2014 WTA China Open - Beijing - Discussion

[ScottleeSV]

Well, she is top five for now. I think she's a future French Open champion. Possibly has a HC slam in her (no more than one). Will never win Wimbledon. Will never be world no 1.

 

[Bibarel]

I don't "hate" her but she is not a top five player to me.

Well, she's definately not in the same league with Serena, Maria, Vika and Petra, but it's WTA, so there is always a ****erpouncher or two in the top 5 because of injuries and Kvitova's inconsistency. I think Halep is a bit better than, for instance, Wozniacki or Kerber, and actually might have a shot at winning something big on clay. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

 

[AngieB]

Congrats to Maria. I had a feeling she'd win this one! Very happy she's back at number 2 as well. It was weird not having her as a top seed...kind of messes things up.

Maria is clearly the #2 player in the world. Serena is the only person she cannot defeat at the moment. My hope that since her ranking is where it should be, her results will be more consistent with better placement in grand slam draws.

I was impressed with Maria's play this week. I hope she builds on this approaching the YEC.

Serena and Maria remind me a lot of Martina and Chris in 1984. Chris could beat everyone else except Martina. I hope Serena and Maria play each other more often next year. Regardless of the result, it will make for great tennis. Their rivalry is good for the sport in the absence of the challenge of rising younger players. Eugenie and Simona need to get it together.

#PTL

AngieB

 

[cc0509]

Serena and Maria remind me a lot of Martina and Chris in 1984. Chris could beat everyone else except Martina.

Except Serena vs Maria is NOTHING like Martina vs Chris!

The Martina-Chris h2h was 43-37 in favor of Martina. In grand slam matches it was 14-8 for Martina. On hardcourts it was 9-7 for Martina, on clay it was 11-3 for Chris and on grass it was 10-5 for Martina. For Serena vs Maria it is 16-2 for Serena and Maria has not been able to beat Serena anywhere since 2004! The Martina-Chris rivalry was much more competitive. No comparison!

 

[cc0509]

Well, she's definately not in the same league with Serena, Maria, Vika and Petra, but it's WTA, so there is always a ****erpouncher or two in the top 5 because of injuries and Kvitova's inconsistency. I think Halep is a bit better than, for instance, Wozniacki or Kerber, and actually might have a shot at winning something big on clay. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.

I am not so sure about that. We shall see what transpires.

 

[cc0509]

Oops, sorry. Deleted post.

 

[Bibarel]

Hopefully Vika can get it together next year, over the last few years she was the only top player to really challenge Serena. Some of their matches were really decent.

 

[Vanhool]

Maria will start beating Serena sooner or later if only due to the aging process. At Wimbledon this year they showed Venus' serve and groundstrokes speed compared to prime and it was off by almost 10mph. Same will happen to Serena and her movement (and thus ability to defend) and reflexes will slow as well. As someone so aptly pointed out in the WWWH thread, Serena's superior defense really makes the difference in their rivalry. Maria has not given up...she really wants to beat her. Once she reaches the point where she is able to, I'm not sure how much longer Serena will want to stick around. She may be willing to put up with it as long as she's still contending for slams or until Rio 16...or maybe not.

 

[Mr.Lob]

I didn't see the match, but congratulations to Maria Sugarpova.

 

[Man of steel]

Maria will start beating Serena sooner or later if only due to the aging process. At Wimbledon this year they showed Venus' serve and groundstrokes speed compared to prime and it was off by almost 10mph. Same will happen to Serena and her movement (and thus ability to defend) and reflexes will slow as well. As someone so aptly pointed out in the WWWH thread, Serena's superior defense really makes the difference in their rivalry. Maria has not given up...she really wants to beat her. Once she reaches the point where she is able to, I'm not sure how much longer Serena will want to stick around. She may be willing to put up with it as long as she's still contending for slams or until Rio 16...or maybe not.

Your also forgeting that maria is aging aswell. Based on who has the better movement. Serena still does. Sure her movement can decline but i would still say she will have better movement than a 29-30 year old pova. So the decline isn't much in the movement departement.

 

[insideguy]

Hey cool stat real quick. Serena is about to pass Hingis for 4th all time weeks a #1. Not to shabby.

 

[AngieB]

Serena and Maria remind me a lot of Martina and Chris in 1984. Chris could beat everyone else except Martina.

Except Serena vs Maria is NOTHING like Martina vs Chris!

The Martina-Chris h2h was 43-37 in favor of Martina. In grand slam matches it was 14-8 for Martina. On hardcourts it was 9-7 for Martina, on clay it was 11-3 for Chris and on grass it was 10-5 for Martina. For Serena vs Maria it is 16-2 for Serena and Maria has not been able to beat Serena anywhere since 2004! The Martina-Chris rivalry was much more competitive. No comparison!

As I recall, Martina and Chris were #1 and #2 in the world in 1984 and Chris couldn't beat Martina. That is the comparison I made and the same remains true for Serena and Maria.

The Martina-Chris rivalry in 1984 was anything but compelling. Martina couldn't lose. It became much more compelling in 1985 when Chris finally defeated Navratilova and regained the number one ranking.

#PTL

AngieB