At almost 27, Serena Williams is past her prime

[Connors]

It's amazing how her game has regressed. She should be so much better. But, she's too fat and bulky.

She was better at ages 20 and 21 than she is now. That's ridiculous. She should have developed such better and more fluid strokes. Her finesse shots should have improved, her ability to create angles, etc.

She's really underperformed and hasn't even come close to reaching her potential in the last five years. It's sad to watch her being slower and less agile now, with no improved shotmaking skills. Kind of pathetic actually, considering she could have been one of the top three players of all time

And no disrespect intended, why hasn't she gotten some liposuction for her large backside (that's a lot of fat there--some muscle but a lot of fat) and a slight breast reduction? It would help her movement and take less stress off her gimpy knees.

 

[NADALwonWIMBLEDONagain]

Venus is becoming far greater than Serena. Venus has that incredible reach and athleticism which makes Serena look slow and constricted. Venus could win quite a few more Wimbledons and given the state of women's tennis she could win some more US Opens too.

 

[Chopin]

She's won all the slams at least once, and four slams in the last five years, seems pretty good, no? 8 total slams.

This slimy thread, proposing a "breast reduction" to help her knee, is exactly what's wrong these boards. Pathetic.

 

[LDVTennis]

Serena never had the ideal body type for a tennis player.

It is therefore not surprising at all that at age 27 she's not as good of a tennis player as she was in her early 20's.

 

[superstition]

Her play in this final didn't show much weakness, and her entire tournament went by without the loss of a set (the fourth time she's done that).

Garrison overcame #1 Graf and #3 Monica Seles in the semis and quarters, respectively.

Martina had a first serve percentage of 77% and took the opener 6-4.

The 2nd set saw Navratilova finally break Garrison on the fifth break point of a seven-deuce game to go up 2-1, and she never looked back as she breezed to a 6-1 final set triumph. She committed just nine unforced errors in the match.

Navratilova amazes us at age 33 much the same way Nolan Ryan has by pitching a no-hitter at age 43. No matter the age, she is still at the top of her game.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

It's amazing how her game has regressed. She should be so much better. But, she's too fat and bulky.

She was better at ages 20 and 21 than she is now. That's ridiculous. She should have developed such better and more fluid strokes. Her finesse shots should have improved, her ability to create angles, etc.

She's really underperformed and hasn't even come close to reaching her potential in the last five years. It's sad to watch her being slower and less agile now, with no improved shotmaking skills. Kind of pathetic actually, considering she could have been one of the top three players of all time

And no disrespect intended, why hasn't she gotten some liposuction for her large backside (that's a lot of fat there--some muscle but a lot of fat) and a slight breast reduction? It would help her movement and take less stress off her gimpy knees.

She did have numerous knee injuries and surguries. For her to still return and be playing at a top 10 level is great, no? I mean, most women are done by 21, save for the greats, King, Navratilova, Graf, Evert, and she's still top 10, injuries and all. And yet you criticize her for not being at her peak. OK, but to say she's out of shape is just ridiculous.

 

[GuyClinch]

Serena's body type is great for tennis. She just needs to watch her diet better. She is athletic enough that she can get away with it on the women's side. A man who let himself go like that would be abused..

J Cap and Lindsay could do the same thing to a lessor extent. Most of the women waste their talent.

 

[superstition]

Most of the women waste their talent.

Women are designed to have a much higher body fat percentage than men. There are a lot of factors that make comparing male and female tennis players, as groups, challenging.

Anyone who even gets to a slam semi isn't guilty of wasting talent, in my book. There are a lot more people in the world who have talent that's never realized, and most of the time it's not their fault. If someone is born into a poor rural family, how is that kid ever going to become a tennis pro?

 

[boredone3456]

Serena's body type is great for tennis. She just needs to watch her diet better. She is athletic enough that she can get away with it on the women's side. A man who let himself go like that would be abused..

J Cap and Lindsay could do the same thing to a lessor extent. Most of the women waste their talent.

I agree...Serena has muscle mass, but you have to admit she has gained weight. Looking at her from 2000-2003 and then now she is obviously not in the same shape as she was then. But that being said her power and angles are still great when she is playing fluidly...which doesn't always happen anymore. Part of that is due to the various knee injuries she has suffered, and part is due to rushed rehabing and poor work getting back in shape.

I think Serena in the past has pushed herself to hard to fast after injuries and will thus reagrivate old ones....predominantly her knee. Serena at her best was fierce and phenominal...but in the grueling tennis world, after 25 if you have been around for like....8 or 9 years your body is banged up. I have harped on Serena for all of her outside interests and them distracting her from healing and doing appropriate rehabiliation to limit her reinjuring and then rushing back into tennis.

I would not say Serena is past her prime...just out of shape and needing to rehone her skills. She has shown she can still produce 2002-03 form at times, and its just putting in the effort to keep that form now that she needs to regain top spot.

 

[janipyt05]

It's amazing how her game has regressed. She should be so much better. But, she's too fat and bulky.

She was better at ages 20 and 21 than she is now. That's ridiculous. She should have developed such better and more fluid strokes. Her finesse shots should have improved, her ability to create angles, etc.

She's really underperformed and hasn't even come close to reaching her potential in the last five years. It's sad to watch her being slower and less agile now, with no improved shotmaking skills. Kind of pathetic actually, considering she could have been one of the top three players of all time

And no disrespect intended, why hasn't she gotten some liposuction for her large backside (that's a lot of fat there--some muscle but a lot of fat) and a slight breast reduction? It would help her movement and take less stress off her gimpy knees.

So many players are better when they are younger, name one player who was not better in their prime. Serena still set the bar, far stronger, far faster and no one right now can touch that, yes they lack consistency but at least they are well decorated and have nothing left to prove they play because they love to compete want to still win the major tournaments. Why does she have to be cookie cutter and go according to what you think or anyone else, point is she gets the job done?

Shot should have improved have you been watching Serena play this year, Venus at Wimbledon in fact both of them at Wimbledon, Serena winning Miami, Charleston, Bangalore, have you seen both sisters play at the Us Open, you can' then post this rubbish, in fact what you have posted is so old and out dated.

What potential what the non calendar slam, grand slam in doubles, 2 gold’s in double, slams in mixed endless tier 1 titles not proof enough that she still has what it takes for you. Oh and this same fat girl is WORLD NUMBER 3 how about thoses appels

Man black women got hips, and thighs and breasts its called having shape from these shapeless flat ass chicks that want to try and be sexy by getting the lips fattened and breast fake. Whether Serena actually gets power that shape is not going anywhere, don’t hate what you can’t have.

 

[LDVTennis]

Women are designed to have a much higher body fat percentage than men. There are a lot of factors that make comparing male and female tennis players, as groups, challenging.

While that may be true, it doesn't excuse the fact that Serena's body does not have the ideal proportions for the game of tennis.

It may be acceptable given the current standards in the women's game. But that body is by no means the best we've seen or the best we can expect.

Look at Steffi Graf's body. That's as perfect as it gets. At 30 years old in 1999, Steffi's last year on tour, Steffi still looked as fit as she was at 19 and 26.

 

[LDVTennis]

So many players are better when they are younger, name one player who was not better in their prime. Serena still set the bar, far stronger, far faster and no one right now can touch that, yes they lack consistency but at least they are well decorated and have nothing left to prove they play because they love to compete want to still win the major tournaments.

Steffi Graf reached her first peak in 1988 (the year of her golden slam). She was 18-19 years old.

In 1996, Steffi reached her second peak. That year she won 3 out of 4 majors. She did not play in the AO.

Here are clips from both periods.

1988 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOu7I2fRdu4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cexkf-I1Pg

1996 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3Z7wlwiYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trn0vmk6Cxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX289TTl0Uo

In 1996, she is a better athlete and tennis player than she was in 1988. According to Steffi herself, 1996 was her peak year.

Compare Serena's movement and form in 2008 to Steffi's in 1996. How good does Serena look now?

 

[rolandg]

Does it matter? She realises there is more to life than hitting a ball over a net. That's something to be admired, not criticised.

 

[coloskier]

It's amazing how her game has regressed. She should be so much better. But, she's too fat and bulky.

She was better at ages 20 and 21 than she is now. That's ridiculous. She should have developed such better and more fluid strokes. Her finesse shots should have improved, her ability to create angles, etc.

She's really underperformed and hasn't even come close to reaching her potential in the last five years. It's sad to watch her being slower and less agile now, with no improved shotmaking skills. Kind of pathetic actually, considering she could have been one of the top three players of all time

And no disrespect intended, why hasn't she gotten some liposuction for her large backside (that's a lot of fat there--some muscle but a lot of fat) and a slight breast reduction? It would help her movement and take less stress off her gimpy knees.

If that is true, then it means that everyone in the WTA is past their primes, since I doubt no one can beat either of the Williams sisters right now. Doesn't say much for the WTA, does it?

 

[quest01]

I don't think Serena is past her prime yet. Once she passes 30 then she would be considered over the hill in professional tennis standards but at this point she is still at the top of her game. I realize male pro's generally have a higher Tennis expectancy then female's but Serena could compete at a high level well into her 30's if she chooses to commit herself.

 

[vitasGremembered]

Who are you to criticize someone else's physique? She is working with what she was born with. Liposuction? That's unnatural. Serena has done a fabulous job of maximizing her life, she's happy and content, in the long run, that's more important than getting your approval.

 

[samprasbackhand]

Even if she's past her prime, she's still better than 97% of the other players on tour

 

[grafrules]

Steffi Graf reached her first peak in 1988 (the year of her golden slam). She was 18-19 years old.

In 1996, Steffi reached her second peak. That year she won 3 out of 4 majors. She did not play in the AO.

Here are clips from both periods.

1988 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOu7I2fRdu4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cexkf-I1Pg

1996 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3Z7wlwiYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trn0vmk6Cxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX289TTl0Uo

In 1996, she is a better athlete and tennis player than she was in 1988. According to Steffi herself, 1996 was her peak year.

Compare Serena's movement and form in 2008 to Steffi's in 1996. How good does Serena look now?

Graf of 1996 would absolutely destroy Serena of 2008. It wouldnt even be a match. Seles, Sanchez Vicario, even Novotna of 1996 would all beat Serena of 2008 without much problem. Serena of 2002 could give Graf of 1996 a good match, but then again that is how Graf played for 10 or 11 years, how Serena could only keep up for 2 years.

 

[grafrules]

Even if she's past her prime, she's still better than 97% of the other players on tour

Which says everything about the current field of womens tennis, by far the worst in history, then it does about Serena.

 

[r2473]

She's won all the slams at least once, and four slams in the last five years, seems pretty good, no? 8 total slams.

This slimy thread, proposing a "breast reduction" to help her knee, is exactly what's wrong these boards. Pathetic.

1) Your response references tennis and tennis accomplishments.

2) This board has nothing to do with tennis or tennis accomplishments.

Therefore:

3) Your response is irrelevant.

 

[janipyt05]

Steffi Graf reached her first peak in 1988 (the year of her golden slam). She was 18-19 years old.

In 1996, Steffi reached her second peak. That year she won 3 out of 4 majors. She did not play in the AO.

In 1996, she is a better athlete and tennis player than she was in 1988. According to Steffi herself, 1996 was her peak year.

Compare Serena's movement and form in 2008 to Steffi's in 1996. How good does Serena look now?

I'm sorry but Serena may at the aus open not have moved great but she won the title, this year alone Serena has moved better, maybe not as great as when she was younger but she gets around the court just fine, you don't see her gasping gobs of air,at 26 she is winning titles and is number 3 with a chance to gain the number 1 spot don't try tell me she's not moving right then how the hell does she get to quarters semi's and or win titles. She plays the big game better than most out there, you can't say Ivanovic is a better player than serena, or sharapova, or jankovic.

I'm happy for Steffi to have had second wind but i'm about fed if people not giving props where it should be dew, Serena last night moved around that court and got to balls that not many would get to, so what is everyones problem with taking down a game that is still standing

 

[tennis-hero]

the only thing left good in the WTA is the williams sisters

henin is gone

everyone else is a joke, save safina who needs to get better, but at least has promise

ivanovic is a pretty stupid moron who just isn't in the same league as the former greats

sharapova whom i personally despise for no other reason then the fact she had so much talent at 17 and then decided to cheat a few GS's- i hate cheats....

wta without the williams sisters wouldn't be worth watching at all, unless you have a fetish for big girls

 

[thalivest]

the only thing left good in the WTA is the williams sisters

henin is gone

everyone else is a joke, save safina who needs to get better, but at least has promise

ivanovic is a pretty stupid moron who just isn't in the same league as the former greats

sharapova whom i personally despise for no other reason then the fact she had so much talent at 17 and then decided to cheat a few GS's- i hate cheats....

wta without the williams sisters wouldn't be worth watching at all, unless you have a fetish for big girls

Womens tennis isnt worth watching even with the sisters, in fact they only contribute to its current pitiful state at the moment, not help it. The only time I would waste watching either of them is waiting for it to finish so I can see a mens match. It would be a Williams follower who is most likely to have a fetish for big girls. Fat assed Serena is an even bigger girl then the other huge blimpish girls out there, and it looks even worse on an 8-time grand slam champion and shows everyone what a pitiful time is it for the womens game. If what they bring to the table is a disgraceful staged match like last night they add nothing positive to the already lame womens game.

 

[daddy]

Shes in semis so better run off and tell her that before she takes another smal and shuts down your theory for good ..

 

[Coria]

She's won all the slams at least once, and four slams in the last five years, seems pretty good, no? 8 total slams.



NO, she's won TWO slams in the last five years.