Agnieszka Radwanska on a tear

Walenty

Walenty

Professional
She just beat Cibulkova 6-0 6-0 in the final of Sydney, her second straight title of the year. She's 9-0 and hasn't dropped a set in any of her matches.

She drew Li Na in her quarter, who she just beat, and Maria, who she played competitively last year and hasn't had a tune up tourney yet.

Anyone else think she'll make the final?
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
No, most likely not because she would have to defeat Serena or Azeranka, which she most likely won't.
 
Brian11785

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
An on-point Barthel is a threat in the third round. After that, she's basically a shoo-in for the semis. Li or Stosur would be a threat in the quarters, but....let's be honest....will either be able to string enough victories together to even get there? Doubtful.

Of the top 3, Maria is probably the best matchup for Aga (just because the other two are so historically disastrous.) A win in the semis against Maria/Venus/Bartoli/Kerber is doable. Don't see her getting past either Serena/Vika in the finals. Would love for her to prove me wrong though. Or better yet, if someone else from that half of the draw is in the finals.
 
mrmike

mrmike

Semi-Pro
Walenty said:
She just beat Cibulkova 6-0 6-0 in the final of Sydney, her second straight title of the year. She's 9-0 and hasn't dropped a set in any of her matches.

She drew Li Na in her quarter, who she just beat, and Maria, who she played competitively last year and hasn't had a tune up tourney yet.

Anyone else think she'll make the final?
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I watched a good chunk of the Cibulkova vs. Kerber match, and Domi was playing very well. Its hard to believe she got double bageled by Radwanska.
 
Walenty

Walenty

Professional
Brian11785 said:
An on-point Barthel is a threat in the third round. After that, she's basically a shoo-in for the semis. Li or Stosur would be a threat in the quarters, but....let's be honest....will either be able to string enough victories together to even get there? Doubtful.

Of the top 3, Maria is probably the best matchup for Aga (just because the other two are so historically disastrous.) A win in the semis against Maria/Venus/Bartoli/Kerber is doable. Don't see her getting past either Serena/Vika in the finals. Would love for her to prove me wrong though. Or better yet, if someone else from that half of the draw is in the finals.
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Agreed. I'm not saying she'll win the final, she'd be an underdog against either Victoria or Serena, but I'd also like to be proven wrong.
 
Bhagi Katbamna

Bhagi Katbamna

Legend
Her problem is that she has nothing to counter a big hitter when the big hitter is on. This usually occurs in a slam in the QF, SF, or Final(but can occur earlier).
 
Brian11785

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
Bhagi Katbamna said:
Her problem is that she has nothing to counter a big hitter when the big hitter is on. This usually occurs in a slam in the QF, SF, or Final(but can occur earlier).
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When you say that she has "nothing" to counter a big hitter when she is on, what could that possibly mean to you, besides more power? Because she's got everything else: speed, touch, variety and mental toughness.

I think people underestimate Aga's ability to CREATE bad days for her opponents.

Also, I know she is on the run a lot and doesn't hit the hardest groundstrokes, but you'd be surprised how much she actually dictates play throughout most matches, between an improving-everyday first serve, use of angles and spins and solid approaches/volley putaways.

The days she gets hit off the court are when she is unable to dictate play. She's a defender, yes, but if that's all she's doing, she's not going to win a match against a quality opponent.

I think she has started having better results since her first serve has improved. Hopefully, she'll start to get enough free/easy points off her serve that she'll be able to compete against the bigger hitters on the average day.
 
A

Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
Yes, people seem to downplay Radwanska's talent because it isn't so obvious she isn't going to overpower her opponents. However, Radwanska uses her mind she uses tactics she's smarter than the other players. Radwanska also has a lot of variety in her game that she can change the pace and throw a hard hitter off her game.

The problem for Agnieszka Radwanska is the top 3 players give her big problems. The top 3 players have the power and are also consistent. Sharapova though is less consistent than Serena or Azarenka.

The good thing for Radwanska is she is on the opposite side of the draw away from Serena and Azarenka. Radwanska did beat Sharapova in Miami last year and their match in Istanbul was extremely close Sharapova barely on 7-5 in the third set. Radwanska is playing well, but even I must admit the top 3 are the favourites over her I feel. But, anything can happen in a grand slam and Radwanska is a very mentally tough and smart player.
 
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kishnabe

kishnabe

Talk Tennis Guru
Tears in Small Tournaments don't equate to Slam Success. She can manage a QF.....though from there on....I doubt it. If Azarenka and Serena lose early....then she can win. She can beat Maria.
 
S

slowfox

Professional
I know it's not the same as winning, but Aggie did take a set off of Serena at Wimbledon. So she does have the ability.
 
cork_screw

cork_screw

Hall of Fame
She's good. She is really patient and plays like the polish people out here in brooklyn as in she plays a very smart tennis game. But when someone figures her out or they hit big against her, she's done.
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Walenty said:
She just beat Cibulkova 6-0 6-0 in the final of Sydney, her second straight title of the year. She's 9-0 and hasn't dropped a set in any of her matches.

She drew Li Na in her quarter, who she just beat, and Maria, who she played competitively last year and hasn't had a tune up tourney yet.

Anyone else think she'll make the final?
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But Li Na beat Radwanska three times on hc prior to that Sydney win and Li Na has looked pretty good as well.

Re Maria Sharapova, it is true that she did not play a tune-up this year but she did not play one prior to the AO last year from what I recall and she made the final, so who knows. The second half of the draw is a crap shoot.
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
TMF said:
But Serena has to beat Azarenka in the semifinal first before even thinking about Radwanska.

Serena also has a potential to face big hitter Kvitova in the QF.
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Azarenka is not a big threat for a healthy motivated Serena and Kvitova has been MIA lately. Hard to see how Serena will not win this tournament or at least make the final.
 
Polaris

Polaris

Hall of Fame
cc0509 said:
Azarenka is not a big threat for a healthy motivated Serena and Kvitova has been MIA lately. Hard to see how Serena will not win this tournament or at least make the final.
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Sad but true about the bolded part. :(

Maybe JoelDali should make a thread: "I believe in Kvitova, flight of the Stormy Petrel of Victory". :)
 
cc0509

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Polaris said:
Sad but true about the bolded part. :(

Maybe JoelDali should make a thread: "I believe in Kvitova, flight of the Stormy Petrel of Victory". :)
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I still believe in Kvitova because she is super talented. I think what is holding her back is all mental and she does not like the fame and pressures associated with being the top player. I hope she can and wants to work it all out because her tennis is sublime when she is playing her best. I think Kvitova is the only one who would be able to give Serena any trouble if Kvitova was playing her very best.
 
Candide

Candide

Hall of Fame
Just saw the replay of her match against Begu. She's by far the most entertaining thing in women's tennis. Her sense of where the other player's weight is going is brilliant. It's lovely to see someone win with feel and strategy over raw power. Can she do it against the amazons at the pointy end of the tournament? It's a big ask but it would be great for the game. Old school fun all the way.
 
A

Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
cc0509 said:
I still believe in Kvitova because she is super talented. I think what is holding her back is all mental and she does not like the fame and pressures associated with being the top player. I hope she can and wants to work it all out because her tennis is sublime when she is playing her best. I think Kvitova is the only one who would be able to give Serena any trouble if Kvitova was playing her very best.
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Kvitova is very talented but she's not disciplined she's out of shape and needs to lose some weight.
 
S

single_handed_champion

Professional
She's smart, but if a big(ger) hitter hits a firm shot away from the middle of the court, she is instantly on defense and cannot do anything. Li Na did it all the time last year, and did it a lot even in a losing effort in Sydney. Radwanska's skills come into play when the rallies are long and medium-paced, when she can try to exploit angles and width slowly. Her serve is not good enough either to guarantee holding serve. And because she does not return with authority, it is not a given she'll break frequently either, unlike Azarenka.

Basically, she has to serve incredibly well and make no unforced errors while redirecting hard balls while on top of the baseline, to be able to beat a big hitter.
 
S

single_handed_champion

Professional
cc0509 said:
I still believe in Kvitova because she is super talented. I think what is holding her back is all mental and she does not like the fame and pressures associated with being the top player. I hope she can and wants to work it all out because her tennis is sublime when she is playing her best. I think Kvitova is the only one who would be able to give Serena any trouble if Kvitova was playing her very best.
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No, what is holding her back is conditioning. She gets gassed quickly and her asthma is complicated by poor fitness. Not being confident in her fitness, she goes for low-margin shots over and over when she could win a majority of rallies with just 75% paced-shots, they would be good enough anyway.
 
B

berg

New User
Walenty said:
Maria seems on a tear too, it will be interesting if the two meet in the semi's for sure.
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Indeed. The Semis and Finals could prove to be intriguing. Body and mind, I wonder who will show up on those days, even if it's who we expect it to be.
 
D

dafinch

Banned
Walenty said:
She just beat Cibulkova 6-0 6-0 in the final of Sydney, her second straight title of the year. She's 9-0 and hasn't dropped a set in any of her matches.

She drew Li Na in her quarter, who she just beat, and Maria, who she played competitively last year and hasn't had a tune up tourney yet.

Anyone else think she'll make the final?
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Unattractive style, unattractive body language, unattractive player.
 
B

berg

New User
smoledman said:
The time for Aga is now, there is no better moment.
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Sure. Meanwhile, it might be easy to figure someone as dominant as Serena will leave the playground in a couple of years. Too easy maybe. What's nagging me still is Radwanska's serve. Like Roger's, it doesn't need to be huge. A combination of improved placement, which seems under development, and modest mph gain, perhaps.
 
A

Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
I like Agnieszka a lot BUT there are three women on the WTA the who bother her a lot Serena, Vika, and Maria. The good thing for Agnieszka is Serena and Vika are on the opposite side of the draw. Sharapova is playing awesome though she has NOT lost a game in two matches. Li Na is also in Agnieszka's draw so as she continues to progress in her draw the matches are going to get tougher. I wish Agnieszka would get more aggressive she can do it.
 
tennisBIEST

tennisBIEST

Professional
Candide said:
Just saw the replay of her match against Begu. She's by far the most entertaining thing in women's tennis. Her sense of where the other player's weight is going is brilliant. It's lovely to see someone win with feel and strategy over raw power. Can she do it against the amazons at the pointy end of the tournament? It's a big ask but it would be great for the game. Old school fun all the way.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself! This is also why I like watching Bernie Tomic....when he's centered and in shape of course :)
 
B

berg

New User
tennisBIEST said:
Couldn't have said it better myself! This is also why I like watching Bernie Tomic....when he's centered and in shape of course :)
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Well, as Fibak pointed out, Radwanska's climb to the top has a lot to do with her understanding of court geometry. Which, in itself, is subtle commentary on the one-dimensional state of women's power game today. Old school indeed. Exciting? Hell yeah.
 
A

Amelie Mauresmo

Banned
dafinch said:
Oh, just realized I forgot to answer the question posed in the thread title?

No.
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False, Agnieszka Radwanska is an attractive young woman and a great player she plays a smart form of tennis which is based on craft and not power. Some people here are stupid these women are working hard sweating on a tennis court they are athletes. You cannot look glamorous when you are working hard in the hot sun trying to win a tennis match.
 
volleyandfun

volleyandfun

Hall of Fame
cc0509 said:
But Li Na beat Radwanska three times on hc prior to that Sydney win and Li Na has looked pretty good as well.

Re Maria Sharapova, it is true that she did not play a tune-up this year but she did not play one prior to the AO last year from what I recall and she made the final, so who knows. The second half of the draw is a crap shoot.
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Radwanska sucked last year after SW19 in NA on hard courts, she not only lost to Li, she lost to virtually anyone she played back then. Now however, she handled Li and Vinci in straight sets, I can see a difference here, don't you?
 
B

berg

New User
volleyandfun said:
Radwanska sucked last year after SW19 in NA on hard courts, she not only lost to Li, she lost to virtually anyone she played back then. Now however, she handled Li and Vinci in straight sets, I can see a difference here, don't you?
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And let's be honest. If you ever double bageled anyone, not to mention at a tournament final, that takes enormous concentration. A strong mind will serve you well, in the face of any competition.
 
D

dafinch

Banned
Amelie Mauresmo said:
False, Agnieszka Radwanska is an attractive young woman and a great player she plays a smart form of tennis which is based on craft and not power. Some people here are stupid these women are working hard sweating on a tennis court they are athletes. You cannot look glamorous when you are working hard in the hot sun trying to win a tennis match.
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To each his own, I didn't say a single, solitary word about her being unattractive because she's sweating, to me, she'd be unattractive if she was professionally made up, and that's exacerbated by the fact that she often looks like she's in dire need of a BM. Last, but definitely not least, her style puts me to sleep. And, not for nothing, but calling people "stupid" whose opinions differ from your own is, well, stupid.
 
volleyandfun

volleyandfun

Hall of Fame
dafinch said:
Oh, yeah, sorry, I forgot, there is no time limit to edit in this site, on every other site I've ever posted, you must edit within 5 minutes or you can't edit at all. Thus the crude editing method.
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naturally you either forgetting or not seeing many things
 
DRII

DRII

G.O.A.T.
Radwanska has some of the worst stroke production of any of the top players, but probably the best racquet head control...
 
Brian11785

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
DRII said:
Radwanska has some of the worst stroke production of any of the top players, but probably the best racquet head control...
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Those two points are definitely related. Her simple strokes are easily repeatable and not prone to breaking down under pressure.
 
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