US OPEN 2015: Women who beat Williams say belief important

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

http://news.yahoo.com/us-open-2015-women-beat-williams-belief-important-213506145.html

Highlights:

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Kvitova:

"If you want to beat her," two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said, "you have to believe that you can."

"If you see her on the other side of the net, you know you have to play great to beat her," Kvitova said. "Even if she is not playing well, we've seen her come back. Opponents know it's not (over), even if you are leading."

Eleven of Williams' 48 victories this season came despite dropping the opening set.

As for what general advice she would give someone facing Williams, Kvitova laughed and responded: "I'm going to keep it to myself." Then Kvitova, who could meet Williams only in the U.S. Open final, offered this tidbit: "Try to play aggressively against her serve."

Bencic:

Against Bencic, for example, Williams put in only 50 percent of first serves and double-faulted 12 times.

"Obviously she wasn't serving as great as she normally does," acknowledged Bencic, who could face Williams in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Stosur:

And yet, when the stage is biggest and spotlight the brightest — in other words, at Grand Slam tournaments, particularly in the latter rounds — Williams plays her best.

She has won the last four major championships overall, and the past three U.S. Opens.

"She might have a bit of a shock loss here and there," said Sam Stosur, the last woman to beat Williams at Flushing Meadows, in the 2011 final, "but when she needs to turn it on, she can absolutely do that."

If Kvitova focuses on her returns against Williams, Stosur points to her own serve.

"If I do A, B and C well, then I've got a chance," the 22nd-seeded Stosur said. "I feel like she doesn't like handling my kick serve."

What else helps?

"Some points in matches are bigger than others," Stosur said, "and in those moments, you have to back yourself to go after it, because you know for sure that she will."

Cornet probably offered the most interesting opinion:

Williams' most recent Grand Slam loss came in June 2014, against Cornet in Wimbledon's third round. This is what Cornet said afterward: "When she plays someone who finds the right tactics, she looks a bit lost on the court. In my opinion, there are more and more players understanding how to play her."

Interesting that Cornet confirms what Watson, Keys and Muguruza certainly proved this year. It is a dangerous field, to be certain.

 

[tennisaddict]

The field is really dangerous. Serena has lost whopping 2 matches already this season ?

 

[bjsnider]

"Women who are alive say breathing important".

 

[Inanimate_object]

Sharapova should weigh in on this.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Sharapova should weigh in on this.

I'm sure she's faced the question, but she's likely tired of the same old, same old, considering her record. In fact, with that record hanging over her head, she would see the question as bait, and she's not falling for that.