2016 Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championship - [1] S. Williams vs [4] A. Kerber "THE REMATCH"
- Thread starter SQA333
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If she shows up like she did today (and in the last match against Pavs), then yes. It'll all be about whether the serve and calmness are there.
All respect to Angie, but match is not on her racquet. Not that that means she can't win, because of course she can. She's shown that before.
All respect to Angie, but match is not on her racquet. Not that that means she can't win, because of course she can. She's shown that before.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
Serena in straights. It's very rare for a player to beat her twice in a row in the majors and she'll also want revenge for Kerber preventing an all Williams final. Having said that, Kerber is obviously playing well(hasn't dropped a set so far) and you'd imagine she'll take some confidence from having beaten Serena in the AO final earlier in the year. There's also the possibility that nerves will come into play for Serena as they have the last three Slams but still, I don't think she'll let another opportunity to equal Graf's record slip through her fingers again and what better place to create history than the cradle of our sport.
Kerber-Venus match was awful. I LOVE Venus but frankly if there had been a way to eliminate both that would have been best. It's an open question whether poor Vesnina actually played any worse than either of those two.
Can't even say the better person won, more so that the less terrible player managed to avoid defeat.
Can't even say the better person won, more so that the less terrible player managed to avoid defeat.
SQA333
Hall of Fame
Agree with everything said above. Kerber's serving has been poor in the last 2 matches with lots of breaks. It was her returning that saved her and I don't think it'll cut it against Serena in imperious form. Nerves may not be an issue for Kerber given she's been to a final before but I don't think it will make a difference.
Serena in 2 clean and easy sets - something like 6-2, 6-3.
Serena in 2 clean and easy sets - something like 6-2, 6-3.
I actually think Kerber might feel more nervy than at AO. Expectations aren't as low as they were in January. She's now a GS champ and we know she can beat Serena. She may well be expecting herself to play out of her skin all over again.
That said, she should still feel less pressure relative to Serena, who's staring in the history's face for the fourth time.
The thing I found odd was that Kerber didn't seem pissed about her performance today. But she could well be good at hiding that.
Returns and that MP aside, she was abysmal. She's lucky Venus was even worse and couldn't take advantage. Credit to her tho for closing out the match in style and with zero drama.
Serena was more convincing in her run up to AO finals than here, so my optimism is definitely of the cautious variety. If she shows up nervy and has a slow start - and particularly if she loses the first set - anything could happen.
Returns and that MP aside, she was abysmal. She's lucky Venus was even worse and couldn't take advantage. Credit to her tho for closing out the match in style and with zero drama.
Serena was more convincing in her run up to AO finals than here, so my optimism is definitely of the cautious variety. If she shows up nervy and has a slow start - and particularly if she loses the first set - anything could happen.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
I think Serena will get #22 here. I used to think it would be a foregone conclusion that she'd at least tie Graf. But, the last three majors have made me take nothing for granted. Of course, Kerbs has the ability to win this, given that she has the confidence of taking out Serena in a Slam final, and her aggressive counter-punching, high-retrieving game can frustrate big hitters.
Kerber could win 2 of the last 3 Slams, beating Serena twice, and reach No. 1 if she wins. Wow.
But, again, I think Serena will win this.
Kerber could win 2 of the last 3 Slams, beating Serena twice, and reach No. 1 if she wins. Wow.
But, again, I think Serena will win this.
StanTheMan
Hall of Fame
Kerber hasn't drop a set. Anything can happen here.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Kerber in 3 dramatic sets, leaving Serena somewhat rattled. Kerber will experience a world of joy at her double majors defeat of Serena..only for pressure to land on her head as the world expects her to win the USO, and defend her AO title next year.
Angie can't reach no. 1 no matter what happens in the final. If she wins, she'll be about 400 points behind Serena. That said, if she goes on to defend Stanford & dominate Toronto and Cincy, no. 1 spot will be in serious play for her.
But for now, SW has defended enough points to remain no. 1 regardless of the outcome this Saturday.
I think it's all about that first set. If Serena gets it, she gets the trophy. The key will be NOT to have a slow start. A lot will depend on Angie's serve too. Not at her best in SF or QF. I didn't watch pre-QF matches, so can't comment on those.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Ok. I had read earlier this week that Kerber could reach No. 1 by wining, but I didn't realize that Serena would have to lose before the final for that to happen.
Yeah. Had she lost the semis, Angie could have reached no. 1 by winning the final. As is, Serena's already over the max number of points (7200) that Angie can reach at this tournament.
Moreover, Angie has to defend 400+ points at Stanford in two weeks. Meaning that she can't afford another post-GS slump if she means to go after no. 1.
Serena's next tournament would be Toronto (I'm not counting the ridic 1st round appearance in Sweden), where she has SF to defend.
Overall, I think Serena should be able to hold onto no. 1. Unless she loses here, takes it hard and drops out of tournaments for the rest of the year, that is.
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D
Deleted member 77403
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RSH
Professional
Two consecutive slam final losses seem to have settled Serena, and Kerber is now a known entity who has a mountain to climb in order to claim the title; to win, she'll have to reproduce the anomaly that was her level in the Australian Open final and hope Serena is off again -- an extremely unlikely scenario.
Serena in 2.
Serena in 2.
mightyrick
Legend
I think SWilliams wins in straight sets, but if Kerber serves like she did against VWilliams... it will be an absolute blowout. Kerber has a fairly decent serve and can take care of her service games as long as she can keep her first serve percentage at a respectable level.
But if she hovers at 50% first serve (or lower)... we're probably looking at another bagel.
But if she hovers at 50% first serve (or lower)... we're probably looking at another bagel.
Agreed, and that's kind of what I was trying to get at in my post - her serve was quite suspect against both Venus and Simona.
She was at around 25 to 27 percent on 2nd serve today. Abysmal. Combine that with the returns Serena whacked at Sveta in their last game of the QF match and....well, you have at least one bagel on your hands.
Angie needs to be exponentially better than she was today AND Serena needs to slip up.
But both are possible (as we well know by now!). As a Serena fan, I'm ready for anything.
If she has a slow start, something she's suspect to, and lets Kerber get away with the first set, I think it'll end badly.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Don't think Serena will let this one go the way of the others. Think she'll finally get number 22. Kerber will put up a great fight though and this makes for a promising final even if it is in straight sets. Very excited
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Interesting.
Would love your thoughts on this. Don't you think it makes sense to let Angie serve first?
Levi_Ackerman
Legend
I'm going to be controversial and say Kerber in three sets.
It's not that controversial.
TV thinks the same, and I too can buy it. If she has a slow start, that'll probably be how things go. Serena can have real **** days. Nevermind AO, her IW finals performance was downright embarrassing. There's nothing to say that IW finals Serena won't step onto the court tomorrow.
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
Kerber in 3
She can do it again
She can do it again
Man of steel
Hall of Fame
All the womens finals have been more interesting than the mens this year.In terms of interest and intrigue, Women's final > Mens
I've noticed this too, which is why I have more hope than I did at FO (though less than I did at AO - I truly believed she'd take AO in view of her amazing run up to the finals). I knew she'd lose to Garbine before she even finished her semi against Kiki since she was totally out of sorts.
She's also clearly been working on avoiding slow starts, which is positive.
If she gets this, I think she'll be unstoppable at USO.
Fedole
Semi-Pro
I'll second that! Particularly the AO final. Hope for more of the same tomorrow.All the womens finals have been more interesting than the mens this year.
snowwhite
Professional
Last Aussie a lot of people were expecting Serena to win, it didn't happen
This time there are too many giving Kerber a chance to win and I think she will not win this time
It reminds me of Steffi Graf expectations French Open 99 -Wimbledon 99
I think Serena will win here in 2 or 3 sets, if Kerber wins, it think she'll make in 3 sets
I give Serena 70%, Kerber 30%
This time there are too many giving Kerber a chance to win and I think she will not win this time
It reminds me of Steffi Graf expectations French Open 99 -Wimbledon 99
I think Serena will win here in 2 or 3 sets, if Kerber wins, it think she'll make in 3 sets
I give Serena 70%, Kerber 30%
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Chicharito
Hall of Fame
Can't really expect Kerber to save tennis twice in one year.
Can't see Serena losing on grass.
Can't see Serena losing on grass.
I think expectations game has definitely shifted a bit in her favor. As I posted before, Kerber is no longer entirely pressure-free because she's now a GS champ and people know she can beat Serena.
Serena of course still has the lion share of expectations on her shoulders. But it's not, or at least shouldn't be, as bad as it was pre-AO.
I also think Serena thrives on spite, so it's better for her when she's the underdog. She's not the underdog here, of course, but if she feels people aren't treating her victory as inevitable, that may well help her performance tomorrow.
Who knows. Either way, the outcome of this match is in her hands.
snowwhite
Professional
I don't see Kerber's slam win and a win over Serena is a pressure factor, at contrary, I see it as a confident booster to her.
On the other hand, Serena's got much pressure on her shoulders, getting to #22, losing the last three slams, also age is not at her side.
She needs A LOT of concentration, determination and self confidence, and nothing to interrupt the match like rains and so on
On the other hand, Serena's got much pressure on her shoulders, getting to #22, losing the last three slams, also age is not at her side.
She needs A LOT of concentration, determination and self confidence, and nothing to interrupt the match like rains and so on
It can certainly work as a confidence booster. She wasn't confident in her SF match though. She was visibly tight. Venus played horribly, and still managed to break her several times. But I do believe she'll show up in much better form tomorrow, so anything truly is possible.
As for rain, I actually think that would be pretty great for Serena if it forced them to close the roof. Indoor conditions would favor her tremendously.
This isn't the first time Serena had the pressure of passing a milestone. She managed to do it at #18 in her fourth attempt. I know she can do it here, if she shows up like she did in her last matches.
But she does have to show up. Kerber is no pushover.
As for rain, I actually think that would be pretty great for Serena if it forced them to close the roof. Indoor conditions would favor her tremendously.
This isn't the first time Serena had the pressure of passing a milestone. She managed to do it at #18 in her fourth attempt. I know she can do it here, if she shows up like she did in her last matches.
But she does have to show up. Kerber is no pushover.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
she probably will , but then I hope Kerber beats her again... Usually when Kerber plays good enough to beat Serena, the match turns into Insanely great shot making kind of match......and usually it is a great match to watch..... That is all I care about.
SQA333
Hall of Fame
The way both players have been serving though, I think a 7-6, 6-2 kind of loss for Kerber would be the most achievable result for her. I'm sure there'll be plenty of great rallies.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
you never know,,, Kerber came alive big time in Aussie open Final time......she was playing well but not that well til the finals
SQA333
Hall of Fame
The truth is, Serena presented Kerber with an opportunity by beating herself, and Kerber, to her credit and the joy of most neutral fans, took it with both hands.
Much like Raonic and Federer yesterday.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
I think Serena will choke again if she is pressured a bit.............
SQA333
Hall of Fame
Yes I think so too, but on grass her serve can bail her out a bit more easily.
malbaker86
Hall of Fame
Serena in 3.........
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Serena should win easy, (unless Kerber ups her level considerably). Venus from the first 5 matches would have taken Kerber out.
