Venus Williams: A Technical Nightmare?

[Andrew.]

After rewatching her match against Lindsay yesterday, I am fully convinced that Venus needs to completely retool her game if she ever wants to return to the top 5. First of all, mentally she just isn't there anymore. The first set she had a mission, and she was on course. Everything was working for her, and she was hitting well. But she started to become very cautious once Lindsay got into the match, and soon the errors started flying. This brings me to my second point, her forehand. The second that match got close, the forehand brokedown. She stopped coming in off of it. It lost all consistency. Then, the second serve. In the second and third set, it was lunch for Lindsay.

Venus could not beat Lindsay on one of Lindsay's worst surfaces, and one where Venus herself shined last year. Plus, this was possibly the best I've seen Venus play since her comeback - she actually kept a positive differential in the third set - and she still lost to Lindsay, who wasn't near her best yesterday.

If she refuses to change, how can she be expected to improve her ranking or results? And soon, her ranking is going to take a big hit.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

This brings me to my second point, her forehand. The second that match got close, the forehand brokedown. She stopped coming in off of it.

Well, I am telling everybody and his/her mother for some time now that she has a hitch on her FH. She gets the racket back early, then waits there, losing continuity, direction and power, before going towards the ball.

Mr. John Yandell of
http://www.tennisplayer.net
fame
doen't agree with me, but then, you can't have everything

 

[Coria]

Yes, her forehand is clearly a liability--particulary under pressure. The hitch has been there for quite a while.

Her serving motion is also flawed.

Also, she's very poor at making adjustments during the course of matches.

Mentally, she's often a basket case.

Overall, Venus will leave the game with a disappointing career for what was projected of her--especially after her '99 and '00 seasons.

 

[RoddickSafin]

What the hell is wrong with taking your racquet back early? All this bs about looping it just leads to unforced errors if your not at least 4.5. I take my racquet striaght back so i dont hit it later. Looping it also causes one to hit with only the arm. aka. venus. Dont loop it sucker.

 

[ragnaROK]

Having a shaky forehand spells disaster if you're a professional. it's a shame she isn't doing better, I'd rather her in the spotlight all the time isntead of Serena, at least Venus is a gracious loser.

 

[gugafanatic]

Yeah her forehand, she just loses momentum and ends up shanking one into the crowd. Her mental game is poor, for a top player.