Will Serena lose her motivation next year?

[Amelie Mauresmo]

I think the problem with this new generation of WTA players is their games just aren't solid enough to challenge Serena consistently.

Serena has a few goals still she wants to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 slams. But after that, I don't really see Serena hanging around much longer.

Serena has accomplished everything she's wanted to do in her career she is incredibly wealthy and rich.

It is kind of sad to say this, but the younger women on the WTA Tour are pathetic.

Why don't the young ladies not work harder on their games?

I wonder if Serena is going to get bored? Serena has no competition until Victoria Azarenka and the rest of the top women actually prove they can beat her at the slams.

Sloane Stephens has the game to beat Serena BUT the girl is just not disciplined enough.

 

[jones101]

No, I don't think $12 million seasons, so close to 18 slams, and dominating will get boring to her.

Serena posted this on twitter 17 hours ago:

Am I the only Tennis player (besides @Venuseswilliams) that is NOT on vacation? #workfirst #writingbusinessplans
https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/401162966029967360

So no, I think Serena will be highly motivated

 

[NLBwell]

I don't think so. I believe she really wants to be great at tennis now. I think someone will have to take #1 from her now. Azarenka and Kvitova have the game to do it, but Kvitova is a mess and Azarenka hasn't stayed at 100% physically. It may have to be a new kid on the block. A new generation of Henin, Capriati, Hingis, Davenport, Mauresmo, V. Williams -like kids would be nice to see taking her on.

 

[gabybackhand]

Why would she. She knows she has a great shot to become the best ever. That alone should be huge motivation. With another 5 or more slams everyone will consider her best ever. With another 2 or 3 she will already be in strong contention for it. There is no bigger motivation than that.

 

[Vanhool]

I can imagine a few goals that would motivate her after achieving #18. #19 to tie HWM and beat CE and MN; #20 to beat HWM; if she gets that far, she can aim for Steffi, but that's a big ask; 5 French Opens so she can have 5 of each and no one can say she's weak on clay; beef up her weeks at number 1 (she'll never come close to record numbers but can make a number more appropriate for her); more dominant years to increase her career winning percentage; continuing to improve clay skills so she has a shot at Rio Olympics even if old; and once she's squeezed out everything she can from singles (and dubs with Venus) pick up her 2 missing mixed dubs slams so she can have the triple box set (maybe even golden triple box set). I don't worry about her motivation right now. I worry about nerves, injury and the inevitability of the aging process on the human body.

Maybe the reason the other players don't step it up is they sense the futility. Every time someone makes a chink in her armour, she not only eliminates that weakness, she studies that person's game and makes them pay. I couldn't believe when she beat Woz in a 38 shot rally in Beijing. Woz beat her last year in Miami. Used to be pushers could count on Serena to get tired or bored and try to end the point early and hopefully make an error. She's now in such good shape, she can just hang in and draw their error. How demoralizing!

 

[TMF]

I think the problem with this new generation of WTA players is their games just aren't solid enough to challenge Serena consistently.

Serena has a few goals still she wants to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 slams. But after that, I don't really see Serena hanging around much longer.

Serena has accomplished everything she's wanted to do in her career she is incredibly wealthy and rich.

It is kind of sad to say this, but the younger women on the WTA Tour are pathetic.

Why don't the young ladies not work harder on their games?

I wonder if Serena is going to get bored? Serena has no competition until Victoria Azarenka and the rest of the top women actually prove they can beat her at the slams.

Sloane Stephens has the game to beat Serena BUT the girl is just not disciplined enough.

Serena will be motivated next year. She was crying after she reached #1 earlier this year because it meant so much to her. Although she will not reach Graf/Martina/Chris weeks at #1 because they are too far ahead, but she wants to add more to make it respectable.


Most weeks at #1
Rank Player weeks
1 Steffi Graf 377
2 Martina Navratilova 332
3 Chris Evert 260
4 Martina Hingis 209
5 Monica Seles 178
6 Serena Williams * 162
7 Justine Henin 117
8 Lindsay Davenport 98
9 Caroline Wozniacki* 67
10 Victoria Azarenka* 51

 

[gabybackhand]

I could see Serena reaching Chris's weeks at #1 easily, and possibly challenging Martina's. Is Serena staying #1 every week for the next 3 years atleast (let alone just 2 to pass chris) really that hard to imagine? Of course not.

 

[Vanhool]

Serena will be motivated next year. She was crying after she reached #1 earlier this year because it meant so much to her. Although she will not reach Graf/Martina/Chris weeks at #1 because they are too far ahead, but she wants to add more to make it respectable.


Most weeks at #1
Rank Player weeks
1 Steffi Graf 377
2 Martina Navratilova 332
3 Chris Evert 260
4 Martina Hingis 209
5 Monica Seles 178
6 Serena Williams * 162
7 Justine Henin 117
8 Lindsay Davenport 98
9 Caroline Wozniacki* 67
10 Victoria Azarenka* 51

I totally agree. I don't think she would mind being behind Steffi, Nav and Chrissy, but I think she would HATE to retire with less than Hingis!

 

[TMF]

I totally agree. I don't think she would mind being behind Steffi, Nav and Chrissy, but I think she would HATE to retire with less than Hingis!

And Hingis had a short career while Serena had a very long career.

 

[gabybackhand]

At the time Hingis retired though she was never returning to #1. That was plainly obvious.

 

[heftylefty]

And Hingis had a short career while Serena had a very long career.

Did Hingis career end short due to injury...or bad choices?

Hingis career ended based on her choice to end her career. Don't make excuses.

 

[dominikk1985]

I can imagine a few goals that would motivate her after achieving #18. #19 to tie HWM and beat CE and MN; #20 to beat HWM; if she gets that far, she can aim for Steffi, but that's a big ask; 5 French Opens so she can have 5 of each and no one can say she's weak on clay; beef up her weeks at number 1 (she'll never come close to record numbers but can make a number more appropriate for her); more dominant years to increase her career winning percentage; continuing to improve clay skills so she has a shot at Rio Olympics even if old; and once she's squeezed out everything she can from singles (and dubs with Venus) pick up her 2 missing mixed dubs slams so she can have the triple box set (maybe even golden triple box set). I don't worry about her motivation right now. I worry about nerves, injury and the inevitability of the aging process on the human body.

Maybe the reason the other players don't step it up is they sense the futility. Every time someone makes a chink in her armour, she not only eliminates that weakness, she studies that person's game and makes them pay. I couldn't believe when she beat Woz in a 38 shot rally in Beijing. Woz beat her last year in Miami. Used to be pushers could count on Serena to get tired or bored and try to end the point early and hopefully make an error. She's now in such good shape, she can just hang in and draw their error. How demoralizing!

I think she got a lot smarter in that regard. I think she is already past her physical prime but she plays more tactically now.

nice to see against azarenka in the USO final that once she realized she could not outbash vika from the baseline she started to use angles and 4 feet net clearing topspins to throw vika off. a few years earlier she would just have continued to bash and lost the match.

I'm still not sure whether she can keep that up much longer. she is getting old and had a ton of injuries. at some point that body will not be able to sustain that anymore.

 

[TMF]

Did Hingis career end short due to injury...or bad choices?

Hingis career ended based on her choice to end her career. Don't make excuses.

I'm not making excuses. Hingis had a short career and she's still ahead of Serena in ranking who had a longer career. Serena is considered a greater player but if she's doesn't surpassed Hingis it doesn't look good.

 

[dominikk1985]

I could see Serena reaching Chris's weeks at #1 easily, and possibly challenging Martina's. Is Serena staying #1 every week for the next 3 years atleast (let alone just 2 to pass chris) really that hard to imagine? Of course not.

3 years? williams is already the oldest no. 1 in tennis history. in 3 years she would be 35. I just don't see it.

 

[dominikk1985]

I'm not making excuses. Hingis had a short career and she's still ahead of Serena in ranking who had a longer career. Serena is considered a greater player but if she's doesn't surpassed Hingis it doesn't look good.

serena did never really focus on the world ranking. she always had periods when she lost interest in tennis (often gaining weight). however after her bad injuries and that lung illness she had she seemed to have found a lot of motivation. I don't know why this is, like 3 years ago she was giving interviews that she doesn't really like tennis.

 

[degrease]

No. As shes getting older she knows the clock is ticking

 

[Midaso240]

The sooner this dinosaur mug retires,the better it will be for everyone...

 

[HRB]

As long as she is still playing and Steffi's 22 is "the number" then a big old HELL NO!

 

[darrinbaker00]

The sooner this dinosaur mug retires,the better it will be for everyone...

I think your mom still has a lot of good tennis left in her.

 

[kingcheetah]

3 years? williams is already the oldest no. 1 in tennis history. in 3 years she would be 35. I just don't see it.

For an ordinary 35 year old, you may be right, but Serena doesn't have a ton of mileage on her body right now (I've increasingly gained respect for the Richard Williams approach of not playing all the candy land tournaments that don't give out many ranking pts) Serena's also in excellent shape and really seems to be taking care of her body (healthy diet etc.) If she keeps playing a limited schedule that prevents her from being rusty but doesn't wear her down, 3 years of dominance isn't out of the question... just look at Date-Krumm (I know she's a different kind of player, and hasn't achieved the success of Williams) She's able to play well despite being in her 40s, and a part of that likely has to do with the fact that she has low mileage on her body for her age.

 

[gabybackhand]

I think Serena will either retire with 19 slams, 20 slams, or 25 slams. No other possabilities.

21 slams = she wont retire without reaching Graf's 22 then
22 slams = she wont retire without passing Graf's 22
23 slams = she wont retire without reaching Court's 24
24 slams = she wont retire without passing Court's 24

I guess more than 25 is possible too but if she reaches 21 she will reach 25. If she stalls awhile without reaching 21 she might retire.

That she is reaching atleast 19 is a sure thing and beyond that we have to see.

 

[TERRASTAR18]

3 years? williams is already the oldest no. 1 in tennis history. in 3 years she would be 35. I just don't see it.

but you act like she is slowing down.if anything she is playing better. in 3 years it will be the olympics as well. you think that won't motivate her.

 

[chatt_town]

I think as long as she is whipping people like she is she will play but if she starts getting put out early or not coming close to winning a major each year...she will retire. I don't think she's bored. I think she loves beating them down.

I think the problem with this new generation of WTA players is their games just aren't solid enough to challenge Serena consistently.

Serena has a few goals still she wants to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 slams. But after that, I don't really see Serena hanging around much longer.

Serena has accomplished everything she's wanted to do in her career she is incredibly wealthy and rich.

It is kind of sad to say this, but the younger women on the WTA Tour are pathetic.

Why don't the young ladies not work harder on their games?

I wonder if Serena is going to get bored? Serena has no competition until Victoria Azarenka and the rest of the top women actually prove they can beat her at the slams.

Sloane Stephens has the game to beat Serena BUT the girl is just not disciplined enough.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

I totally agree. I don't think she would mind being behind Steffi, Nav and Chrissy, but I think she would HATE to retire with less than Hingis!

Weeks are irrelevant. For those who did not win the ultimate--the Grand Slam--the focus is the majors, hence the sport-wide discussion of SW reaching and/or passing Evert and Navratilova. That's not about weeks.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Why don't the young ladies not work harder on their games?

Some work hard, but let's face it: some players are simply inferior to others, no matter what they try. Take Kvitova: she's lazy and whatever won her that one major faded quickly. All of her promise vanished into thin air, so all she's investing in not improvements in her game is acting paranoid on court....and screwing a married man.

Serena has a few goals still she wants to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova at 18 slams. But after that, I don't really see Serena hanging around much longer.

I wonder if Serena is going to get bored? Serena has no competition until Victoria Azarenka and the rest of the top women actually prove they can beat her at the slams.

Anyone can become bored, but she's so close to Chris and Martina in majors, that the mere thought must be a driving force in her competitive spirit.

Sloane Stephens has the game to beat Serena BUT the girl is just not disciplined enough.

Stephens does not have game--period. "Defeating" an injured player is not an indicator or skill, nor is hitting the ball hard for the sake of it.

 

[Vanhool]

Weeks are irrelevant. For those who did not win the ultimate--the Grand Slam--the focus is the majors, hence the sport-wide discussion of SW reaching and/or passing Evert and Navratilova. That's not about weeks.

Oh, I only think she might care about the weeks with regard to Hingis. The grudge factor. Even though they get along fine now, they had a little bad blood back in the day. She has proven herself the more accomplished player in the most important ways, but I think she would like her domination to be complete, or (more likely) would hate for Hingis to have anything on her, even a little thing.

 

[jones101]

The sooner this dinosaur mug retires,the better it will be for everyone...

I think your mom still has a lot of good tennis left in her.

 

[TMF]

Weeks are irrelevant. For those who did not win the ultimate--the Grand Slam--the focus is the majors, hence the sport-wide discussion of SW reaching and/or passing Evert and Navratilova. That's not about weeks.

Irrelevant ?

Tell that to Serena when she was crying earlier this year after she became #1. When was the last time she was that emotional after winning a slam?

Keep in mind Nadal and Nole were fighting for their lives to get the #1 ranking at the end of the season.

 

[AngieB]

I could see Serena reaching Chris's weeks at #1 easily, and possibly challenging Martina's.

Remaining #1 for the next two years is a tall order for someone of Serena's age. I think she will surpass Chris and Martina's GS number of 18, but surpassing Chris' weeks at number one will be more daunting. Serena wasn't consistent enough early in her career to get where she needs to be in that regard.

AngieB

 

[AngieB]

Stephens does not have game--period. "Defeating" an injured player is not an indicator or skill, nor is hitting the ball hard for the sake of it.

Sloane is poised to break into the top 10 this year. She's at #11 currently. You clearly haven't gotten over the Sloane-Serena twitter debacle of last summer. You really need to let that go because whatever grudge you have isn't changing Sloane's progression up the rankings.

AngieB

 

[gabybackhand]

Remaining #1 for the next two years is a tall order for someone of Serena's age. I think she will surpass Chris and Martina's GS number of 18, but surpassing Chris' weeks at number one will be more daunting. Serena wasn't consistent enough early in her career to get where she needs to be in that regard.

AngieB

The thing is I don't see anyone else who can be number 1. Azarenka I think is already declining some, and will focus mostly on the slams and not on the regular tour so much (how Serena used to be) in order to give her a shot to pass Maria in slams before her career or prime is over. Sharapova being number 1 ever again isn't even worth thinking about. Na ever being number 1, Wozniacki ever being number 1 again, Radwanska ever being number 1. You get the picture.

So even if Serena declines, especialy in day in and day out performance, it would not take her out of number 1 for a very long time I feel, barring a big injury.

 

[gabybackhand]

Sloane is poised to break into the top 10 this year. She's at #11 currently. You clearly haven't gotten over the Sloane-Serena twitter debacle of last summer. You really need to let that go because whatever grudge you have isn't changing Sloane's progression up the rankings.

AngieB

The problem with Sloane is she only plays well in the slams. For her not to have even a small title yet is pretty bad for someone pushing top 10. Either way I could see her being a slam winner someday, but number 1, especialy anytime soon, not a chance.

 

[TMF]

Oh, I only think she might care about the weeks with regard to Hingis. The grudge factor. Even though they get along fine now, they had a little bad blood back in the day. She has proven herself the more accomplished player in the most important ways, but I think she would like her domination to be complete, or (more likely) would hate for Hingis to have anything on her, even a little thing.

Why should Serena care about Hingis who isn't in the same tier great? Surpass Hingis weeks at #1 isn't going to move her up in goat list. The only players that she is chasing are Graf, Martina, Chris, Court and King.

 

[Incognito]

Irrelevant ?

Tell that to Serena when she was crying earlier this year after she became #1. When was the last time she was that emotional after winning a slam?

Keep in mind Nadal and Nole were fighting for their lives to get the #1 ranking at the end of the season.

Federer cried so much more at the AO 2009 than at any point of his career at wimbledon. AO better than Wimbledon, I guess.

 

[r2473]

I think as long as she is whipping people like she is she will play but if she starts getting put out early or not coming close to winning a major each year...she will retire. I don't think she's bored. I think she loves beating them down.

She's also still the most beautiful WTA player inside

 

[TMF]

Federer cried so much more at the AO 2009 than at any point of his career at wimbledon. AO better than Wimbledon, I guess.

So you agree with TV that ranking is "irrelevant". Go ahead, that's not going to change Serena how it meant to her for being #1. Keep in mind jealous Serena also made a snide remark about Jankovic and Safina for their #1 ranking.

 

[Incognito]

So you agree with TV that ranking is "irrelevant". Go ahead, that's not going to change Serena how it meant to her for being #1. Keep in mind jealous Serena also made a snide remark about Jankovic and Safina for their #1 ranking.

You don't have to use Serena's crying to prove the #1 ranking means something. That was my point.

 

[Vanhool]

Why should Serena care about Hingis who isn't in the same tier great? Surpass Hingis weeks at #1 isn't going to move her up in goat list. The only players that she is chasing are Graf, Martina, Chris, Court and King.

Ugh. I just mentioned it in passing as a minor motivation in a list of many motivators. Then TV commented and I clarified. I know she'll never pass your precious Steffi in weeks at number 1.