Radwanska the most intelligent tennis player of all times?

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
Radwanska is My favourite player on the womens side. She is so tactically gifted I have no Words. She is no hard hitter, it seems week, hasnt a Great serve, but the way she plays and her incredible feeling makes her opponents so week, she tactically outmasters them. She is definatly the smartast player on tour Right now, if not of all times. Because she is not the best tennis player when it comes to playing, but its her mind and smartness that gets her wins. So efficent.
 
You haven't seen Brad Gilbert.

Granted, neither have I (except for a few clips), but if his book is anything to go by, he was a master tactician.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
I personality havent seen Those players, so i cant make a clear judgement. But Based on what i have seen of radwanska it is incredible.
 

winstonlim8

Professional
I liked Aggie even before she became a big name. She used to suffer from nerves in the past, though I think her Wimbledon game against Serena gave her the confidence to believe in herself so that she's really playing well now.
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Radwanska is My favourite player on the womens side. She is so tactically gifted I have no Words. She is no hard hitter, it seems week, hasnt a Great serve, but the way she plays and her incredible feeling makes her opponents so week, she tactically outmasters them. She is definatly the smartast player on tour Right now, if not of all times.

Radwanska is fairly average. Her alleged "court intelligence" is overrated, as she simply tries to outlast players (or wait for self destruction)--until the opponent picks apart the limits of her strategy. This was evident in the Wimbledon final of 2012 vs. Serena, and the spectacular beatdown she suffered at the hands of Lisicki at Wimbledon 2013.

because she is not the best tennis player when it comes to playing, but its her mind and smartness that gets her wins. So efficent.

You offered THE relevant point: she's not the best when it comes to playing, and even if she ever managed to win a major, one cannot honestly imagine she will be on the fast track (already at 24 years old) to be one of the threats at all majors going forward.

Strategy--such as it is---is of no value if your tennis can be exploited as often as seen with this player.
 

pug

Semi-Pro
Radwanska is fairly average. Her alleged "court intelligence" is overrated, as she simply tries to outlast players (or wait for self destruction)--until the opponent picks apart the limits of her strategy. This was evident in the Wimbledon final of 2012 vs. Serena, and the spectacular beatdown she suffered at the hands of Lisicki at Wimbledon 2013.



You offered THE relevant point: she's not the best when it comes to playing, and even if she ever managed to win a major, one cannot honestly imagine she will be on the fast track (already at 24 years old) to be one of the threats at all majors going forward.

Strategy--such as it is---is of no value if your tennis can be exploited as often as seen with this player.

Feeling a bit defensive much? Your sad attempt to discredit Aga and her genius only shows your lack of knowledge.
 

mbm0912

Hall of Fame
Feeling a bit defensive much? Your sad attempt to discredit Aga and her genius only shows your lack of knowledge.

He must be a fan of Redfoo..:)

Aga is a great tactician, and was in God Mode last night! I absolutely love her demeanor as well, on and off the court.
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
I'm going to say no, and here's why. No doubt she does have some good tennis intelligence. But, I think people confuse "crafty" and "variety" with "intelligence". Radwaska shows has a lot of pleasing-to-the-eye shots - drop shots, slices, short angles, lobs, volleys, etc. But, in and of themselves, they're just shots. Sometimes she deploys those shots intelligently and she looks like a genius because she's frustrating her opponent, planting doubt in their mind, making them look foolish. It's fun to watch, makes her look a step ahead of her opponent, makes her look "smart." And, if she deploys those shots effectively, it is smart.

That's been true in tennis forever. Whenever a player doesn't win with brute power and athelticism, they're thought of as more intelligent, "smart" players.

But, Radwa doesn't have the overall record in terms of significant wins over top players or Slam titles to earn "most intellingent of all time honors". Hingis, for example, used variety and crafitness to achieve far more. And, seriously, why wouldn't even a generational after-thought like Conchita Martinez with her moonballs, slices, great passing shots, occasional hard shots be considered just as intelligent? Like Hingis, she used her skills to achieve far more than Radwanska (33 titles on all surfaces, a Wimbledon title, 3 Slam finals on 3 different surfaces).

Also, do people ever consider when the craftiness and variety are not working. How intelligent or smart is it to to keep on retrieving from far behind the baseline, throwing in an occasional drop shot (even if it's nice to look at), when you're opponent is having their way with you? How smart is it to never attempt to improve a weak-for-a-top-player serve when so many players is so many big matches have exploited it?

She's a great player, and often is intelligent. But, she has a lot more to achieve before I'd slap a "most intelligent player of all time" tag on her.
 

psYcon

Semi-Pro
Hingis was all Radwanska is and more. I still remember back in 1997 she was tearing apart everyone with her tactical play. Almost won the Calendar slam in 1997
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
I'm going to say no, and here's why. No doubt she does have some good tennis intelligence. But, I think people confuse "crafty" and "variety" with "intelligence". Radwaska shows has a lot of pleasing-to-the-eye shots - drop shots, slices, short angles, lobs, volleys, etc. But, in and of themselves, they're just shots. Sometimes she deploys those shots intelligently and she looks like a genius because she's frustrating her opponent, planting doubt in their mind, making them look foolish. It's fun to watch, makes her look a step ahead of her opponent, makes her look "smart." And, if she deploys those shots effectively, it is smart.

That's been true in tennis forever. Whenever a player doesn't win with brute power and athelticism, they're thought of as more intelligent, "smart" players.

But, Radwa doesn't have the overall record in terms of significant wins over top players or Slam titles to earn "most intellingent of all time honors". Hingis, for example, used variety and crafitness to achieve far more. And, seriously, why wouldn't even a generational after-thought like Conchita Martinez with her moonballs, slices, great passing shots, occasional hard shots be considered just as intelligent? Like Hingis, she used her skills to achieve far more than Radwanska (33 titles on all surfaces, a Wimbledon title, 3 Slam finals on 3 different surfaces).

Also, do people ever consider when the craftiness and variety are not working. How intelligent or smart is it to to keep on retrieving from far behind the baseline, throwing in an occasional drop shot (even if it's nice to look at), when you're opponent is having their way with you? How smart is it to never attempt to improve a weak-for-a-top-player serve when so many players is so many big matches have exploited it?

She's a great player, and often is intelligent. But, she has a lot more to achieve before I'd slap a "most intelligent player of all time" tag on her.

Well there is plenty of players on the womens tour with no power and athletisiscm but they never make any significant results. Radwanska is always atleast in the quarters the past years. Is at a coincidence you think? Dont forget her Grand slam final too. She is there for a reason, not because of her "incredible" shots or serves, its because of her ability to do the right things with the ball, tactically outmaster her opponents and make them insecure and weak.

She is only 24 years old and has done good results Over the years. Past threes years she has made it to the quarter finals, and is now in the semis beating vika on the way. Made it to semis in last years wimbledon and finals the year Before. Also 2008 and 2009 she was in QF. And we cant just look at slams, she also has 11 singles titles.

She is still Young and progressing. Some day she will get the slam, maybe on saturday who knows. But i think she has the potential of winning a couple, definatly.

She is not the best tennis player on tour, but she evens that out with her tactical knowledge and intelligence and that something I think is worth to praise.
 
maybe this is her only chance to win a slam. azarenka out, serena out, sharapova out and cibulkova should be an easy SF.

the winner from bouchard and Li is a tough match but you won't get a slam any easier.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
maybe this is her only chance to win a slam. azarenka out, serena out, sharapova out and cibulkova should be an easy SF.

the winner from bouchard and Li is a tough match but you won't get a slam any easier.

If she won against vika that convincing in her winning sets i think she can win whoever she wants, she has a good chance of winning but cibulkova is in incredible form. Will be an even match.
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
i think she can win whoever she wants

If that is the case, then you contradict yourself with the earlier:

because she is not the best tennis player when it comes to playing

To anyone knowing the history of the sport, one cannot say a player can win against "whoever she wants," but not be the best (or one of the best) players.

Again, if that was the case, her 2012 and 2013 Wimbledon results would have been different.
 

waarp

Rookie
Yeah Aga is the most entertaining female player for me since Hingis. You never know what she's gonna come up with. Just think if she had some more power!
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
If that is the case, then you contradict yourself with the earlier:



To anyone knowing the history of the sport, one cannot say a player can win against "whoever she wants," but not be the best (or one of the best) players.

Again, if that was the case, her 2012 and 2013 Wimbledon results would have been different.

Yes and i stand for what im saying. As i said her genius and smartness on the Court evens it out.

She crushed azarenka 6-1, 6-0 in her winning sets, and vika is the top 2 in the world. How does that not show that she can beat the best?
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Yes and i stand for what im saying. As i said her genius and smartness on the Court evens it out.

She crushed azarenka 6-1, 6-0 in her winning sets, and vika is the top 2 in the world. How does that not show that she can beat the best?

Wimbledon final 2012 illustrates that--with force.

Further, few would call Lisicki the best, so what does it say that Lisicki effectively dismantled Radwanska at the 2013 Wimbledon? That is not ancient history.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
Wimbledon final 2012 illustrates that--with force.

Further, few would call Lisicki the best, so what does it say that Lisicki effectively dismantled Radwanska at the 2013 Wimbledon? That is not ancient history.

What? So how did she make it to the finals then? By winning against top players, isn't it?

Or last years wimbledon when she won against Li Na?


You win, you loose sometimes but dont come and say she cant win against top players because she has done that. As early as yesterday for example.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
I'm not sure about 'all time' but she's definitely up there among the current players in the WTA.The way she completely dismantled Azarenka, the world #2 and 2 time defending champion, a player she has never beaten before, in the quarters of a Slam was quite remarkable. It finally belies the claim that she cannot get past the big guns (don't forget the set she took off an in-form Serena in the final of 2012 Wimbledon too).

She has opened up the draw for herself to finally land her first Slam. She now has another golden opportunity to achieve it after fluffing her chances at last year's Wimbledon as I think she is well capable of beating any of the other remaining 3 players in the draw, even Li Na, although she will clearly be the toughest.

I've always liked her and I'm rooting for her to come through and finally clinch the big one. I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more!
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
I'm not sure about 'all time' but she's definitely up there among the current players in the WTA.The way she completely dismantled Azarenka, the world #2 and 2 time defending champion, a player she has never beaten before, in the quarters of a Slam was quite remarkable. It finally belies the claim that she cannot get past the big guns (don't forget the set she took off an in-form Serena in the final of 2012 Wimbledon too).

She has opened up the draw for herself to finally land her first Slam. She now has another golden opportunity to achieve it after fluffing her chances at last year's Wimbledon as I think she is well capable of beating any of the other remaining 3 players in the draw, even Li Na, although she will clearly be the toughest.

I've always liked her and I'm rooting for her to come through and finally clinch the big one. I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more!

Nooo, according to thundervolley vika apparently is not a top player. The win doesn't count.. Lol

Agree with you, good post. Im rooting for Aga too!
 

Arafel

Professional
This thread is epic fail. Aga is intelligent compared to the current generation of ball bashers, but players in the past were much more intelligent overall. NOBODY has ever matched Chris Evert's ability to tactically exploit all her opponent's weaknesses and win. Some other players from the 70s and 80s who were pretty awesome in that category were Tracy Austin, Billie Jean King, Hana Mandlikova, and even Steffi Graf and Martina. All were far superior to Aga in that category.
 

jones101

Hall of Fame
She is definitely the smartest player on tour Right now, if not of all times.

28612482e.jpg


And I love Aga as much as the next person, but no.
 

RF-18

Talk Tennis Guru
28612482e.jpg


And I love Aga as much as the next person, but no.

Hahah the pic :)

But ok, I may have overexaggerated with the of all Times' thing, but I stand by 100% that she is the smartest in current era.
 
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Pinocchio

New User
Hingis' 'intelligence' is overrated, I think. Didn't work so well after the game got more physical... plus, her dominance was not in a strong era, can you imagine a 16 year old number one right now? Having more success on tour and a greater career overall does not equal more "intelligence".
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
What? So how did she make it to the finals then? By winning against top players, isn't it?

Or last years wimbledon when she won against Li Na?

The essential point YOU introduced was Radwanska defeating top players, but you cannot even have that discussion without the W 2012 final, where she crumbled against THE top player of them all, Serena.

By the way, their H2H is 8-0 in favor of Serena, with four following the W 2012 defeat.

Then, there's the "B" lister like Lisicki, who also delivered a beatdown, so no matter where the player sits on the ladder, Radwanska has suffered at their hands--and it was not all about strength, but strategy.
 

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
These arguments grow tiresome. Particularly when it's the same old self-serving arguments from the same old bitter people about how Player A is better than Player B.

I'm not sure where Radwanska will sit on the all-time great list, but all I know is that she is about the only current player in the WTA who provides me with consistent enjoyment. When you say her craftiness is "overrated" (the most overused word on the Internet), what are you saying? That she really isn't that crafty? Or that her craftiness is not that big of a deal, because she can get hit off the court by a Williams serve? If the former, you should probably get your eyes checked (did you even see the Vika match?). If the latter, then I say "SOWHATWHOCARES?!" I am not a bandwagon fan who wilil only support a player because he or she is "the best." Santoro never won a singles Grand Slam, but he is internationally beloved because of what he brought to the court, not because his winning percentage. There's a reason Slamless Aga has won the WTA Fan Favorite Award three years and counting.
 

jones101

Hall of Fame
Hingis' 'intelligence' is overrated, I think. Didn't work so well after the game got more physical... plus, her dominance was not in a strong era, can you imagine a 16 year old number one right now? Having more success on tour and a greater career overall does not equal more "intelligence".

She was top 10 (top 5) most of her career, and played in an era with Graf, Seles, Sanchez, Martinez, Novota, Venus, Serena,, Lyndsey, Justine, Kim, Pierce, Mauresmo and various others.

This is a hell of a bigger variety and prestige of player than Radwanska is accustomed to. And a deeper talent pool too. Hingis was successful against all of them, and was able to vary her game accordingly.

Hingis peak from 1996-2001 had a better roster of players than Radda's current peak from 2008-2013.

Oh, Im not bashing Aga by the way, she is awesome, and I have been a fan of the little sparrow since the EU Indoor season 07 (RIP that time of year! :(
 

dannythomas

Professional
Hingis' 'intelligence' is overrated, I think. Didn't work so well after the game got more physical... plus, her dominance was not in a strong era, can you imagine a 16 year old number one right now? Having more success on tour and a greater career overall does not equal more "intelligence".

I agree. She wasn't that intelligent in the things she did to lose from a winning position in the French Open 1999 to Graf ( H2H 2-7 to Steffi ) or in her cocaine exploits and she was the first in a number of players who were number 1 ranked because they played more events but stopped winning slams . So yes maybe she was smart to quit at 22 when she couldn't beat the power players because when she came back aged 25 she achieved nothing.
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
I agree. She wasn't that intelligent in the things she did to lose from a winning position in the French Open 1999 to Graf ( H2H 2-7 to Steffi ) or in her cocaine exploits and she was the first in a number of players who were number 1 ranked because they played more events but stopped winning slams . So yes maybe she was smart to quit at 22 when she couldn't beat the power players because when she came back aged 25 she achieved nothing.

As far as the coke, boyfriends, and ex-husband stuff, in all fairness, I think OP was narrowly talking about on-court tennis intelligence, not general, everyday life intelligence.
 

snowwhite

Professional
I don't stand her!!
Last year after her press after Wim SF, she was so angry not because she lost, but because she lost while Serena was already ousted!!
That's why she played fully charged with Azarenka, she couldn't believe that she got rid again of Serena Williams
I mean Grand slam champions won slams without waiting for a chance here or there, they just put a goal to deafeat everyone there no matter who they are
 

chippy17

Semi-Pro
She is great antidote and just about the only women I actually like to watch in today's game.

I will only add that someone said earlier that she is defensive player, I disagree I think she is quite aggressive, esp on return of serves
 

tennis_hack

Banned
Geez, all it takes is for someone to throw in a backhand slice, and everyone thinks they're a genius. On the WTA, at least.
 

Fifth Set

Professional
You haven't seen Brad Gilbert.

Granted, neither have I (except for a few clips), but if his book is anything to go by, he was a master tactician.

+1 I saw him and he was amazing. Same ideas as aga last night but against big strong stars like Becker and edberg.

There were some contemporaries of Gilbert who were pretty bright too, such as Krickstein and Chang.
 

Dan Z

Semi-Pro
She's one of the few woman players I go out of my way to watch - relies on brain rather than brawn and doesnt shriek like most of the other female Nadal wannabes who's only intent is to hit the ball harder than their opponent.
Breath of fresh air.
 
L

Laurie

Guest
I am not a fan of Radwanska but she has a great chance to win the tournament. In fact, this has been a very good Australian Open for the women so far, hopefully we will get some great semifinals and final.

Personally I would love to see Cibulkova go all the way, I love her feisty character.
 

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
Personally I would love to see Cibulkova go all the way, I love her feisty character.

I agree; of all remaining players, she seems to have that genuine fighting spirit, and continues to act fearless. She could have a bright future, and I hope she wins the AO.
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Just because she's surrounded by clowns right now doesn't make her the most intelligent EVER! She put on an absolute tennis clinic against Azarenka yesterday, but come on. There have been plenty just as if not more tennis smart. Just in the last 10 years I'd go with Henin, and Hingis.
 
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