2018 WTA French Open - Serena Williams v Julia Goerges

[ScentOfDefeat]

I did. I’m sure you think the tour right now is ‘good competitive’ tennis without Serena in it.

She’s not their coach so there’s nothing she can do.

I don't, I think it's poor.
And Serena will prove it.
I was saying the exact opposite: she needs a poor tour to have any chance of a CYGS next year.

 

[skyline]

He actually said that?
Wow.
They're truly out to leave no record unbroken, no stone unturned.

Yeah. I’ll link if I find it.

But I don’t read into it. It’s just another way of saying, the goal is to win each slam she plays. Which really ought to be the goal od every player.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

I don't think it's that straightforward.
Nobody who just loves to play can have that attitude on the court.

The "attitude" as you put it is her love for playing--for the sport. Its not something to pay the bills or representatives and coaches.

Everybody does what they like in their lives, no need for a thinly-veiled criticism of Navratilova's dedication to the game.

It was not thinly veiled--I was clear that Navatilova seemed to only function on tour--her entire ego/identity was tied to it, which is why she--as a commentator--would routinely attack players, especially players who were superior to her (like Graf) or would be as she watched it unfold as a viewer (like Serena). You will not, nor have you seen Serena go on and on about the alleged shortcomings of other players; there are players she's not fond of, but she does not trash them as a means of "protecting" her own legacy or because someone else succeeds in a way different than her method. That's Navratilova.

 

[cc0509]

The "attitude" as you put it is her love for playing--for the sport. Its not something to pay the bills or representatives and coaches.



It was not thinly veiled--I was clear that Navatilova seemed to only function on tour--her entire ego/identity was tied to it, which is why she--as a commentator--would routinely attack players, especially players who were superior to her (like Graf) or would be as she watched it unfold as a viewer (like Serena). You will not, nor have you seen Serena go on and on about the alleged shortcomings of other players; there are players she's not fond of, but she does not trash them as a means of "protecting" her own legacy or because someone else succeeds in a way different than her method. That's Navratilova.

To be fair, Navratilova used to criticize Graf and Serena but I don't think she does anymore. I think she now often says Serena is the female GOAT? And I could never stand Navratilova. I couldn't stand her as a player and I can't stand her as a commentator. I do agree that Navratilova's entire identity is tied to her tennis accomplishments. As for Serena, when would she have time to talk about other players? All she ever does is talk about herself and her greatness. If you watch her new tv documentary, it's like a self-worshipping festival.

 

[ausfrewimuso]

I don't, I think it's poor.
And Serena will prove it.
I was saying the exact opposite: she needs a poor tour to have any chance of a CYGS next year.

Fair enough, just don't get how you can be annoyed at her for the tour being so poor, it's not her fault, she's just pursuing her career.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Fair enough, just don't get how you can be annoyed at her for the tour being so poor, it's not her fault, she's just pursuing her career.

I'm not.
I was just pointing out that being a fan of a certain player (namely a dominating player) sometimes means that watching good, competitive tennis is secondary - in one's aspirations - to your favourite player winning. When you're a fan of a player who's not exactly chasing things like a CYGS, you tend to appreciate tennis - the game itself - a lot more, because you don't need the world to bend to your favourite's achievements.

 

[ausfrewimuso]

I'm not.
I was just pointing out that being a fan of a certain player (namely a dominating player) sometimes means that watching good, competitive tennis is secondary - in one's aspirations - to your favourite player winning. When you're a fan of a player who's not exactly chasing things like a CYGS, you tend to appreciate tennis - the game itself - a lot more, because you don't need the world to bend to your favourite's achievements.

Partly true, but you have to admit if every player truly chased a CYGS, the tennis game would be much better!