Sharapova: if I was built like Serena think I'd hit a big serve too

S

sportsfan1

Legend
This may be Pova's problem - she can beat everyone else with her current game, but to beat Williams she has to change/improve her game radically. And that requires a lot of hard work and risk as well.
But regardless of the technical points, I still think that the reference to "Serena's build" is a bit of a jibe, maybe it's a ploy to get into Williams head a little bit. It comes across as lacking thought at best and insulting at worst. It continues the long legacy of dumb/arrogant Pova quotes.
 
S

scotus

G.O.A.T.
Mick said:
i think Serena would win anyway but I thought Azarenka would put up a better fight had she come through in the final. Azarenka fears Serena but she doesn't fear Serena as much as Sharapova does.
Click to expand...

Azarenka needs to do a lot better on the first set.

If she keeps gifting the first set away, she'd have a hard time against the other top players.
 
The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

Legend
sportsfan1 said:
"I think if I was built like Serena I hope I'd be able to hit a big serve like that, too"

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/06/sharapova-serena-serves-faster-ferrer/47861/#.UbSa4MrDv84.

Huh? In that case I should be serving way better than those kids at Bolletieri academy ;-).
What's her coach telling her: It's not hard work and technique, but build.
Someone who's 6'2 should have an advantage serving. Federer, Ivanisevic hit better serves than many others with better builds. And Lisicki, Goerges, all hit big serves: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/1978722/title/ids-serve-speed-leaders. Heck, even Ana Ivanovic is in that list.

According to this article, Pova and williams hit similar speed first serves but Pova hits a harder/flatter but less effective second serve:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs...-*************-could-prove-her-205044713.html
Click to expand...

If you didn't have idiot coaches and played naturally as you are a lefty you would be the goat
 
Incognito

Incognito

Legend
yeah, right. Like Pete Sampras, Serena serve technique is perfect and therefore can easily produce effortless power. Sharapova is just jealous of Serena.
 
ManOfSteel2013

ManOfSteel2013

Banned
I wonder what Sharapova thinks the cause is of her double-fault problem. Maybe she thinks she needs the brains of Serena. She'd be right if she thinks that.
 
Mick

Mick

Legend
Sid_Vicious said:
Sharapova can hit the gym and do something about her flabby arms also.
Click to expand...

I saw this quote from Serena:

To this day, I don't love my arms. People want more fit arms, but my arms are too fit. But I'm not complaining. They pay my bills.
--Serena W.
 
TheNightHunter

TheNightHunter

Banned
Mick said:
I saw this quote from Serena:

To this day, I don't love my arms. People want more fit arms, but my arms are too fit. But I'm not complaining. They pay my bills.
--Serena W.
Click to expand...
If the police ever get called to Serena's home on a domestic dispute I would be concerned about the health of her significant other. That service motion, when used with a frying pan, must be deadly.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
Mick said:
I saw this quote from Serena:

To this day, I don't love my arms. People want more fit arms, but my arms are too fit. But I'm not complaining. They pay my bills.
--Serena W.
Click to expand...

Serena has also said she'd prefer to be tall like Venus. I bet Serena has to work hard not to put on weight.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
jamus30 said:
I don't think any of you have correctly comprehended Maria's quote. She said that if she was Serena's build (specifically, I think she was referring more to Serena's height) she HOPES that she would have a serve a big as Serena's. I infer from her quote that she is complimentary of Serena's serve technique and doubtful that her own technique would produce serves as big as she hits now if she were not as tall as she is.
Click to expand...

Venus is tall like Maria, and had a much better serve than Maria.
 
Mick

Mick

Legend
sounds like Sharapova needs to call Karlovic, Isner for tips on serving. Those guys aren't build like Serena -- they are tall and slim like Sharapova and could serve bombs.
 
B

bullfan

Legend
DRII said:
Sharapova makes way more money off of her modeling and appearances/endorsements than in tennis winnings (and more than any other female athlete)...

and no matter how much some women workout, they would never become as 'built' as Serena or even Stossur for that matter, a significant part of those physiques is unique genetics!
Click to expand...

I once went to the same gym as a woman from my company that was in a wheelchair and couldn't walk. She was so buff from the waist up. She was training for the para Olympics. I did not for a second think she was doing more than working out.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Seriously, Masha had a great serve 9 yrs ago. After 2 shoulder surgeries, those days are done. Hope someone comes along and lights Serena up. Just to find the next lineal champ. The woman that send Serena and Masha and all packing.
 
mightyrick

mightyrick

Legend
Mick said:
sounds like Sharapova needs to call Karlovic, Isner for tips on serving. Those guys aren't build like Serena -- they are tall and slim like Sharapova and could serve bombs.
Click to expand...

Serving isn't the primary reason Serena is so unbeatable. If that were the case, Sam Stosur would have about four slams right now.

The problem is that Sharapova, Azarenka and others have absolutely zero variety. They are nothing but baseline robots. They think they can just out-baseline their opponents. And usually they are right. But nobody in the WTA is going to out-baseline Serena Williams. That's just the way it is.

If you want to beat that girl, you need to get off the baseline, step into the court, and make Serena work. You also need to be able to get to the net and put away shots.

All you need to do is look at the two women who did it consistently -- Justine Henin and Venus Williams. Those women played inside the baseline and kept moving forward on Serena with each ball. They put major pressure on Serena. Both could play net. Both highly aggressive.
 
A

Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
Mick said:
I saw this quote from Serena:

To this day, I don't love my arms. People want more fit arms, but my arms are too fit. But I'm not complaining. They pay my bills.
--Serena W.
Click to expand...

I read the comment from Serena, but we live in a very sexist culture, where women are punished if they are extremely physically fit. Serena Williams is a tennis champion she's not a runway model or an actress.

Female athletes like Sharapova I think give women sports a bad name she's extremely vain and self centered. Sharapova isn't even the prettiest woman on the WTA her personality is ugly like her game.

If I was a straight guy I would like women like Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra kvitova, Li Na or Ana Ivanovic they seem like nice young women. They don't seem full of themselves or entitled like Sharapova.
 
A

Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
mightyrick said:
Serving isn't the primary reason Serena is so unbeatable. If that were the case, Sam Stosur would have about four slams right now.

The problem is that Sharapova, Azarenka and others have absolutely zero variety. They are nothing but baseline robots. They think they can just out-baseline their opponents. And usually they are right. But nobody in the WTA is going to out-baseline Serena Williams. That's just the way it is.

If you want to beat that girl, you need to get off the baseline, step into the court, and make Serena work. You also need to be able to get to the net and put away shots.

All you need to do is look at the two women who did it consistently -- Justine Henin and Venus Williams. Those women played inside the baseline and kept moving forward on Serena with each ball. They put major pressure on Serena. Both could play net. Both highly aggressive.
Click to expand...

Exactly, although I think Azarenka has variety she just doesn't use it enough. Azarenka is a very accomplished doubles player she's won an Olympic medal in mixed doubles and I think she's won some grand slams in doubles. Azarenka can play, her problem it seems is she doesn't use her variety unless absolutely necessary. At the US OPEN final against Serena I was impressed with Azarenka's willingness to move forward and attack the net. Victoria can do it, but Maria is unwilling to, she refuses to improve or change her strategy.
 
TheTruth

TheTruth

G.O.A.T.
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
...said the player with an upper body like a thin male, with broad shoulders.

She's looking for any excuse why her *** is always handed to her. Funny how she did not say anything of the sort that after her lone Wimbledon title.
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha. I miss my emoticon of ROFL, because this deserves it!

Anyway, glad to see the Russian with sour grapes. At least she's no longer in denial. Her hopes are diminishing rapidly. She's sounded bitter in every tweet I've heard in the last few weeks.
 
TheTruth

TheTruth

G.O.A.T.
mightyrick said:
Serving isn't the primary reason Serena is so unbeatable. If that were the case, Sam Stosur would have about four slams right now.

The problem is that Sharapova, Azarenka and others have absolutely zero variety. They are nothing but baseline robots. They think they can just out-baseline their opponents. And usually they are right. But nobody in the WTA is going to out-baseline Serena Williams. That's just the way it is.

If you want to beat that girl, you need to get off the baseline, step into the court, and make Serena work. You also need to be able to get to the net and put away shots.

All you need to do is look at the two women who did it consistently -- Justine Henin and Venus Williams. Those women played inside the baseline and kept moving forward on Serena with each ball. They put major pressure on Serena. Both could play net. Both highly aggressive.
Click to expand...

So true. They cannot count on outhitting Serena from the baseline as their only strategy. They keep doing that and she'll continue to take them to the woodshed.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Amelie Mauresmo said:
Azarenka can play, her problem it seems is she doesn't use her variety unless absolutely necessary. At the US OPEN final against Serena I was impressed with Azarenka's willingness to move forward and attack the net. Victoria can do it, but Maria is unwilling to, she refuses to improve or change her strategy.
Click to expand...


Agreed--Azarenka knows more than baseline play--she just leans on it more than necessary. That's the difference between Victoria and Sharapova, as the latter has no other game other than baseline bashing, yet Sharapova expects some kind of different result each time she stomps on a court.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Cfidave said:
My thoughts exactly. Upper body is all flab. Where Serena is firm and toned, Sharapova is all fat. Not a muscle in the chest or upper arm area.
Click to expand...

Somehow, she was convinced that her ability to hit hard was enough, and that the gym was not for her. She's paid the price for that the moment the best players were used to her game.
 
Lukhas

Lukhas

Legend
TMF said:
She just didn't have enough to win Wimbledon. Had she was a few inches taller which add more mph on both wings plus her serve, it would make a world of difference. She's very talented and had all the tools.
Click to expand...
Almost. Almost. She choked '06. Mauresmo was playing good that year indeed, but Henin was moping the floor with her in the first set. BTW, Henin resent Mauresmo a lot because of both slams she lost to her. She was very bitter towards her, in French of course. She fist-pumped some "Allez!" in her face throughout the match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79gWAfGg1CE

Back when platform stance, one-handers and net play were possible in WTA. And did you hear the lack of grunt?

Henin also choked '07 against Bartoli in an even more terrible way. Yes, Bartoli is a fighter, but come on... But given who whould've been her opponent in the finals, that's understandable... Sorta.
 
Last edited:
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Lukhas said:
Henin also choked '07 against Bartoli in an even more terrible way. Yes, Bartoli is a fighter, but come on... But given who whould've been her opponent in the finals, that's understandable... Sorta.
Click to expand...

Proving that height had nothing to do with Henin's failure to defeat Bartoli or win the Wimbledon title during her finals appearance.
 
TheNightHunter

TheNightHunter

Banned
TheTruth said:
Ha ha ha. I miss my emoticon of ROFL, because this deserves it!

Anyway, glad to see the Russian with sour grapes. At least she's no longer in denial. Her hopes are diminishing rapidly. She's sounded bitter in every tweet I've heard in the last few weeks.
Click to expand...
Yes, I've grown to dislike Sharapova lately. She is arrogant, ignorant, and has nothing but excuses when she loses. I hope Serena ends up with a 20-10 H2H against her.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
TheNightHunter said:
Yes, I've grown to dislike Sharapova lately. She is arrogant, ignorant, and has nothing but excuses when she loses. I hope Serena ends up with a 20-10 H2H against her.
Click to expand...

Notice how her TT cult--always quick to attack Serena for "making excuses" says nothing when Sharapova does nothing except make excuses for her failures.

At least with Sharapova, it is clear she had no chance against Serena in 99% of their previous matches, so if he ever had an honest bone in her body, she would provide the only answer possible...but she will not.
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
Did not know that Julia Goerges had a big serve? Maybe if Masha was built like her...........................
 
SLD76

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
Maria should worry more about her serve and less about serena's.

she should complain more that she wasnt gifted with more natural athletic ability because what really kills her against serena is serena's far superior movement and defense.
 
D

dominikk1985

Legend
sportsfan1 said:
"I think if I was built like Serena I hope I'd be able to hit a big serve like that, too"

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/06/sharapova-serena-serves-faster-ferrer/47861/#.UbSa4MrDv84.

Huh? In that case I should be serving way better than those kids at Bolletieri academy ;-).
What's her coach telling her: It's not hard work and technique, but build.
Someone who's 6'2 should have an advantage serving. Federer, Ivanisevic hit better serves than many others with better builds. And Lisicki, Goerges, all hit big serves: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/1978722/title/ids-serve-speed-leaders. Heck, even Ana Ivanovic is in that list.

According to this article, Pova and williams hit similar speed first serves but Pova hits a harder/flatter but less effective second serve:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs...-*************-could-prove-her-205044713.html
Click to expand...

sharapova has big time power. the difference is that serena has a good technique and sharapova has a terrible Service Motion.

her first serve is actually quite big, the Problem is her second serve. She doesn't hit 6 DFs per set because she lacks muscles. she lacks Balance and rhythm.
 
Lukhas

Lukhas

Legend
Say, who said something about being too tall for tennis? Janowicz moves his body very well, son of volleyball players, played it himself IIRC, and he's 6'8" (2m03)! Isner is a mere inch taller than him, and moves nothing like him. Of course he doesn't move like Ferrer, but he doesn't give the feeling in his groundies or such to be that tall.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
dominikk1985 said:
she lacks Balance and rhythm.
Click to expand...

Probably due to her serve being artificial; her service motion strongly appears like someone taught her to hammer the ball as part of the overall
power baseliner" game, rather than being the result of a natrual motion. Like much of the "factory" which produced her, artificial tools means you have no natural gifts to draw on when the taught game does not work.
 
S

Soianka

Hall of Fame
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Height is irrelevant as Sharapova has no natural serve--it is constructed--and a poor construction at that, hence her serve being no weapon at all.
Click to expand...

Maybe she should hire that *******, Pete Fischer, to completely reconstruct her serve in the manner of Pete Sampras.

However, the truth might be that Maria is just not talented enough to perfect a better serve.
 
Down_the_line

Down_the_line

Legend
You're all overreacting so hilariously! The issue here is Maria being naive enough to believe that she'd have a stronger serve if she was built like Serena, not that she's criticizing Serena's body. I think she's really making an honest comment that if she were as strong as Serena that she'd have a stronger serve.
 
MrFlip

MrFlip

Professional
It's a shame no one on here has mentioned how loose Serena strings her racquet. Her technique is superior to the usual ball basher.
 
Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
sportsfan1 said:
"I think if I was built like Serena I hope I'd be able to hit a big serve like that, too"

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/06/sharapova-serena-serves-faster-ferrer/47861/#.UbSa4MrDv84.
Click to expand...

OK.

I can see that the fellas at TT need a woman to jump in here and translate.

What Maria was really saying was:

I think if I was juicing like Serena and could make myself as muscular as David Ferrer, I hope I'd be able to hit a big serve like that too.
Click to expand...

When she uses the word "build," she ain't talking about cup size.
 
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