When did Serena peak on clay?

What year did Serena peak on clay?

  • Total voters
    10
S

serveandvolley_

Rookie
2002
French Open W: Dropped 2 sets, beat Venus, Capriati, Mary Pierce, Zvonareva
Italian Open W: Dropped 1 set, beat Myskina, Capriati & Henin
German Open F: Lost to Henin
Charleston Open QF: Lost to Patty Schnyder
17-2 (89.5%)

2003
French Open SF: Lost to Henin
Italian Open SF: Lost to Mauresmo
Charleston Open F: Lost to Henin
12-3 (80%)

2013
French Open W: Dropped 1 set
Madrid Open W: Dropped 1 set
Italian Open W: Dropped no sets, didn't lose more than 4 games in any match
Charleston Open W: Dropped no sets
Swedish Open W: Dropped no sets
28-0 (100%)

Close between 2002 and 2013 for me in terms of game, but her individual best match on clay was in the 2003 French Open for me.
 
I think Patrick version of Serena was a better and more complete overall clay player. Although her 2002 level was probably its scariest due to her power and athleticsm at that stage. I do think the later version of Serena would do better vs say Justine Henin on clay though.
 
brystone said:
I think Patrick version of Serena was a better and more complete overall clay player. Although her 2002 level was probably its scariest due to her power and athleticsm at that stage. I do think the later version of Serena would do better vs say Justine Henin on clay though.
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I am still to this day shocked she didn't win the 2003 French Open.

This is hands down the best match she has ever played on clay
 
brystone said:
I think Patrick version of Serena was a better and more complete overall clay player. Although her 2002 level was probably its scariest due to her power and athleticsm at that stage. I do think the later version of Serena would do better vs say Justine Henin on clay though.
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She was brimming with power and athletic prowess in 2002, but in 2013 her game was so clean and coherent.
 
Serena probably peaked too much for Mauresmo considering she had an even tougher opponent coming up next round. Given Mauresmo's psychology in Paris it was unneccessary to pull her A+ game out for that match and it left her missing it when she really needed it (agaisnt Henin).
 
2002-2003. She was in the peak of her fitness and her game looked so much cleaner on clay. 2013 she was good, but 02-03 Serena I think would beat 2013 Serena more often than not
 
brystone said:
Serena probably peaked too much for Mauresmo considering she had an even tougher opponent coming up next round. Given Mauresmo's psychology in Paris it was unneccessary to pull her A+ game out for that match and it left her missing it when she really needed it (agaisnt Henin).
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Apparently Mauresmo had said something rude that year or the year before about the "sister act" and participating in final's (that it isn't good for the sport). Probably why she was so mad.

boredone3456 said:
2002-2003. She was in the peak of her fitness and her game looked so much cleaner on clay. 2013 she was good, but 02-03 Serena I think would beat 2013 Serena more often than not
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Are you sure? I'm pretty sure 2002-2003 Serena committed way more unforced errors than 2012-2013 Serena. For sure her fitness peaked then, and her serve peaked in 12/13, the rest of her game I think was more of the same though.
 
brystone said:
Serena probably peaked too much for Mauresmo considering she had an even tougher opponent coming up next round. Given Mauresmo's psychology in Paris it was unneccessary to pull her A+ game out for that match and it left her missing it when she really needed it (agaisnt Henin).
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She kind of had the lead in this match too until the hand incident.
 
brystone said:
She did, so just imagine had she really peaked for that match rather than wasting it on Mauresmo. It probably wouldnt have been close, other than the 1st set when Henin really played well (she didnt play anywhere near as well in either the 2nd or 3rd set despite winning in the 3rd after the hand).
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True, and to be honest if it wasn't for injuries and loss of desire during 2004-2007, I'm sure she'd be near 30 slams by now.

ausfrewimuso said:
2013 French Open
F: 29 winners, 21 unforced errors
SF: 40 winners, 15 unforced errors

Seeming as the 2002 Final against Venus featured 101 unforced errors, 2013 was probably 'cleaner' @boredone3456 . :)
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Opponents were easier like @boredone3456 , but I do agree she was cleaner in general on clay.
 
serveandvolley_ said:
True, and to be honest if it wasn't for injuries and loss of desire during 2004-2007, I'm sure she'd be near 30 slams by now.



Opponents were easier like @boredone3456 , but I do agree she was cleaner in general on clay.
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It's easier to hit less errors when playing against a generally weaker field. I mean from 2012-2014 Sharapova was like, a clay demon when several years prior no one thought she would ever even win the French. Suddenly she was like, a clay specialist LOL. Serena may have hit less errors, but I dont expect her to hit many against folks like Errani anyway. Also, she shots were smoother to me in 02/03. Her movement was way better, she seemed better in several areas. Her serve was more a crutch in 2013 because after her knee injury her fluidity in movement was slightly less, so she ramped up her serve and return in response to cover it (smartly).

Like, there was a thread about Rafa being at his hard court peak right now because of his level at the AO....which looked amazing because his draw was well...lackluster. Serena is the same thing, yes she is amazing and yes she played well in 2013 BUT I think part of it was the field was generally weaker. I mean if Sharapova was dominating clay a lot of 2012-2014...I fully expect Serena rightfully would have clobbered everyone in her way.
 
boredone3456 said:
It's easier to hit less errors when playing against a generally weaker field. I mean from 2012-2014 Sharapova was like, a clay demon when several years prior no one thought she would ever even win the French. Suddenly she was like, a clay specialist LOL. Serena may have hit less errors, but I dont expect her to hit many against folks like Errani anyway. Also, she shots were smoother to me in 02/03. Her movement was way better, she seemed better in several areas. Her serve was more a crutch in 2013 because after her knee injury her fluidity in movement was slightly less, so she ramped up her serve and return in response to cover it (smartly).

Like, there was a thread about Rafa being at his hard court peak right now because of his level at the AO....which looked amazing because his draw was well...lackluster. Serena is the same thing, yes she is amazing and yes she played well in 2013 BUT I think part of it was the field was generally weaker. I mean if Sharapova was dominating clay a lot of 2012-2014...I fully expect Serena rightfully would have clobbered everyone in her way.
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I think it was smart for her to improve her serve but it was never really that bad to begin with. I think she just worked harder on clay in 2013 following disappointment at the AO, because in comparison her 2012 and 2014 clay seasons were not as good.
 
upchuck said:
She was brimming with power and athletic prowess in 2002, but in 2013 her game was so clean and coherent.
Click to expand...

I think Patrick improved her technically especially adding topspin to her forehand and making the swing a bit more compact but athletically she was at her peak in the early 00s. She was much faster and agile back then.
 
dominikk1985 said:
I think Patrick improved her technically especially adding topspin to her forehand and making the swing a bit more compact but athletically she was at her peak in the early 00s. She was much faster and agile back then.
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Much faster and agile in 02/03 than maybe 2008-2010 and 2015 onwards, but I think she did become a bit faster in 2013 especially, maybe not as fast as 02/03 but close enough.
 
dominikk1985 said:
I think Patrick improved her technically especially adding topspin to her forehand and making the swing a bit more compact but athletically she was at her peak in the early 00s. She was much faster and agile back then.
Click to expand...

I remember them mentioning also that season that they want to work hard on clay, not sure where I heard it though, but it sure did work.
 
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