Why are the top Russian women all headcases

[thalivest]

It seems all the top Russian women of this past decade other than Sharapova are considered headcases. Dementieva has the nickname the demented one and has failed to live up to her regular tournament success in the slams, for example all her wins over Serena and some other top players in regular tournaments but never beats a huge name in a slam. Petrova is one of the biggest headcases ever seen, probably the biggest of all the Russians. Kuznetsova is considered a choker and underperformer vs the big names inspite of winning 2 slams partially by luck (well the U.S Open one especialy). Safina, no comment. Zvonareva is a hard worker who is now maximizing her potential, but used to be a huge headcases out there.

 

[vortex1]

It's not just the Russians. It's entire eastern europe.

 

[TMF]

Russia has more top 20 players on the tour than any other countries. It’s not their fault for having more players at the top and being expose to more losing. If that’s bad, how bad is for countries that doesn’t have any top 20 players, where they don’t have to worry about choking? Unless you want to tell me a player is better off being suck at tennis than doing well, or else she’s a choker.

The Russian has more players at the top, more beautiful and attract most fans. They are the most important players on the tour. Second place would be the US(W sisters), and 3rd place are the Belgians.

 

[thalivest]

The Russian has more players at the top, more beautiful and attract most fans. They are the most important players on the tour.

Keep dreaming. The Williams sisters, love them or hate them, are by far the most important players on tour at the moment.

 

[FiveO]

IMO it is likely a societal or cultural thing. On a level i think its reflective a lack of instinctual free thought. In this case, being told how to perform on all levels including their "confidence".

Almost every one of the Eastern Euro female players appear purely execution based, to a fault. Even when executing well, the "confident air" they display looks forced and artificial as if someone told them how to be and look confident vs. being nurtured to feel it.

When I look in the eyes of any one of them, even when on a roll, I believe one can see that their "confidence" looks faked, based solely on the approval of their supporters in the player's box as their eyes dart back and forth to and from their strings and families in anything but a truly confident looking manner.

5

 

[Pioneer]

Keep dreaming. The Williams sisters, love them or hate them, are by far the most important players on tour at the moment.

No, you keep dreaming. The sisters will never sell as well and be as popular as Masha and Makiri. Back on topic now. I've thought about this a lot. I read an article a while ago about how the russian school of tennis believes that there is one correct and effective way to play tennis. As a result a lot of their players are successful and have very similar technique. But to get there they had very monotonous exercises to repeat over and over again. they couldnt cheat their way into developing funky strokes like roddicks abbreviated serve motion or verdasco's forehand. This makes them prone to failure in matches with a lot of emotion involved. The other reason is that most of them grew up in communism and now when they're rich and famous they're spoilt. I know a lot of russian people who got rich after the fall of communism and a lot of them carried the make-money-and-spend-my-life-spending-it mentality. Maybe it's the same in the WTA

 

[Netspirit]

^ No. Communism was over 20 years ago. Those girls didn't get to see it.

I believe is has something to do with the abundance of Russians in the top 20. People ranked below 20 should be worse headcases, but you never see them on the big stages.

 

[Praetorian]

Is it considered a headcase if you play to your level, and is unable to step up to the next level? In the case of the William sisters, I think it's pretty clear they don't make regular tournaments their absolute priority, however, when the occasion arises, so do they.

I do think there is some validity in Pioneers assessment in that they all do look like they play the same brand of tennis. Maybe as they face the creme of the crop in the slams, their styles are exposed by the different types of players out there?

 

[pound cat]

Headcases..it's the Slavic temperment..volatile, passionate, depressive, perfectionist.. Look at Safin as a classic example in the men's game.

 

[TMF]

Keep dreaming. The Williams sisters, love them or hate them, are by far the most important players on tour at the moment.

How can she be more important when she skip tennis whenever she wants too. And then play the mind game by saying she’ll miss the USO. Most important player would care more about the game, and show up for the fans. She maybe the most important women athlete in the USA, but not in Europe and Asia. Sorry. Winning more slams doesn’t automatically makes you the most important player in the WTA(unless it’s the ATP). Why would fans pay to see Kournikova instead of some players that have won slams during her heyday?

Someone already mentioned the W final rating was low this year. I bet you if Sharapova was in the final, the rating would be very high. She is more popular, and hence, more important.

 

[boredone3456]

Part of it is also they all want to, to some degree, I think want to be the top dog, the alpha female. They all feel so much pressure to be the best from their country and not just another -ova. This, coupled with the fact that after 2004 some people were calling for a Russian Tennis empire on the women's side that has in no way materialized, it all adds up. The media has been on the case of Dementieva, and to a lesser extent Safina and Petrova for a long time. Dementieva has been called the best to not have a slam of the current crop(I am one of the ones who believe this) and all the pressure from the wold around them, I think, makes them tense and paranoid about living up to it. Part of it is also cultural, as has been said, they can be fiery (this is especially seen in both Petrova and Zvonareva), and when anyone's emotions get out of control they can fall apart. I don't think there is only one answer, its a whole combination of things

 

[Clay lover]

Not only russian girls, russian MEN in general are headcases too.

 

[thalivest]

How can she be more important when she skip tennis whenever she wants too. And then play the mind game by saying she’ll miss the USO. Most important player would care more about the game, and show up for the fans. She maybe the most important women athlete in the USA, but not in Europe and Asia. Sorry. Winning more slams doesn’t automatically makes you the most important player in the WTA(unless it’s the ATP). Why would fans pay to see Kournikova instead of some players that have won slams during her heyday?

Someone already mentioned the W final rating was low this year. I bet you if Sharapova was in the final, the rating would be very high. She is more popular, and hence, more important.

Sharapova-Serena would produce better ratings than Serena-Zvonareva no doubt. However Sharapova-Zvonareva would produce even worse ratings than Serena-Zvonareva. And Venus-Serena would produce even better ratings than Serena-Venus. Others have posted the stats before so I am not going to bother doing it again but it has been proven many times over no matter how much you dislike them more people watch the Williams than anyone else. If you think the Russians are that popular or desired look at the TV ratings for the Kuznetsova-Dementieva and Kuznetsova-Safina slam finals, LOL!

And none of the current Russians come anywhere near Kournikova's popularity other than maybe Maria.

 

[jwbarrientos]

It's not just the Russians. It's entire eastern europe.

I was close to say that is the water, but .. .entire eastern Europe is so big to make that conclusion

 

[Grass_for_cows]

It's not just the Russians. It's entire eastern europe.

It's not just Eastern Europe. It's women.

 

[severus]

What this have to do with tennis?

 

[tennisdad65]

... and when the eastern european, russian, chinese ladies start to dominate completely in about 5 years, then we will be talking about how hard they work, and how lazy / spoiled we are in the west

 

[Tanya]

chinese ladies start to dominate completely in about 5 years

In 5 years Li Na will most likely be gone (age 31) and that would leave Zheng who in no way has the game to dominate anything.

 

[Pioneer]

Headcases..it's the Slavic temperment..volatile, passionate, depressive, perfectionist.. Look at Safin as a classic example in the men's game.

Safin is Tatar, he's not Slavic Russian.

 

[Pioneer]

In 5 years Li Na will most likely be gone (age 31) and that would leave Zheng who in no way has the game to dominate anything.

and all the 15-year-old Chinese girls would be 20 and rocking the top100

 

[tennisdad65]

In 5 years Li Na will most likely be gone (age 31) and that would leave Zheng who in no way has the game to dominate anything.

It is not the current chinese/eastern european/russian players. It is the kids from these regions who are now 10-15 yrs that will dominate in the next decade. China barely had anyone in the top 100 till recently. It is only a matter of time..

 

[TMF]

Headcase – "A mentally unbalanced, unpredictable person, especially one who displays aggressive behavior"

Serena is a big headcase. Her semifinal display at the 2009 USO semi fit exact description.

 

[tennisdad65]

Headcase – "A mentally unbalanced, unpredictable person, especially one who displays aggressive behavior"

Serena is a big headcase. Her semifinal display at the 2009 USO semi fit exact description.

so were connors and mac. and they have about 27 majors between the 3 of them. so it pays to be a headcase

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

It seems all the top Russian women of this past decade other than Sharapova are considered headcases. Dementieva has the nickname the demented one and has failed to live up to her regular tournament success in the slams, for example all her wins over Serena and some other top players in regular tournaments but never beats a huge name in a slam. Petrova is one of the biggest headcases ever seen, probably the biggest of all the Russians. Kuznetsova is considered a choker and underperformer vs the big names inspite of winning 2 slams partially by luck (well the U.S Open one especialy). Safina, no comment. Zvonareva is a hard worker who is now maximizing her potential, but used to be a huge headcases out there.

The master scheme to pump this generation as some "revolution" was a failed scheme from day one; if you notice, the majority of this "revolution" were/are populated by some of the most talent/strategy-challenged, psychologcally fragile players ever seen in professional tennis. Add trainer obsession with a highly ignorant baseline game, and the result--only a few slams among the boatload of this specific "revolution"--is not much of a surprise.

So much for the bashing, occasional hair dye, laughable model shots and treating certain Russians as though they were the Second Coming, as we witnessed their collapse at the hands of superior players.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Headcase – "A mentally unbalanced, unpredictable person, especially one who displays aggressive behavior"

Serena is a big headcase. Her semifinal display at the 2009 USO semi fit exact description.

That one incident is not indicative of a recognized, frequent problem which would justify such a comment, and since it is clear you cannot support your fantasy with other evidence, this is nothing more than your typical anti-Serena trolling in a thread about the failed Russian headcases.

 

[WChiang]

That one incident is not indicative of a recognized, frequent problem which would justify such a comment, and since it is clear you cannot support your fantasy with other evidence, this is nothing more than more of your trolling in a thread about the failed Russian headcases.

Serena Williams is far from a "headcase", lol. I do think that she has some anger issues though!

 

[TMF]

That one incident is not indicative of a recognized, frequent problem which would justify such a comment, and since it is clear you cannot support your fantasy with other evidence, this is nothing more than your typical anti-Serena trolling in a thread about the failed Russian headcases.

Serena does show anger when she’s behind in the match. She does show emotional on court and that’s nothing new. When she’s winning it’s all fine, but when things doesn’t go her way, you know what to expect from her. That’s predictable. Keep in mind Serena breaks more racquets than any WTA players.

If that’s not a headcase then I don’t know what it is. Unless you have a different meaning for it.:roll:

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Serena does show anger when she’s behind in the match. She does show emotional on court and that’s nothing new.

By this criteria, just about every player in history falls under your blanket "headcase" comment. Moreover, you incessantly cite one moment SW displayed some allegedly over the top behavior, when that is not indicative of a constant problem with her--hence the complete lack of supporting evidence for your blanket comment.

...and Serena Williams is not the topic. The Russian headcases are.

 

[TMF]

By this criteria, just about every player in history falls under your blanket "headcase" comment. Moreover, you incessantly cite one moment SW displayed some allegedly over the top behavior, when that is not indicative of a constant problem with her--hence the complete lack of supporting evidence for your blanket comment.

...and Serena Williams is not the topic. The Russian headcases are.

So? It’s not worth to open another new thread about Serena being a headcase. We’ll just add any players that fit the description in here.

As for the OP stating Dementieva is a headcase. When and how many times you see Elena smashes her racquet to pieces while losing? Or arguing with the umpire just b/c the call didn’t went her way?

I can agree with Safina. Yes, she’s too emotional(like his brother) and loses control that hurts her chance. Same with Serena...there are time she’s too emotional and that’s her weakness. Even Serena admitted that she needs to control her temper.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

So? It’s not worth to open another new thread about Serena being a headcase. We’ll just add any players that fit the description in here.

So, you admit to derailing threads with completely inapplicable subjects and trolling.

Yes, you finally own up to your well-known reputation.

As for the OP stating Dementieva is a headcase. When and how many times you see Elena smashes her racquet to pieces while losing? Or arguing with the umpire just b/c the call didn’t went her way?

She's psychologicaly fragile, seems to love failure and has fits of banshee-like screeching when frustrated, loses a point...you name it. Long ago, she earned the "Demented" nickname for a reason which remains true to this day.

I can agree with Safina. Yes, she’s too emotional(like his brother) and loses control that hurts her chance. Same with Serena...there are time she’s too emotional and that’s her weakness. Even Serena admitted that she needs to control her temper.

Yet aside from one minor incident--the only one you refer to--you cannot provide any evidence of SW displaying any behavior which would be considered habitual--the very standard used to determine the "headcase" status of the Russians.

 

[single_handed_champion]

The master scheme to pump this generation as some "revolution" was a failed scheme from day one; if you notice, the majority of this "revolution" were/are populated by some of the most talent/strategy-challenged, psychologcally fragile players ever seen in professional tennis. Add trainer obsession with a highly ignorant baseline game, and the result--only a few slams among the boatload of this specific "revolution"--is not much of a surprise.

So much for the bashing, occasional hair dye, laughable model shots and treating certain Russians as though they were the Second Coming, as we witnessed their collapse at the hands of superior players.

Very entertaining post, at least for the bombastic BS. Yeah, right, the non-Russian top players are just strategic geniuses, with mind-boggling variety and keen court sense...:roll:. So if you think Dementieva=Safina=Kuznetsova=Sharapova, good for you.

The 'headcase' thing has been hyped up because Sharapova has always been mentally strong, so the others not quite matching her in that department has doomed them to being dubbed mental midgets. I agree they can do better in that department, but they have worked very hard and given themselves opportunities to play for the biggest prizes.

 

[vortex1]

Serena isn't a headcase, she's downright psychotic.

 

[Roy125]

I never regarded Serena's temper to be a weakness of hers (except when you get point penalties for it lol). I think that she's one of the players that plays better when she's mad.

 

[Pioneer]

The master scheme to pump this generation as some "revolution" was a failed scheme from day one; if you notice, the majority of this "revolution" were/are populated by some of the most talent/strategy-challenged, psychologcally fragile players ever seen in professional tennis. Add trainer obsession with a highly ignorant baseline game, and the result--only a few slams among the boatload of this specific "revolution"--is not much of a surprise.

So much for the bashing, occasional hair dye, laughable model shots and treating certain Russians as though they were the Second Coming, as we witnessed their collapse at the hands of superior players.

The PT57a hasn't won many slams too, but people still consider it a good racquet because so many top players use it
The Russian girls didn't win that many slams too but they're a force to be reckoned with because there are so many of them at the top.

 

[lawrence]

lol you mean the whole WTA?

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Yeah, right, the non-Russian top players are just strategic geniuses, with mind-boggling variety and keen court sense

Hey, Captain Alternate Account--the thread is about the top Russian women, so your attempt to shift the focus to non-Russians will not work.

The 'headcase' thing has been hyped up because Sharapova has always been mentally strong, so the others not quite matching her in that department has doomed them to being dubbed mental midgets. I agree they can do better in that department, but they have worked very hard and given themselves opportunities to play for the biggest prizes.

Bottom line: they have not lived up to the repeated hype from the sports media and certain types of fans to this day. For such a so-called "revolution," where the players' alleged "great" skill was celebrated as though a take-over was assured, their slam results (that means winning) are shocking when you add up the actual slam victories for this "revolution."

 

[TMF]

Bottom line: they have not lived up to the repeated hype from the sports media and certain types of fans to this day. For such a so-called "revolution," where the players' alleged "great" skill was celebrated as though a take-over was assured, their slam results (that means winning) are shocking when you add up the actual slam victories for this "revolution."

Bottom line is there are more Russian players in the top 20 than any other countries. They have more impact in tennis than any other countries at this moment. They are ahead and to bash them is only making it worse for the other countries. LOL

If the WS retire now, not much will be lost or even fans(atleast in Europe/Asia) will hardly notice.

 

[darthpwner]

Safin is Tatar, he's not Slavic Russian.

No wonder Safina looks kind of Asian. Mongolian blood.

 

[single_handed_champion]

Hey, Captain Alternate Account--the thread is about the top Russian women, so your attempt to shift the focus to non-Russians will not work.

:lol: good one, talk about shifting focus (potshots, anyone?). By the way, I am still waiting for the mods to ban me, something you have been promising me for a while now. Don't fail me, will ya?

Anyway, in case you still care about the original question, I was pointing out that criticizing the Russians for their mindless baseline games rings hollow simply because there is no counterpoint to that kind of game (even at the top ) anyway.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Bottom line is there are more Russian players in the top 20 than any other countries. They have more impact in tennis than any other countries at this moment. They are ahead and to bash them is only making it worse for the other countries.

Ahead in what? Proving how overrated they were? Yes, that is exactly what they are proving, since skewed fans and certain sports media heads were predicting this "revolution" would dominate the slams--a complete takeover, yet in all of their years, this collective "revolution" has produced how many slam victories over the past decade? Hmm?

Yeah, I thought so.

If the WS retire now, not much will be lost or even fans(atleast in Europe/Asia) will hardly notice.

...said the girl wholly ignorant of the global fanbase.

...and once again, this is not about your Williams sisters obsession. This thread is about the Russian headcases.

 

[TMF]

Ahead in what? Proving how overrated they were? Yes, that is exactly what they are proving, since skewed fans and certain sports media heads were predicting this "revolution" would dominate the slams--a complete takeover, yet in all of their years, this collective "revolution" has produced how many slam victories over the past decade? Hmm?

Yeah, I thought so.




...said the girl wholly ignorant of the global fanbase.

...and once again, this is not about your Williams sisters obsession. This thread is about the Russian headcases.

Blah blah blah.

The Russian players are more desirable than your Serena. Just b/c she won more slam doesn’t mean squat…Maria is a lot more popular than her(and remember Kournikova). And besides, the W final rating this year was so low in the US, even with American player(Serena) doesn’t even help. LOL. And don’t tell me it’s b/c of Zvonareva, if Serena is soooo popular, then the rating should be high. Sharapova in the W final… it would make a world of difference !

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Blah blah blah.

Translation: you are incapable of addressing..

Ahead in what? Proving how overrated they were? Yes, that is exactly what they are proving, since skewed fans and certain sports media heads were predicting this "revolution" would dominate the slams--a complete takeover, yet in all of their years, this collective "revolution" has produced how many slam victories over the past decade? Hmm?

Yeah, I thought so.

.....said the girl wholly ignorant of the global fanbase.

...moving on to the rest of your nonsense:

The Russian players are more desirable than your Serena. Just b/c she won more slam doesn’t mean squat…Maria is a lot more popular than her(and remember Kournikova).

Notice how you first try to make a blanket statement about "The Russian players," then quickly dump the rest to focus on one current player. Speaks volumes. Among the telling part is the fact that your quick shift to MS means you cannot realistically sell the rest of the Russians as any sort of a media draw, or players who command top dollar in the ancillary market. After all, only a fool would even think to compare the decade + long global popularity of the Williams sisters to Kuzzy, Dementieva and the rest of their failed ilk.

So once again, you cannot support your pro-Russian platform to any degree, as one person does not make the entire "revolution," little chick.

 

[TMF]

Notice how you first try to make a blanket statement about "The Russian players," then quickly dump the rest to focus on one current player. Speaks volumes. Among the telling part is the fact that your quick shift to MS means you cannot realistically sell the rest of the Russians as any sort of a media draw, or players who command top dollar in the ancillary market. After all, only a fool would even think to compare the decade + long global popularity of the Williams sisters to Kuzzy, Dementieva and the rest of their failed ilk.

So once again, you cannot support your pro-Russian platform to any degree, as one person does not make the entire "revolution," little chick.

Sharapova >>>>>>>>>> Serena. Happy now ?

Serena is a trouble makers, she has a personality problem and only a fool like you would believe fans adore her. She can’t even compete with Maria in the United States, let alone in Europe or Asia. don’t forget Maria is 5 years younger than Serena. Maria can only get more popular while Serena will still be out looking for trouble at the players, umpire, line judge, and even the tournament directors. Stop being so blind !

 

[thalivest]

I am sure Maria would rather have 13 slam singles titles and a non Calender Slam. Sadly for her her limited skills and talents will never come close to approaching such heights.

To her credit she is the only top Russian who isnt a headcase and makes full use of her limited arsenal and tactically devoid game, which explains how while she will never be a Serena, Henin, or Venus, she still has more slams than all the other current elite Russians combined.

 

[TMF]

I am sure Maria would rather have 13 slam singles titles and a non Calender Slam. Sadly for her her limited skills and talents will never come close to approaching such heights.

To her credit she is the only top Russian who isnt a headcase and makes full use of her limited arsenal and tactically devoid game, which explains how while she will never be a Serena, Henin, or Venus, she still has more slams than all the other current elite Russians combined.

If you just talk about the GS only, then I agree, anyone would rather have 13 Gs. But if include everything else...good looks, money, sex appeal, public images, career, life in general, Maria is far more desire than Serena. If there’s a choice to be between one of those player, most kids would pick Maria in a heartbeat. You think Kournikova is losing sleep at night just b/c she never won a slam? Yeah right.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

I am sure Maria would rather have 13 slam singles titles and a non Calender Slam. Sadly for her her limited skills and talents will never come close to approaching such heights.

True.

while she will never be a Serena, Henin, or Venus, she still has more slams than all the other current elite Russians combined.

...and that glaring lack of slams from a "revolution" sold as the Second Coming in professional tennis is the reason this "revoultion" was a ill-conceived, doomed to fail experiment at best.

 

[Pioneer]

It's not about the individual players. It's about the "Russian School of Tennis". I'm sorry but the American school of tennis isn't producing any super players. Connors, Agassi, Sampras, Chang, Courier, etc. dominated the game for a while in the 90s because they brought some new things to the game - the powerful first serves, the kick serves, the all-court game, the power game, the incredible fitness, etc.

The Russian school of tennis took all the improvements - the 2handed backhand, the semi-western forehand, the pinpoint stance serve, the power baseline game. This produced some incredible players but most importantly - it produced A LOT of top players.

The Spaniards took the clay court game and combined it with the improvements to produce even more top players.

So when all is said and done, Venus might be more successful than Maria and Pete might be more successful than Carlos... but there are more Marias than Venuses and more Carloses than Petes in the top100 so the Russian school of tennis is more successful than the others at the moment.

 

[Pioneer]

thundervolley has seen SALT one too many times

 

[Pioneer]

True.



...and that glaring lack of slams from a "revolution" sold as the Second Coming in professional tennis is the reason this "revoultion" was a ill-conceived, doomed to fail experiment at best.

Dude...

this is ridiculous...

"Most women of this nationality in the WTA Top 20" - this doesn't sound like FAIL to me!

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Dude...

this is ridiculous...

"Most women of this nationality in the WTA Top 20" - this doesn't sound like FAIL to me!

Holding a ranking is not the ultimate goal in pro tennis. Winning slams is, so this "revolution" is a failed one when the majority have not justified the thoughtless hype cheering their "destiny" as the dominant slam winners of their generation.