2013 US Open Women's SF: Flavia PENNETTA vs. Victoria AZARENKA[2]

Who will win and in how many sets?

  • Pennetta in 2

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • Pennetta in 3

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Azarenka in 2

    Votes: 4 57.1%

  • Azarenka in 3

    Votes: 2 28.6%
  • Total voters
    7
  • Poll closed .
ruerooo said:
I'm not sure if that's the case -- but it does seem to me that she has an incredible talent for picking the absolute worst fit and style for her of the outfits she wears, and the ones for this US Open seem to be especially bad for her.
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QFT! It seems like she's been wearing clothes that are designed for Serena and don't look right on Vika. Serena's doubles outfit is this skirt (I think) and the shirt that Vika wore in Cincy. Both look good on Serena and awful on Vika in terms of fit.
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
All of this just shows how much Serena is underachieving. How doesn't she win every Slam when she's by far the player who holds serve more comfortably on the tour?
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It's massive choking, nothing less. It's a paradox, on a 95-5 run or something similar since the FO 1st round loss, but 2 of those losses were recent and from positions she had no business losing. She just has to make a commitment to punish those Aza 2nd serves-hey, at 76 mph that the mentioned, she still edged some of Murray's yesterday, lol-and simply hit out. If she does that, she should be fine.
 
Vanhool said:
So THAT'S why everyone acts like Serena iis so evil :)
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Yeah, I marvel at how some people treat having a great serve-the most important stroke in the game, and the ONLY one over which a player has complete control-as some kind of sneaky slacker-all the while gushing over "point constructors(read: pushers trying to win by exhausting or boring the opponent into submission-I'm talking about YOU, Errani, Pug-wanksa and Wozny).
 
dafinch said:
It's massive choking, nothing less. It's a paradox, on a 95-5 run or something similar since the FO 1st round loss, but 2 of those losses were recent and from positions she had no business losing. She just has to make a commitment to punish those Aza 2nd serves-hey, at 76 mph that the mentioned, she still edged some of Murray's yesterday, lol-and simply hit out. If she does that, she should be fine.
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That's what I used to like about Graf. When she was outplayed, she was outplayed. Nothing much she could do. But she rarely - if ever - choked. Not a choker, that girl.

Serena has virtually every match in her racquet and chokes herself to death in many an important match/occasion.
 
Azarenka is 1 of 6 when facing breakpoint. Don't see her beating Li Na/Williams in this form if she wins today.
 
Lol Serena can't get a break from fans or haters. If she wins everything, it's an indictment of all women's tennis, weak era, she's a man on steroids, etc. If she loses even one match, she's an underachiever or a choker! It's not easy being a GOAT :)
 
Ouch, netting that sitter will come back to haunt Pennetta. It could be 30-all. And there's another netted forehand, giving Azarenka the break. Hopefully Azarenka can serve this thing out now.
 
Vanhool said:
Lol Serena can't get a break from fans or haters. If she wins everything, it's an indictment of all women's tennis, weak era, she's a man on steroids, etc. If she loses even one match, she's an underachiever or a choker! It's not easy being a GOAT :)
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I guess I'm both a fan and a hater. I'd never thought about it this way. :)
 
Vanhool said:
Lol Serena can't get a break from fans or haters. If she wins everything, it's an indictment of all women's tennis, weak era, she's a man on steroids, etc. If she loses even one match, she's an underachiever or a choker! It's not easy being a GOAT :)
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Lol.....similar to how critical Skip Bayless was of Lebron James a few years ago. Every little move is micro dissected and criticized.
 
Vanhool said:
Lol Serena can't get a break from fans or haters. If she wins everything, it's an indictment of all women's tennis, weak era, she's a man on steroids, etc. If she loses even one match, she's an underachiever or a choker! It's not easy being a GOAT :)
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LOL, that's what I was just thinking. Here we are nitpicking about one of the all time greats who came into the US Open with a 60-4 record this year. For whatever matches she has choked away or whatever, she has more than made up for them with all she has achieved.
 
Vanhool said:
Lol Serena can't get a break from fans or haters. If she wins everything, it's an indictment of all women's tennis, weak era, she's a man on steroids, etc. If she loses even one match, she's an underachiever or a choker! It's not easy being a GOAT :)
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It's always been a race thing. Americans in general cannot appreciate nor accept the fact that a black woman is dominating the sport. Did you see how she is loved in Europe? If only Americans can treat the Queen in similar manner.
 
Too bad flavia didn't win. but Flavia is alllll class still. love the little cheek kiss at the end. Classless Azarenka didn't even wanna do that, lol.
 
At least she avoided the baked goods. Nice tournament for Flavia, but good for all of us that Vika prevailed
 
Down_the_line said:
Have to agree here. If it's indeed another Williams-Azarenka final, Serena is definitely coming out on top this time.
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If Na somehow wins though, while in theory she totally should beat Azarenka the way she is playing and serving, there is a good shot she would goof it up somehow, like she did in Australia although that wasnt as bad as Azarenka was playing much better there than here. Although I expect Serena to win the 2nd semi so it will probably be moot.
 
TennisFan436 said:
It's always been a race thing. Americans in general cannot appreciate nor accept the fact that a black woman is dominating the sport. Did you see how she is loved in Europe? If only Americans can treat the Queen in similar manner.
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Really? With all the coverage both sisters have had in the media since they first made their appearance I would say they're both overwhelmingly supported in the USA. I've had to watch both Serena and Venus in terrible matches at the US Open just because they're American, instead of better matches both in the men's and the women's draw.
 
Leelord337 said:
Too bad flavia didn't win. but Flavia is alllll class still. love the little cheek kiss at the end. Classless Azarenka didn't even wanna do that, lol.
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Agreed. Hard to root against the Italians women, in general. The current crop are a likeable bunch.

Pennetta played well for the most part. If she'd played a less consistent player, she'd have grinded out the win, I'm certain. Vika was just too good a returner and too solid from the ground. Shame though.
 
I find it fitting that the last three women left at this US Open are Williams, Azarenka and Li. Azarenka defeated Li at the Australian Open this year, while Serena defeated Azarenka at the US Open last year. Those three might very well be the best in the world on hard courts.
 
Down_the_line said:
I find it fitting that the last three women left at this US Open are Williams, Azarenka and Li. Azarenka defeated Li at the Australian Open this year, while Serena defeated Azarenka at the US Open last year. Those three might very well be the best in the world on hard courts.
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Most definitely.
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
Really? With all the coverage both sisters have had in the media since they first made their appearance I would say they're both overwhelmingly supported in the USA. I've had to watch both Serena and Venus in terrible matches at the US Open just because they're American, instead of better matches both in the men's and the women's draw.
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Extensive coverage does not reflect support. Extensive coverage comes with the territory of domination and desperation to see Americans compete and win at major tournaments, which the Williamses have done for close to two decades. That in no way suggests they are loved or supported.

Support is cheering for American players, not boo-ing them off the court when winning to the likes of Clijsters of Justine Henin (Indian Wells, for example).

Support is removing any type of racial epithets or insults from mouths when an American compatriot consistently dominates no matter their trials or tribulation

Support is showing some dar.n respect.
 
Good mental stuff from Azarenka all tournament long - a player not playing the best tennis they can play, but still finding a way to win, is one of the things that makes a champion a champion.

Hopefully this will put her in a better place for the final because now she has to up her level if she wants to win the US Open.
 
TennisFan436 said:
Extensive coverage does not reflect support. Extensive coverage comes with the territory of domination and desperation to see Americans compete and win at major tournaments, which the Williamses have done for close to two decades. That in no way suggests they are loved or supported.

Support is cheering for American players, not boo-ing them off the court when winning to the likes of Clijsters of Justine Henin (Indian Wells, for example).

Support is removing any type of racial epithets or insults from mouths when an American compatriot consistently dominates no matter their trials or tribulation

Support is showing some dar.n respect.
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I understand that. But you can't exactly force people to support certain players. You either feel a connection to the player or you don't. Of course, race struggle makes everything that much more difficult in a country like the USA. The whole race issue is very recent (and very contemporary too, let's not be naive) and race equality hasn't yet become natural in people's heads. You can only enforce the law, you can't make people not be racist. Especially because racism involves thinking about race as if it's an issue, and you can therefore have people disliking Serena because she's black and people supporting Serena also because she's black, comes from a poor neighborhood, etc. The bigotry and the PC. Two sides of the same coin, if you ask me. Extensive coverage is how PC support is conveyed.
 
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TennisFan436 said:
It's always been a race thing. Americans in general cannot appreciate nor accept the fact that a black woman is dominating the sport. Did you see how she is loved in Europe? If only Americans can treat the Queen in similar manner.
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IMO, the statement "Americans in general cannot appreciate nor accept that a black woman is dominating the sport" is a huge overstatement. Are there some fans who think that Serena is too "uppidity(and I think we both know what THAT'S "code" for)? Without a doubt. But I don't think that's anywhere close to being the majority. Look, she is not just my favorite female player, but my favorite female player of all time, and she's said and done more than a few things that I didn't like-and the lineswoman incident didn't even make the top 2. That rubs some people the wrong way, for me it's not a deal breaker for me to NOT root for her. Ya pays yer money, you can root for whom you please, it has long since stopped bothering me.
 
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dafinch said:
IMO, the statement "Americans in general cannot appreciate nor accept that a black woman is dominating the sport" is a huge overstatement. Are there some fans who think that Serena is too "uppidity(and I think we both know what THAT'S "code" for)? Without a doubt. But I don't think that's anywhere close to being the majority. Look, she is not just my favorite female player, but my favorite female player of all time, and she's said and done more than a few things that I didn't like-and the lineswoman incident didn't even make the top 2. That rubs some people the wrong way, for me it's not a deal breaker for me to NOT root for her. Ya pays yer money, you can root for whom you please, it has long since stopped bothering me.
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Actually no it is not, as a foreigner myself, I am a Canadian, and I have observed the American media, of SOME of the American tennis commentators and their blatant racism, back handed comments are DISGUSTING!

The hatred a lot of the USA media have for Serena Williams is because she's a black woman and also because she wasn't developed by the USTA. Richard Williams and Oracene Price did it their own way raising their daughters.

While all of Serena's rivals are RETIRED, Serena goes strength to strength.

It is sad to see that Serena Williams gets more respect in Europe, England, Australia, Middle East, even Canada THAN the United States. People at the Italian Open, they LOVE Serena they cheer her name, same thing in Spain and other countries. I was very impressed with the Italian fans for Serena during the Italian Open this year, she is LOVED overseas yet not in her OWN DAMN COUNTRY because of the color of her skin.

Yet in America, there is a kind of reluctant praise for Serena Williams because she's a BLACK WOMAN dominating women tennis which is a predominately white sport.
 
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Amelie Mauresmo said:
Actually no it is not, as a foreigner myself, I am a Canadian, and I have observed the American media, of SOME of the American tennis commentators and their blatant racism, back handed comments are DISGUSTING!

The hatred a lot of the USA media have for Serena Williams is because she's a black woman and also because she wasn't developed by the USTA. Richard Williams and Oracene Price did it their own way raising their daughters.

While all of Serena's rivals are RETIRED, Serena goes strength to strength.

It is sad to see that Serena Williams gets more respect in Europe, England, Australia, Middle East, even Canada THAN the United States. People at the Italian Open, they LOVE Serena they cheer her name, same thing in Spain and other countries.

Yet in America, there is a kind of reluctant praise for Serena Williams because she's a BLACK WOMAN dominating women tennis which is a predominately white sport.
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Well, that may be true but there's no way to prove it. Unless you can empirically show that there is less support for Serena in the USA than all those countries you referred, we'll just have to assume there are people who like her and people who don't like her everywhere. Cheers in Italy or singular incidents in Indian Wells don't prove anything.
 
I think American experts and ex players respect Serena tremendously. Chris Evert and John McEnroe have called her the best player ever, despite that at this point she doesnt have the numbers or achievements for that (and I am a huge Serena fan). It is more some of the fans who dont seem to respect her fully though, and subconsciously anyway some it might be based on some lingering racism.
 
granddog29 said:
It is more some of the fans who dont seem to respect her fully though, and subconsciously anyway some it might be based on some lingering racism.
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Lingering, and in the case of certain members of this board--overt. They do not even try to mask their ill ideology.
 
And people root against Sharapova do so because of lingering Cold War tensions.

Get a life, people. Blanket statements like Amelie's do more to turn people against the Williams sisters than anything else.
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
Well, that may be true but there's no way to prove it. Unless you can empirically show that there is less support for Serena in the USA than all those countries you referred, we'll just have to assume there are people who like her and people who don't like her everywhere. Cheers in Italy or singular incidents in Indian Wells don't prove anything.
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I guess, with some people such as yourself, I am never going to convince, people like you.

Someone like you, probably ignores RACISM, you seem to think racism needs to be blatant, instead of being more covert.

I am speaking as a foreigner, and as a Canadian, it is obvious to see reading articles by white American tennis writers that their hatred and racism against Serena Williams is abhorrent!

It is very easy to prove, go to You Tube and watch the Indian Wells incident form 2001, in the United States of America, an almost all white rich, upper class RACIST country club crowd made racist slurs against Serena when she was only nineteen years old!

The boycott the Williams Sisters have at Indian Wells is very IMPORTANT, the organizers continue to be RACIST and REFUSE to apologize to the Williams Sisters.
 
granddog29 said:
I think American experts and ex players respect Serena tremendously. Chris Evert and John McEnroe have called her the best player ever, despite that at this point she doesnt have the numbers or achievements for that (and I am a huge Serena fan). It is more some of the fans who dont seem to respect her fully though, and subconsciously anyway some it might be based on some lingering racism.
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Don't forget they're Americans themselves and would naturally support their own compatriot in that claim. It's not unbiased.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
I guess, with some people such as yourself, I am never going to convince, people like you.

Someone like you, probably ignores RACISM, you seem to think racism needs to be blatant, instead of being more covert.

I am speaking as a foreigner, and as a Canadian, it is obvious to see reading articles by white American tennis writers that their hatred and racism against Serena Williams is abhorrent!

It is very easy to prove, go to You Tube and watch the Indian Wells incident form 2001, in the United States of America, an almost all white rich, upper class RACIST country club crowd made racist slurs against Serena when she was only nineteen years old!

The boycott the Williams Sisters have at Indian Wells is very IMPORTANT, the organizers continue to be RACIST and REFUSE to apologize to the Williams Sisters.
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As I said, that may all be true. I believe you. But to extrapolate from there and say that the sentiment of a whole country is negative towards the Williams sisters is a bit of a stretch. I don't ignore racism, in fact, nobody does. We're drenched in its very perverse catch 22.

What do you mean by "people like me"? I'm not even disagreeing with you. The enemy of unfounded opinion is not another unfounded and contrary opinion. It's skepticism.
 
granddog29 said:
I think American experts and ex players respect Serena tremendously. Chris Evert and John McEnroe have called her the best player ever, despite that at this point she doesnt have the numbers or achievements for that (and I am a huge Serena fan). It is more some of the fans who dont seem to respect her fully though, and subconsciously anyway some it might be based on some lingering racism.
Click to expand...

John McEnroe and Chris Evert ONLY respect Serena NOW because she's the last great American tennis champion they have LEFT.

When Serena and Venus were dominating, Carillo, Austin, Evert, McEnroe were openly cheering for the white European players to beat Serena such as Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

So I find Evert and McEnroe's so called positive comments about Serena a bit pretentious, and false serving those bigots can't hide their true colours!

Mary Carillo's hatred for Serena Williams is pretty blatant and obvious that racist b.i.t.c.h. has attacked Serena for OVER a decade. I think the general public got Carillo FIRED from ESPN a few years ago because tennis fans were tired of her backhanded bigoted comments about Serena.
 
Amelie Mauresmo said:
Actually no it is not, as a foreigner myself, I am a Canadian, and I have observed the American media, of SOME of the American tennis commentators and their blatant racism, back handed comments are DISGUSTING!

The hatred a lot of the USA media have for Serena Williams is because she's a black woman and also because she wasn't developed by the USTA. Richard Williams and Oracene Price did it their own way raising their daughters.

While all of Serena's rivals are RETIRED, Serena goes strength to strength.

It is sad to see that Serena Williams gets more respect in Europe, England, Australia, Middle East, even Canada THAN the United States. People at the Italian Open, they LOVE Serena they cheer her name, same thing in Spain and other countries. I was very impressed with the Italian fans for Serena during the Italian Open this year, she is LOVED overseas yet not in her OWN DAMN COUNTRY because of the color of her skin.

Yet in America, there is a kind of reluctant praise for Serena Williams because she's a BLACK WOMAN dominating women tennis which is a predominately white sport.
Click to expand...

The fact that you have have observed-in your own words-SOME media display obvious bias against Serena-and, there ain't no doubt about the veracity of THAT statement-in no way, shape, or form, proves the statement made about most Americans-which happens to include the millions who are NOT in the media-can't appreciate or accept Serena's accomplishments. Why am I not surprised that this simple-and obvious-fact escaped you? And, I'll ask again: how's that prediction of Rag-wanska winning a Slam "soon" coming along?
 
dafinch said:
The fact that you have have observed-in your own words-SOME media display obvious bias against Serena-and, there ain't no doubt about the veracity of THAT statement-in no way, shape, or form, proves the statement made about most Americans-which happens to include the millions who are NOT in the media-can't appreciate or accept Serena's accomplishments. Why am I not surprised that this simple-and obvious-fact escaped you? And, I'll ask again: how's that prediction of Rag-wanska winning a Slam "soon" coming along?
Click to expand...

Exactly what I said in different (probably more effective) words.
 
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