2017 Dubai Tennis Championships - WTA Premier 5
- Thread starter Aussie Darcy
- Start date
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
I expect Sharapova to do really well. She has had plenty of rest for her various nagging injuries, has been healthy the whole time. Serena will be a little beat down from IW/Miami/Rome, and I think that FO (or Rome if she plays it) will be her best chance to finally beat Serena again. And I swear I'm not jinxing.
The others, yeah it just depends. By USO they'll have been back for a while. For Vika, it's just comes down to fitness and rust. Again, she has had a chance to heal her nagging injuries as well, and she loves the hard courts, so she could do well...or not. Petra's hand, yeah probably not ready for champion but maybe some good run, I hope.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
I don't hate her. I don't hate any one I don't know - that would be silly, and a waste of energy. I do dislike her because of her shameful behaviour with Hantuchovà at RG a few years ago. I expect champions to behave like champions, but that's just me, but given she plays a full schedule, regardless of results, she may as well play more. In terms of profile, how many people globally know who she actually is?
And sponsorship, I'm betting she's not even close to Kournikova years ago.
spystud
Talk Tennis Guru
How many tennis fans? All of them? How many third-world orphans in Cambodia? Probably very few. What in the hell does that have to do with anything?
Serena, Maria, & probably Caro are the only 3 "famous" women's players. Should the rest quit? Should we only watch matches those 3 are in? Who cares what the rest of the planet thinks.
Serena, Maria, & probably Caro are the only 3 "famous" women's players. Should the rest quit? Should we only watch matches those 3 are in? Who cares what the rest of the planet thinks.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Yes. I'm her biggest fan
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Because we should care about the future of the sport.
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
She was the "real" number 1 already by then (just like Serena was the "real" number 1 by the end of 2012). The ranking system is not so great sometimes. I think Serena's approach is best: chase the results and let the ranking follow. She may play fewer tournaments, but she plays the big ones. If you do well at the majors and are winning and making finals at some PM/P5s and a few premiers, you will be top 4 at least, which is plenty good for seeding.
spystud
Talk Tennis Guru
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
Wow. That could be really interesting...if she keeps him around for more than a month or two.
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
Caroline had to kiss Serena's ring first
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Not an image I needed. Note to self, drink more.Caroline had to kiss Serena's ring first
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
But that's why the game is rubbish. Great for part time Serena, but horrendous for the sport. Commitment means sod all. I can say it till I'm blue in the face, but what does that say about tennis? A near middle aged part time player rules the sport. And the only other player, Venus aside, that has a profile is deemed a drug cheat. Really!
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
I just wonder if the whole tour is structured wrong. The game is so much more physical than it used to be, yet they are required to play these nonslam tournaments like IW, Miami, etc, where they play more rounds than they used to play at the majors! No wonder they are always getting injured. Maybe it was better when they played a lot of smaller tournaments? I never really paid attention to such things back then, so I am asking, not proclaiming
This is nonsense. Serena is 36 years old and has won 23 slams. She doesn't have to play a ridiculously long schedule if she doesn't want to. And she's smart not to.
The tennis season is too long. There are too many tournaments leading to too many injuries for everyone. That's why many careers have been cut short. Other top players would be wise to follow Serena and Venus' methods.
I just wonder if the whole tour is structured wrong. The game is so much more physical than it used to be, yet they are required to play these nonslam tournaments like IW, Miami, etc, where they play more rounds than they used to play at the majors! No wonder they are always getting injured. Maybe it was better when they played a lot of smaller tournaments? I never really paid attention to such things back then, so I am asking, not proclaiming
It is structured wrong IMO. Of course, it's all about getting exposure for the top players to bring dollars in.
However, it would be better if top players were expected to play 8-10 tournaments a year including slams.
And the bulk of the tour had a better distribution (downward) of prize money for lower ranked but rising players with more higher level tournament opportunites they could play, so they would be able to earn enough money and points to establish themselves.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Well wow, if Svitolina wins the title, she will make her top 10 debut at #10. Good for her.
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
I guess this is kind of what the Asian and Middle East swings have become. They can scoop up points and money, but they don't get a lot of exposure.
Sereger
Hall of Fame
Yeah I do hope they all return and bring more excitement for women tennis, which is so precious these days.
However, my expectation is mosly on Vika. She can totally follow the legacy of Clijster from 09 to 11. She's only 27/28 this year.
Re Sha, a long off time can really help her in some first tournaments, but I doubt she can so anything different from what she did. She will be 30 soon and that's an annoying alarm for any female player, especially an attacker like her (she's an UE makerl. She may beat Ser someday tho, consider her mental block against Ser doesn't impact her much or Ser has a bad day.
Have no idea on Pet condition. I hope she will not become the 2nd Seles. She's a beast when in form, just like Waw.
Sereger
Hall of Fame
What about those names?
Isn't the only other former no 1 with 2 slams Victoria? I would say she was a stronger no 1 with 2 slams but it's not much of a discussion if only one other person is in the group.
If Kerber gets to three or four, there'll be more people to compare her to and therefore a more meaningful discussion to be had.
I really think she's gonna keep doing better and better. Not some huge fan (or hater), so can speak objectively, I think.
If Kerber gets to three or four, there'll be more people to compare her to and therefore a more meaningful discussion to be had.
I really think she's gonna keep doing better and better. Not some huge fan (or hater), so can speak objectively, I think.
Sereger
Hall of Fame
Haha. Just a habit, from when i see how their names displayed on tv livescore. That's how I use in local tennis forum. 3 letters abbr. is enough to distinguish them
Most of the posts, but I guess I missed a few.
"At least two" isn't that fair. An extra slam or two makes quite a difference in itself.
spystud
Talk Tennis Guru
With that post in mind, who is the "least impressive" multiple Slam winner (forgetting #1)?
Austin
Pierce
Mauresmo
Kuznetsova
Azarenka
Li
Kvitova
Kerber
My vote is for Li. Never saw Austin live, most of my memories of Pierce are about her dad.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
So is Serena part time or not?
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Firstly, well done with the Latin.
Secondly, that's your opinion.
Thirdly, check your grammar.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Are you asking if the WTA should play a limited schedule?I just wonder if the whole tour is structured wrong. The game is so much more physical than it used to be, yet they are required to play these nonslam tournaments like IW, Miami, etc, where they play more rounds than they used to play at the majors! No wonder they are always getting injured. Maybe it was better when they played a lot of smaller tournaments? I never really paid attention to such things back then, so I am asking, not proclaiming
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Cus she's not "hot'? Sponsorship kinda works that way..... If it doesn't appeal they don't make the money. I'm not saying that's right, but that's the way it works. You mentioned Serena, and you can add Navratilova to that. They may be more successful than others, but that doesn't mean they appeal to the majority of consumers. That's surely just a fact?
spystud
Talk Tennis Guru
Again, what in the flying sh* t does endorsement $ have to do with anything?! Who freaking cares if Anna K made more than Angie? I'm a fan of tennis & hot chicks. One is substantially better than the other in both areas, but I couldn't care less who gets paid more.
And please show my grammar flaw in the other post you quoted.
And please show my grammar flaw in the other post you quoted.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
So tennis globally is all about what you think? Great. Therefore, it's never been better.
My grammar comment was tongue in cheek because I thought it was obvious, and, therefore a deliberate error on your part. Apparently not.
Maybe it's not your first language, and, therefore, I apologise. For a second language, your English is very good.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
PDJ
G.O.A.T.
Ah, bless you.
spystud
Talk Tennis Guru
The 'too' is correct. As in, "so being the best now also".
Nice edit when you realized you were wrong.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Ok, i'm just going to ignore the arguing.
Meanwhile in Budapest, three of the top four seeds have made the SF. The unseeded player is Witthoft who is into her first ever WTA SF.
Semifinals:
#1 Babos v #3 Goerges
Witthoft v #2 Safarova
This is a new WTA tournament, last year it was an ITF tournament and was won by Kostova.
Not a bad SF lineup considering Premier 5 Dubai was on.
Meanwhile in Budapest, three of the top four seeds have made the SF. The unseeded player is Witthoft who is into her first ever WTA SF.
Semifinals:
#1 Babos v #3 Goerges
Witthoft v #2 Safarova
This is a new WTA tournament, last year it was an ITF tournament and was won by Kostova.
Not a bad SF lineup considering Premier 5 Dubai was on.
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Also this would be Caroline's biggest title since Indian Wells 2011. Quite a gap between Premier+ titles.
Otherwise, if Svitolina wins, she'll make her top 10 debut.
Otherwise, if Svitolina wins, she'll make her top 10 debut.
Vanhool
Hall of Fame
No, I'm wondering if there are too many PM/P5s. Some of them are historic or at least very well attended, like IW, Miami, Rome and Cincy. Keep those. Some are very poorly attended by fans and players don't really seem to want to go there either like Beijing and the one that this thread is about.
After the Australian swing, there is a 3 week period which includes two premiers and Fed Cup. In theory, the top players should play at least one of those premiers, then play a P5 in the middle east, which is 5 matches (or 6 with no bye), then take a week off to fly around the world and play back to back PMs: 6 (or 7) matches at IW and then 6 (or 7) at Miami. 2 days later clay season kicks off with a premier in Charleston, etc. It's not so bad for players that lose a lot, but if you are consistantly making the finals, it's too much.
I was looking at Margaret Court's slams. Not one single one of them was more than 6 matches. All of her 11 Australians were 5, sometimes even 4 matches. Now all the majors are 7, PLUS 4 Premier Mandatories and 5 that are practically mandatory (900 pts) tournaments a year, not to mention the premiers that one is expected to play to meet your definition of a full time player.
Add to that, poly strings, stiff racquets, more hardcourt and it seems like they are perpetually injured. Did they used to have 3 hour grindfests back in the day? Serious question, I don't remember. We sure have lots of them now. I know in old times they didn't have tiebreaks and the grass tormented the knees in its own way with the low bounces, but it just seems like it was easier to play more tournaments back then, with fewer matches and less physicality.
I think maybe they should downgrade some of these less popular tournaments that are shoved into the middle of the rest times. Keep trying to grow the sport but stop putting the cart before the horse. Instead of 9 big tournaments a year, have 4-6, then a bunch of premiers and internationals (and make them 250s and 500s, and let the top players play as many rinkydinks as they want instead of just 2 a year). I'm just sort of pondering...I'm overworked and underslept this week so I don't even know if I'm making sense. I should be sleeping now. I have to work tomorrow
Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
Whoever wins the title today jumps to number 2 in the race to Singapore rankings. Consistent start to the year for both ladies. Back to back finals for both Caro and Svitolina. Svitolina won her final though.
ScentOfDefeat
G.O.A.T.
Meanwhile, the #1 is forever comfy.
