure. Great game to watch.
 
Li Na does have variety in her game she can slice her backhand when on the defense she can volley well and she can change tactics when things aren't working.

Sharapova is an idiot she has no Plan B she just hits the ball hard or harder. Sharapova was hoping that Li Na would choke like she did at the Italian Open last year in the final. But today it did not happen and Sharapova got smoked.
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
That Rome collapse by Na was beyond pathetic, even for WTA standards. She seems more composed and stronger mentally with her new coach though. Henin used to be a headcase, but Rodriguez turned that around and made her mentality and cool under presure her strongest asset.
 

TennisFan436

Semi-Pro
Rodriquez is molding Li Na into another Henin. I call it the Henin Project. Should be good for the game. Li has the shots but lacked the mental fortitude and patience. Glad to see that is no longer the case. She was very patient with her shots and I only saw her timid with one.

She can definitely beat The Cheat.
 
Top