2019 Australian Open - WTA Thread

Who will win the AO?

  • Total voters
    49
  • Poll closed .
D

Dolgopolov85

G.O.A.T.
PDJ said:
I found, when l lived and played tennis in London for 15 years, that Serena especially really divided opinion to extremes: people either loved or disliked her. There was little middle ground. I've never known a club player that is just 'meh' about her.
That's true, to a point, on here.
I think Venus, being of a seemingly gentler nature, doesn't incite such extremes.
Click to expand...
This is interesting because the reactions I have come across where I live (neither US nor UK) are kind of measured or middle of the road. I don't know your gender and didn't check your profile but I am a guy and the first issue is guys are anyway not that much invested in women's tennis. However when they do speak of WTA it's usually about Serena and they respect her skills. Speaking of...

I am from India but I happened to be Stateside during US Open. Couldn't line up a trip to NY and was in DC instead right during the finals. Thankfully stayed away from whatever riot must have broken out on TT during that time. Anyway, I was staying at my aunt's place in a Chicago suburb and while in DC we visited another aunt in Virginia and she was upset about Ramos' decision. But my uncle back in Chicago (a very good player by the by) minced no words in criticising her, lol. Few days later, played a friendly tournament and met many club players there and to a man, nobody said she was in the right. Yes, they respected her talent but not the argument she had with Ramos. I think that sums up the general attitude I encounter these days about Serena. There is immense respect for Serena the player, not so much for her propensity to pick a fight with the umpire. And I am just relating what I have observed. I know Nadal fans make light of the way he got Bernandes removed from his matches. If I had to guess, this is simply because Nadal didn't have a big public spat with him in a high profile setting like a USO semi /final. He did it slyly and stabbed Bernandes in the back. Serena paid the price for openly confronting umpires on not one but three occasions, twice in the final and once in a semi which was a virtual final. People can argue over whether it is fair or unfair but it is what it is. It is equally unfair, if I may, to suggest that the umpire shouldn't hand out code violations during a final just because.
 
Aussie Darcy

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Seems I missed some drama from the first set.

The always trashy Mladenovic apparently cheered come on when Sam faulted. Then when Sam had issues with her ball toss, Kiki said "Get your toss up".

Absolute trash.
 
JJGUY

JJGUY

Hall of Fame
Dolgopolov85 said:
This is interesting because the reactions I have come across where I live (neither US nor UK) are kind of measured or middle of the road. I don't know your gender and didn't check your profile but I am a guy and the first issue is guys are anyway not that much invested in women's tennis. However when they do speak of WTA it's usually about Serena and they respect her skills. Speaking of...

I am from India but I happened to be Stateside during US Open. Couldn't line up a trip to NY and was in DC instead right during the finals. Thankfully stayed away from whatever riot must have broken out on TT during that time. Anyway, I was staying at my aunt's place in a Chicago suburb and while in DC we visited another aunt in Virginia and she was upset about Ramos' decision. But my uncle back in Chicago (a very good player by the by) minced no words in criticising her, lol. Few days later, played a friendly tournament and met many club players there and to a man, nobody said she was in the right. Yes, they respected her talent but not the argument she had with Ramos. I think that sums up the general attitude I encounter these days about Serena. There is immense respect for Serena the player, not so much for her propensity to pick a fight with the umpire. And I am just relating what I have observed. I know Nadal fans make light of the way he got Bernandes removed from his matches. If I had to guess, this is simply because Nadal didn't have a big public spat with him in a high profile setting like a USO semi /final. He did it slyly and stabbed Bernandes in the back. Serena paid the price for openly confronting umpires on not one but three occasions, twice in the final and once in a semi which was a virtual final. People can argue over whether it is fair or unfair but it is what it is. It is equally unfair, if I may, to suggest that the umpire shouldn't hand out code violations during a final just because.
Click to expand...
Actually no, players can request certain umpires not to preside their matches, or vice versa. It's not backstabbing, it's quite a routine for tournament organizers to avoid the confrontations.
 
D

Dolgopolov85

G.O.A.T.
JJGUY said:
Actually no, players can request certain umpires not to preside their matches, or vice versa. It's not backstabbing, it's quite a routine for tournament organizers to avoid the confrontations.
Click to expand...
That they can do that doesn't mean it's right and it's high time they practice is stopped. Players, especially the stars, are mollycoddled way too much. Doesn't happen in most other sports. I get it that people turn up to watch the players. Doesn't mean they should be allowed to be prima donnas.
 
JJGUY

JJGUY

Hall of Fame
Dolgopolov85 said:
That they can do that doesn't mean it's right and it's high time they practice is stopped. Players, especially the stars, are mollycoddled way too much. Doesn't happen in most other sports. I get it that people turn up to watch the players. Doesn't mean they should be allowed to be prima donnas.
Click to expand...
I don't know what you want to say about other sports, but this is tennis, and it is players' or umpires' right to make such requests, there is nothing wrong or weird about it.
 
Tennease

Tennease

Legend
My local club's coach, Nick is on TV cheering for Stosur. He's coaching Stosur. He was her original coach when she was very young.
 
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D

Dolgopolov85

G.O.A.T.
JJGUY said:
I don't know what you want to say about other sports, but this is tennis, and it is players' or umpires' right to make such requests, there is nothing wrong or weird about it.
Click to expand...
Eh, just the same as over shooting the time allowed to serve was tolerated for a long time until shot clocks were finally introduced. Again, just because a practice exists doesn't make it right. Umpires should never be removed at A player's request. If a whole bunch of them complain about the umpire, then it is fair to take action against him but accommodating a single player's request just allows them to target strict umpires.
 
Aussie Darcy

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
Zhang had planned on quitting tennis at the 2016 Australian Open and it was to be her swansong. That tournament she broke her massive slam 1R losing streak by beating Halep in the 1R en route to the QF. 3 years later, she's a doubles slam champion. Incredible.
 
TagUrIt

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
I'm a Kiki and Timea fan, but congrats to Sam and Zhang for winning the women's doubles final. I can't wait to see Naomi and Petra finals match on Saturday! (I'll be attending a tennis party from 6:30-11pm on Saturday night, so I'll just stay up to watch the Final) :p
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Aussie Darcy said:
INCREDIBLE. The Australian curse is broken for Sam Stosur.

Her first slam title since the 2015 Wimbledon Mixed doubles. Her first doubles title since the 2006 French Open.
Click to expand...

Technically, the "curse" was not broken in that the observation was that an Australian had not won an AO singles title in a very long time; Hewitt was only a one-time finalist in 2005, while Stosur only made it to R4 in 2006 & 2010.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Aussie Darcy said:
That's Stosur's 3rd ladies doubles slam. Her first in almost THIRTEEN years. Massive.

Her slams now - 7. 1 in singles, 3 in mixed, 3 in ladies doubles.

Singles:
2011 US Open

Ladies Doubles:
2005 US Open
2006 French Open
2019 Australian Open

Mixed Doubles:
2005 Australian Open
2008 Wimbledon
2015 Wimbledon
Click to expand...

 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Technically, the "curse" was not broken in that the observation was that an Australian had not won an AO singles title in a very long time; Hewitt was only a one-time finalist in 2005, while Stosur only made it to R4 in 2006 & 2010.
Click to expand...
@Aussie Darcy specifically meant the curse had been broken for Sam Stosur- her first title at the AO.
It also means she has made the Ladies Doubles finals at all 4 majors.
Edit- Stosur lost the Doubles final in 2006 (Lisa Raymond) so had already made all 4 finals.
 
Last edited:
W

WDC

Rookie
ausfrewimuso said:
Not surprised you're not 'far' from Yorkshire, knew you was from Northern England straight away. And lol you like Daily Mail as well? Even more disgusting than I thought. Anyway, you should come down south to the city and leave the village you live in and then see for yourself.
No match fixing is done for them here, if they were the best grass players of this century I'd rather see them in the final than in Round 2, you want the latter because you don't like them, not about capabilities.

I can't imagine being as stupid as you. Imagine thinking that drugs help Serena place her serves at exact spots or help her play corners aggressively.

You're full of hate, simply.
Click to expand...

I am not from Yorkshire or Northern England, East Midlands actually from one of the leftist towns in England, you generalise too much, Yorkshire is a very varied county in every sense, some of the richest and poorest towns live within its borders in England. As for the Daily Mail I wouldn't buy any newspaper, they all have an agenda but they do good as well as bad, they have flushed the speedboat killer out this week for example. Match fixing when they play each other and the damage that has done to the game at large. I wouldn't live in London for a pension thank you.

I have not said that Williams has not been an extremely talented athlete and it is a great shame they didn't follow the proper path, maybe their dad had too much hold and it really would have been interesting if the natural course was allowed because Venus was the better player at the start. I don't like them like I don't like Liverpool FC I want them to lose every game but I don't hate anybody.
 
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W

WDC

Rookie
mightyjeditribble said:
Don't knock the North of England. Some lovely people up in Yorkshire, and here in the North West as well. Plenty of Daily Heil readers in the South of England too, btw, and a huge Brexit vote. Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds all voted remain, btw.

You're just showing your own prejudices here.
Click to expand...

Showing his lack of knowledge, Brexit is a complex issue 55% of the English vote went Brexit and more down the Eastern side of the country taking out London than the Western side. When you talk like that Liverpool and Manchester are the most deprived places in England, all the Education, employment stats demonstrate that and they voted stay so there are a lot of contradictions and none of the politicians have a grip on it. There are good reasons people voted Brexit though and the Europeans brought it on themselves. My view I voted remain because I didn't have confidence in our politicians getting us out in an orderly manner, I was right there, at heart though coming out of an block to which we are paying a lot of money for little influence may be good long-term but then I look at how much better Educated they are in countries like Germany and Holland and think maybe play safe and let them run the show is safer, gives some protection from our politicians.
 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
Dolgopolov85 said:
This is interesting because the reactions I have come across where I live (neither US nor UK) are kind of measured or middle of the road. I don't know your gender and didn't check your profile but I am a guy and the first issue is guys are anyway not that much invested in women's tennis. However when they do speak of WTA it's usually about Serena and they respect her skills. Speaking of...

I am from India but I happened to be Stateside during US Open. Couldn't line up a trip to NY and was in DC instead right during the finals. Thankfully stayed away from whatever riot must have broken out on TT during that time. Anyway, I was staying at my aunt's place in a Chicago suburb and while in DC we visited another aunt in Virginia and she was upset about Ramos' decision. But my uncle back in Chicago (a very good player by the by) minced no words in criticising her, lol. Few days later, played a friendly tournament and met many club players there and to a man, nobody said she was in the right. Yes, they respected her talent but not the argument she had with Ramos. I think that sums up the general attitude I encounter these days about Serena. There is immense respect for Serena the player, not so much for her propensity to pick a fight with the umpire. And I am just relating what I have observed. I know Nadal fans make light of the way he got Bernandes removed from his matches. If I had to guess, this is simply because Nadal didn't have a big public spat with him in a high profile setting like a USO semi /final. He did it slyly and stabbed Bernandes in the back. Serena paid the price for openly confronting umpires on not one but three occasions, twice in the final and once in a semi which was a virtual final. People can argue over whether it is fair or unfair but it is what it is. It is equally unfair, if I may, to suggest that the umpire shouldn't hand out code violations during a final just because.
Click to expand...
My examples were purely tennis club people.

In terms of male non-tennis friends, the only female player that they appear to have a definite view is Anna Kournikova! And she's long gone but her name still registers.

Female friends- Williams did strike a cord in terms of equality, but the 'mum' thing really grated.

Williams imploding at the US Open brought her back on the radar of people who have next to no interest in tennis.
 
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