Sharapova did not pass the 4th Round in 11 of her last 19 slams

[BeGreat]

i just can't stand watching her play, shrieking every stroke AND not winning that many matches. it's unwatchable. i was so impressed with Krunic, one for being so amazing, but also for knocking out Sharapova. i was crossing my fingers for her match against Azarenka. I wished she'd killed off these two screaming monkeys.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

"...and the usual meltdown of Maria's serve in tight spots." LOL. All too true. I's amazing how a player with that rep, who has failed to pass the 4th round in over 70% of the Slams that she has played in for the last 5 years(and it ain't like she had a ton of tough draws all the time), is so widely perceived as being "mentally tough."

I do not think she's mentally weak as in the Zvonereva zone (the sun rises...she cries, the sun sets and there's a flood), but she's no steel-minded court warrior, either. She will dig in during a fight, but that can be betrayed by a defeated look depending on the opponent.

Then, at the moment she is facing defeat, the sour / hostile look comes back--which has nothing to do with being mentally tough.

 

[TheTruth]

The issue with Sharapova is that no one is surprised when she loses early in slams. She lost in the 4th round of 3 slams this year, and so her case is different from Serena's. This year, Bouchard, for example, has been more consistent, reaching at least the semis of all 3 majors and with a good chance to make another one. Bouchard, of course, is yet to win a major.

As for age: well, she is 27. At this age, Na Li didn't win yet any slam, and now she has 2 on 2 different surfaces and 2 more finals. Plus, the problems of Sharapova didn't start after, say, the age of 25, but way before: she didn't do much in 2010 or 2011 even though she was 23 and 24 respectively. Her 2010 GS results: 1R, 3R, 4R & 4R. Her 2011 GS results: 4R, SF, F, 3R. The 2011 results are not bad for some girls, but if you are a player like Sharapova who is always in the news, these results are not good at all.

I also think that since 2007 she started to lose at lot and early: in 2007 lost at the 3R an 4R of W and USO, respectively. In 2008, she lost in the 4R of FO and the 2R of W, before getting that shoulder injury. That year, at least, she won the AO.

BTW, during 2010-14, she met Serena only twice in GS matches (W 2010 & FO 2013) and so the problem is not her H2H with Serena.

That's really interesting. I knew she wasn't burning up the courts, but sometimes hearing all of the commentary you forget what she's actually done in relation to other great top players.

 

[TheTruth]

But thats my point. I am not surprised when any women loses early in the slams with the exception of Serena. And she has lost early in slams as well. To me its great that sharapova can lose early. Hell its interesting to me that Serena can to. Genie has the most consistent results this year in slams but in other tournaments she has been bounced early. I like that. I know people like the mens product more. But hell tons of people like the english premier league when there are like 3 teams who have any chance of winning. I dont think thats enjoyable. I like the NFL where you just dont freaking know who is gonna win.

That's a great post. That's why I like the WTA too. I'm not interested in all out dominance. What's the point in almost being able to accurately predict the outcome of sporting events?

The only thing that makes the ATP enjoyable in spite of, is that the Big Four's play is so excellent that I forgive them and accept the stunning tennis they put on display.

 

[Fed881981]

Updated table-- during 2010-2015:
1. 2 Wins (FO 2012 & 2014)
2. 4 Finals (W 2011, AO 2012, FO 2013 & AO 2015)
3. 4 SFs
4. 8 4th Rounds
5. 2 3rd Rounds
6. 1 2nd round
7. 1 1st round

Total: didn't pass the 4th round in 12/22 of the slams that she has played (missed USO 2013 and will miss USO 2015).

Also, as per usual, she can't win GSs in back to back years.

 

[HewittAlwaysDisappoints]

I find it weird that her best results have come on clay recently because it hides her terrible movement.

Shouldn't she have to do more moving on clay than a faster surface? And on clay, her shots would be slower. It's the total opposite of Federer, whose worst surface is obviously clay as he declines. Perhaps though it's cause she's not quite at that age where she'll do badly on clay (despite starting playing so early at 16).

 

[mtommer]

Her career is quite interesting: it feels that she is "always there", but she loses a lot (to almost any decent player). Maybe we have that feeling because she "makes her voice being heard" each time she steps on the court.

I don't know if this has been said or not but I think that feeling we get is due solely to media coverage. Many other players in her position aren't talked about so they are forgotten in favor of those players that are seen.

 

[britam25]

I don't know if this has been said or not but I think that feeling we get is due solely to media coverage. Many other players in her position aren't talked about so they are forgotten in favor of those players that are seen.

Hmmm, that was a quick year, and, once again, public perception doesn't align with reality. She ain't getting any quicker, nor is that dicey service improving.

 

[Raging Buddha]

Maybe we have that feeling because she "makes her voice being heard" each time she steps on the court.

That much is certainly true.

Can't believe nobody has latched onto this in a year and ~60 posts...

 

[Man of steel]

I find it weird that her best results have come on clay recently because it hides her terrible movement.

Shouldn't she have to do more moving on clay than a faster surface? And on clay, her shots would be slower. It's the total opposite of Federer, whose worst surface is obviously clay as he declines. Perhaps though it's cause she's not quite at that age where she'll do badly on clay (despite starting playing so early at 16).

She improved her movement on clay over the years especially sliding on clay. Plus she has more power than most players and can hit consistently with some patience.

 

[HewittAlwaysDisappoints]

She improved her movement on clay over the years especially sliding on clay. Plus she has more power than most players and can hit consistently with some patience.

She improved her clay movement, but not on other surfaces? Wtf

 

[Man of steel]

She improved her clay movement, but not on other surfaces? Wtf

Yeah as oter surfaces are faster. Notice how sharapova is now only good on slow surfaces.
AO, FO, miami, Indian well.
On faster surface her movements gets exposed by competent good players who can close it out. She hasn't won anything during the Us open series since god knows how long and she hasn't made a Us open final since 06. A wimby final since 2011 where she was destroyed by a player who plays well on fast surfaces.
Pova can hit through clay more than most players and is quick enough to get to most balls since clay is slow.

 

[LETitBE]

why doesnt she try to play with her mouth shut?