Why do these ladies choke against Serena?

C

Connors

Banned
I give Serena props for being the "fighter" and competitor she is. She has done this a lot in her life--coming back from the brink of defeat. If Venus had her mental strength, she'd have about 10-12 major victories right now.

With that being said, how many times do we watch the Dementieva's, the Henin's, the Kutzenova's, the Jancovic's, Sharapova's and others flat out choke against Serena? It's like they get mentally bullied and intimidated by Serena's energy and fight. Kutzenova is a choke artist, like Dementieva and like Jankovic. They choke against Serena as much as Serena "beats" them.
 
Bhagi Katbamna

Bhagi Katbamna

Legend
Because they're barely out of their teenage years. One thing I have noticed is that on important points, Serena doesn't swing wildly and make crazy unforced errors.
 
B

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Serena has knack for playing well when it matters most, even if overall, she isn't playing very well.

Nonetheless, these are top players who are wilting against her, so there's really no excuse.

I know Serena is a 9-time Slam champ and has a big game that can intimdiate people, but if you are a Slam champ yourself and are up a set and 5-3, you really should be able to close out the match.

I'm really interested to see Serena-Dementieva semi. On form, Dementieva should win, especially considering that she has beaten Serena the last 3 times they've played. But, Dementieva tends to get tight in the biggest matches and Serena rises to the occasion. The Olympics are really the first time Dementieva stepped up and was able to finish a big tournament. Can she do it again?
 
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C

Connors

Banned
No, she can't. She choked again.

Serena is not playing that great. These ladies choke against her.

Guess who would come out on top of streetfight brawl between Serena and any of these mentally weak women? I'd give Serena the edge by about 100-1. As much as I don't like Serena's personality, I give her tremendous respect. She's a WINNER and tough as nails. She blows these patsies away with her fight and determination. There's not one woman on the tour who comes up big under pressure anywhere near what Serena does. That's a credit to her but also a criticism of the other ladies. I thought Safina has some mental strength but she wilted at the U.S. Open. Maybe tomorrow she'll step up, but I doubt it.

Where are the Evert's, the Graf's, the Seles', the Sanchez-Vicario's in terms of mental strength??? It's not there with these women today, that's for sure.

What is up with with these Russian/Serbian and other women gagging in majors? Elena proved yet again she does not have the mental fortitude to be a real champion. How many times can this woman come up small in the biggest of big matches?? She's a better player than Serena off the ground but her serve breaks down, her movement breaks down, her strategy breaks down--everything. Just like choking Kutzenova. Normally, russian athletes have excellent mental skills. We've seen it at the Olympics especially. We've seen it with the great Russian hockey players.

But these women are a joke with the way they don't improve mentally in their careers. Dementieva has been at this for how long??? 10 years or so?? No majors and at least 8-10 poor performances in grand slam semis and finals. Unbelievable. Now, I can't wait to see Safina choke, like she did at the U.S. Open. None of these women play nearly at the same level against Serena in majors as they do in regular events. Dementieva beat Serena three times in a row. But, when she really needs to beat her, she comes up lame again. This is why women's tennis sucks.
 
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C

Connors

Banned
I would love it if someone could make an argument as to why women's tennis is compelling to watch. I don't think it is at all. It was in the past when many of the women had guts and fight. Jankovic, Kutzenova, Vera Zvonareva, Dementieva, maybe Safina and others--chokers. I know that's harsh, but it's the truth.
 
egn

egn

Hall of Fame
Hence why the only player I root for in women's tennis is the Williams since Henin left. The Russian/Serbian/other eastern european tennis players who are in the top are all awful in the big situations. None of them are consistent, none have strong mental games which is why Serena comes through and wrecks them when it counts.
They are all just imitation JJ, play really good tennis in smaller tournaments but when the big ones come around shy away like a small little puppy dog. Its disgusting to see this women tennis has turned to this. They make one or two good runs in a slam and then vanish. Jankovic did it last year, so did Ivanovic, Safina is doing it right now, Dementieva did it, Kuz did it. Thats what they all do. The only one who has showed she can play top level tennis consistently is Sharapova, but she like the Williams gets injured and I suspect cares more about things outside of tennis.
The facts are Serena Williams is a superior player, out of shape, playing tennis half as much as them. At the year end rankings last year Serena had played 14 tournaments and finished 2nd. She played the 4 slams, only 4 of the 9 tier ones, and 6 small tournaments. Yet players who played 18 tournaments that won a slam and played 8 of the 9 tier ones (ivanovic) or even 20 tournaments like Safina, Dementieva, Zvnoevra and Kuz finished behind her. Some of them even finished behind Venus who also played only 14 tournaments and only won 2. Sure Venus won Wimby and the Year End masters but thats it.
These ladies have no heart, thats why they choke. They are not big game players, none of them should be looked upon as greatly as they are. If Henin never reitred, Sharapova wasn't injuired and the Williams actually gave two craps, they would all be struggling to fight for that five spot. They aren't choking they are doing exactly what should be expected of them, being your typical average top 10 player.
 
C

Connors

Banned
It's crazy that these ladies get so intimidated by Serena. We all know she's going to yell, make faces, go ballistic at times. I would like to think these ladies' coaches would prepare them mentally to not wilt like daisies.

These women all have one thing in common. When they are in the high pressure moments in matches with Serena, they lack nerve, positive emotion and the ability to show Serena they believe they are better than her and will not be intimidated. They don't stand up to her. She continues to be the "bad a.. bully" who wins the fight. It's ridiculous. With the form she's been in, Serena would get dusted by Seles, Graf, Navratilova and Evert in their primes. She's not consistent enough.
 
saram

saram

Legend
I can't STAND Serena--but she is one hell of a fighter, champion, and winner when she wants to focus and dedicate herself.
 
rosenstar

rosenstar

Professional
Connors said:
I give Serena props for being the "fighter" and competitor she is. She has done this a lot in her life--coming back from the brink of defeat. If Venus had her mental strength, she'd have about 10-12 major victories right now.

With that being said, how many times do we watch the Dementieva's, the Henin's, the Kutzenova's, the Jancovic's, Sharapova's and others flat out choke against Serena? It's like they get mentally bullied and intimidated by Serena's energy and fight. Kutzenova is a choke artist, like Dementieva and like Jankovic. They choke against Serena as much as Serena "beats" them.
Click to expand...

This is why women's tennis is a joke. I'm sorry, but for far too long now there has been nothing worth watching. The Mauresmo/Henin rivalry was somewhat entertaining for a brief time, but I lost all respect for Henin when she retired in aussie open finals with a stomach ache. Mauresmo also fell off the map. There is no solid number one, and I feel like no match is guarenteed in women's tennis. It's just boring. There's no variety and no entertainment.

Anyways, Serena is the only person in tennis who isn't boring. She will not loose. As andy roddick put it "she was benching dump trucks when she was 11." She's strong, Big and intimating. Matches in women's tennis today are really won, but often lost. Serena is the one of the few who wins matches on regular basis. Everyone else, goes into a match, tries their best, and hopes for the best. Serena goes out there and makes it happen.
 
DNShade

DNShade

Hall of Fame
The reason is - they all "choke" all the time even playing each other - not just against Serena. But when they just play each other they just trade chokes and breaks and then are right back and they are even again. The state a women's tennis is dreadful at the moment. NONE of them can serve worth a damn. The amount of breaks is shameful. The serve is supposed to be an advantage remember girls?

Serena actually just plays her game, knows how to serve and doesn't choke much. That's it.

It's really sad. I used to love watching, Martina, Chris, Steffi, etc. Good matches and good tennis. Hopefully we'll get there again.
 
halalula1234

halalula1234

Professional
Bring back graf, seles, sanchez, hingis, henin and we;ll have entertainment. I don't know why but if Serena can turn all those big bits of hers which seems loose at the moment into muscles i have a scared feeling that she is gonna be real scary and prob gonna serve like 130-135 mph just look at her body its soo big no wonder all the other girls choke just by looking at her im kinda scared when she gets mad on court even if im watching from home. Imagine a serena of this size but with mostly muscle instead of wobbles dam she could win a body building contest!. Still Serena and Venus are a few of the womens who is still watchable in the Wta the other girls have boring games and weak mentality.
 
thalivest

thalivest

Banned
I dont have an answer for that. It defies logic. This is the most pathetic and mentally feeble crop of women in the history of the sport.
 
thalivest

thalivest

Banned
DNShade said:
The reason is - they all "choke" all the time even playing each other - not just against Serena. But when they just play each other they just trade chokes and breaks and then are right back and they are even again. The state a women's tennis is dreadful at the moment. NONE of them can serve worth a damn. The amount of breaks is shameful. The serve is supposed to be an advantage remember girls?

Serena actually just plays her game, knows how to serve and doesn't choke much. That's it.

It's really sad. I used to love watching, Martina, Chris, Steffi, etc. Good matches and good tennis. Hopefully we'll get there again.
Click to expand...

I agree. These women all choke all the time, even when they dont play Serena. However when they are playing one another it evens out. Serena stands so far apart by merely being the one player who doesnt choke. This puts here over the top even while an out of shape 200 pound hippo who is 40% the player she once was no less. It is pathetic.
 
C

coloskier

Legend
The only reason most people watch women's tennis now is not for the tennis. It is very unfortunate when your best players quit in their primes (Henin, Clisters, Davenport)
 
J

JankovicFan

Semi-Pro
They're just trying to serve like men and can't do it. A little bit of nerves, and they fall apart. Serena is naturally powerful and is out there just doing her thing.
 
F

flying24

Banned
coloskier said:
The only reason most people watch women's tennis now is not for the tennis. It is very unfortunate when your best players quit in their primes (Henin, Clisters, Davenport)
Click to expand...

Davenport did not quit in her prime. The first time she quit she was already 30, and if last year is her last time playing she was 32.
 
skip1969

skip1969

G.O.A.T.
Connors said:
Where are the Evert's, the Graf's, the Seles', the Sanchez-Vicario's in terms of mental strength??? It's not there with these women today, that's for sure.
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that's how i feel. it's not that they gag against serena. it's just more obvious when they play her because she's the one who is capitalizing on the rest of the field. and she's been doing it for a long time, so kudos to her.

but the women fall part against each other, as has been said. there's just no mental toughness out there, which is why serena stands out (even when she part-times it).
 
M

mentalcase

Semi-Pro
Every era has a bunch of chokers. This era is no different. There has always been 1-2 women that know how to win.

The reason is - they all "choke" all the time even playing each other - not just against Serena. But when they just play each other they just trade chokes and breaks and then are right back and they are even again.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree.
 
chrisdaniel

chrisdaniel

Semi-Pro
...

All these chokers get there chances. 40-30, serving for the set. Double Fault. Serena comes back, 40, 30 serving for the match, ACE!!!

I do have to give her that credit of showing how close out a match.
 
Stinkdyr

Stinkdyr

Professional
Chick tennis needs a solid rivalry lasting a couple of years between a couple of the hot looking Russian chicks to bring it back onto my radar screen.
 
C

Connors

Banned
Well, we now know Safina lacks the champion quality as well to come up big in the hugest moments. She's just like the other mentally weak Russians and Serbians. These women are all very talented players but it's mind-boggling how they fold in these moments.

You never saw that kind of lame performance from Sanchez-Vicario, let alone the other greats from the 80's and 90's.

Safina, Kutzetova, Dementieva, Jankovic, Vera Zvonareva, even Ivanovic, (and let's not forget Sharapova's meltdown vs. Serena in '07 Aussie final) etc... such crappy meltdowns under pressure. Safina's performance today was a joke. These women need some serious work with a Sports Psychologist so they don't continue to have nightmares of Serena bashing their brains in during Grand Slam semis and finals.
 
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cokebottle

cokebottle

Banned
Connors said:
Well, we now know Safina lacks the champion quality as well to come up big in the hugest moments. She's just like the other mentally weak Russians and Serbians. These women are all very talented players but it's mind-boggling how they fold in these moments.

You never saw that kind of lame performance from Sanchez-Vicario, let alone the other greats from the 80's and 90's.

Safina, Kutzetova, Dementieva, Jankovic, Vera Zvonareva, even Ivanovic, (and let's not forget Sharapova's meltdown vs. Serena in '07 Aussie final) etc... such crappy meltdowns under pressure. Safina's performance today was a joke. These women need some serious work with a Sports Psychologist so they don't continue to have nightmares of Serena bashing their brains in during Grand Slam semis and finals.
Click to expand...

While I sort of agree with you it is also unfair to fault Serena for the mental weakness in her opponents. She can only play who is on the other side of the net and people forget she won most of her slams from 99-2005 vs a much stronger field than todays. Now the field is weaker, she doesnt control that, she only does what she has to do and wins. It is up to the other girls to get their pysches and other issues together, not Serena's job.
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
coloskier said:
The only reason most people watch women's tennis now is not for the tennis. It is very unfortunate when your best players quit in their primes (Henin, Clisters, Davenport)
Click to expand...

Davenport was already well beyond her shelf life when she left the first time.

Cljisters was a headcase who could not rise to the occasion--and in the one time she did, it was not long before she bailed (likely due to her thinking she would never live up to that lone slam ever again).
 
THUNDERVOLLEY

THUNDERVOLLEY

G.O.A.T.
David_Is_Right said:
Where is your evidence for that inference?
Click to expand...

I was going to ask the same thing.

There's no evidence i've ever seen/read/heard stating the field's alleged shortcomigs had anything to do with it. She was far from invincible, ran like a coward in the AO final against Mauresmo, and if it was bad enough that she would never win Wimbledon in the Williams era (even on the rare occasion when a Williams was not the winner), the universally underestimated Bartoli beat her in convincing fashion.

The evidence suggests she wanted to save face (such as it is) before she continued for additional years risking continued losses to certain women in big events, thus coloring the last half of her career.
 
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