Hingis: more of the same

[ohplease]

Yes, she makes women's tennis worth watching again (apart from the Belgians).

Yes, as Todd Martin once said, she's still probably the best tennis player in the world (look at how much freaking time she gives herself between shots! Most times, she's recovered her balance before she's finished her follow through. That's just sick).

And that's all good. Tennis needs a player like her. Now if only Rios would come back. Maybe not their attitudes, but their games? Definitely.

Now, the problem - same as it ever was. Not enough badonk in her donk. Sure there are women, like her, relying on timing (Sharapova, Henin, Venus). But then there are the straight up jocks. The chicks who put some hip into it, like Serena, or Clijsters, or Pierce, or Capriati.

Part of me wishes she'd take a page out of the Agassi/Henin game plan and build up her slight frame,should the jocks decide to start paying attention and/or get healthy. Part of me knows doing that will make her game a little less pure.

Either way, it'll be worth watching.

One more thing - I don't think Hingis is, as Carillo repeatedly described her, a thinker. At all. Wilander thought. Chang thought. Hingis and Rios are simply court sense savants, and man do they make for good TV.

 

[Alexandros]

Agree with everything, especially the last paragraph. Hingis feels rather than analyses, it comes naturally.

 

[superman1]

She said something about this, that she did put on some muscle and could put on more, but wants the right balance so it doesn't impede on her shots and movement. If she gets very strong, she'd be tempted to just power every shot and that would change her game and make her just like everyone else.

 

[nn]

yes she is almost same from where she left but needs more power on serve..something new to beat top 5

 

[Max G.]

Hah. I certainly like Hingis much more than boring bashers, but I'm still going to disagree with the statement that

she's still probably the best tennis player in the world

.

Shot selection and poise are certainly part of playing tennis. However, so is physical strength. There are many ways to PLAY the game. The fact that you like one of the ways (finesse, placement, control) over another (power through strength) does not mean that players who follow one route over the other are "better players."

It seems quite demeaning to claim that power players are doing something other than "playing the game."

 

[armand]

Didn't know that Mary Carillo coined the nickname 'Chucky' for Martina Higgins. Glad to have her back and glad that Mary's still commentating too.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

And that's all good. Tennis needs a player like her. Now if only Rios would come back. Maybe not their attitudes, but their games? Definitely.
One more thing - I don't think Hingis is, as Carillo repeatedly described her, a thinker. At all. Wilander thought. Chang thought. Hingis and Rios are simply court sense savants, and man do they make for good TV.

that would be amazing if Marcelo follows Hingis.... but you're forgeting another awesome player who could perfectly play again and kick some butt.. Pat Rafter!!!!... that would be really sweet to see again.

 

[ohplease]

Hah. I certainly like Hingis much more than boring bashers, but I'm still going to disagree with the statement that .

Shot selection and poise are certainly part of playing tennis. However, so is physical strength. There are many ways to PLAY the game. The fact that you like one of the ways (finesse, placement, control) over another (power through strength) does not mean that players who follow one route over the other are "better players."

It seems quite demeaning to claim that power players are doing something other than "playing the game."

There are lots of ways to skin the same cat, true. However, there are certain things you do in tennis, in particular, that Hingis does better than anyone else. I think that's what Todd Martin was picking up on. I agree. You might not - more power to you.

We can quibble all we want, but I think it's fair to say that tennis is still a game of space and timing instead of raw power - so there's that, too.

 

[treo]

The Hingis serve is still a liability against the big returners. I noticed she switched from a pinpoint to platform stance but it hasn't increased her power. She should study the JHH serve who is able to get more power from a smaller body.

 

[Aonex]

The Hingis serve is still a liability against the big returners. I noticed she switched from a pinpoint to platform stance but it hasn't increased her power. She should study the JHH serve who is able to get more power from a smaller body.

Or she could hit the juice.

 

[araghava]

It was fun watching Hingis play again. It was refreshing to see her take mid court balls and approach the net instead of treating it like an electrified barbed wire fence. She has wonderful technique on the volley. She even tried to serve and volley a few times. Unfortunately she didn't get her 1st serve in on those attempts. But atleast the intent was there.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I think she will need to bulk up, i hope its not the needle i