Yeah, Sloane was one of my favourites for a couple of years, and to an extent she still is - I have a small glimmer of hope that she will produce something before she retires. I don't understand how she won Miami and made RG final after her USO win, and then suddenly that was enough and she became someone so nonchalant on the court? What is the purpose of going through the motions on tour when you're a multi-millionaire already? You're better retiring and investing your money into something you love/are interested in that could provide you with a good return, as good as all these R1/R2 losses. She literally went full Bouchard but at least she won a few big things. How did she return from injury, having only played a few tournaments, and win the USO, but she has full fitness nowadays and can't string anything together? I get mentality is a big thing and we don't know the ins and outs but she's not exactly had long spells away from the tour to deal with anything in particular. I defended her a while ago for being overweight/unconditioned. I don't really like people picking on weight so much as it seems so harsh, and surely her coach/trainer would be on top of this? I think some of these players could benefit from doing some hardcore fitness sessions/bootcamps that aren't just planned by their own coach who could go light on them.
Sorry, I went off on one then, but those are my thoughts. Definitely can't see Sloane beating Serena nowadays unless she has a 2013 moment or whenever it was where a match with Serena really lights a fire within her.
I would love to see Serena win #24 and be done with it, but I'm not sure if there comes a point where 7 matches against much younger and very hungry opponents is doable. I hope so, but even with all those withdrawals there is danger lurking even in R3 or R4. As people have said, imagine Jen Brady in R3 - you'd hope she would struggle with the occasion/opponent given her current form.