wozniacki fires back at the two martinas

[Jack Romeo]

caroline wozniacki shot back at both martina navratilova and martina hingis for criticizing her earlier this year for being a slamless no.1. she said that she lost some respect for both of them. although she acknowledges navratilova's accomplishments as "unbelievable" and that hingis was "her favorite," she is now basically saying that the two martinas are talking too much only because they are being paid to do so. she said something like "they're no longer playing... they have to stir things up." she added that she would never say either navratilova or hingis was no.1 when no one else was playing because that would be disrespectful. so caroline thinks that the two martinas were being disrespectful to her. recall that both navratilova and hingis said that they thought caroline wasn't a true no.1 and even said that maybe kvitova was the real no.1.

for me, i think this is all irrelevant because caroline is not no.1 anymore. but i do understand that when navratilova and hingis made those comments, wozniacki was still no.1. in fact, many other commentators and former players were saying the same things about her as the two martinas, including navratilova's great rival, chris evert.

wozniacki was always being asked about the criticisms and she kept answering blandly about how she just wanted to keep working hard and winning any event. now that she is no longer no.1, she chooses the time to react to what the two martinas have said. it's like a delayed reaction - and it implies a great deal of sensitivity to the issue on her part. it seems to me that she really does care more about the ranking than winning slams. in her mind, a win is a win, regardless of whether it is achieved at a grand slam event or a regular tour event. this is an issue where everyone else disagrees with her. a win at a slam is always going to be bigger than a win at a regular tour event and a true no.1 should always be able to bring her best at the biggest events.

 

[SStrikerR]

I feel bad. Literally all people said about her eventually was that she was a #1 without a slam. They had nothing else to talk about, and I don't blame her for getting pissed. Of course she wants to win the slams more than she wants the ranking. Good for her for firing back at them over their terrible, repetitive comments.

 

[Ronaldo]

If she wants to be taken seriously, just win.

 

[SoBad]

Wozniacki/B.Bryan > Nuvratilova/Hingis 6-2, 6-2

 

[Dilettante]

Woz is genius at making friends.

 

[jaggy]

She should fire back two martinis

 

[mmk]

If she wants to be taken seriously, just win.

She has 18 titles, so she has won. Just not the ones that matter most.

It isn't her fault that the ranking system is the way it is. That being said, right now it looks like the rankings make sense.

 

[OddJack]

Any links? News w/o link= no good

Funny that they had actually approached Navra for coaching.

 

[OddJack]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/wozniacki-loses-respect-for-navratilova-20120221-1tkhb.html

 

[TheOneHander]

I think her comments were justified in that the whole 'slamless #1' thing was talked about over and over again. There's only so much you can say about it before the topic gets old.

 

[Ronaldo]

She has 18 titles, so she has won. Just not the ones that matter most.

It isn't her fault that the ranking system is the way it is. That being said, right now it looks like the rankings make sense.

Right here, right now, just win

 

[OddJack]

Is it not wonderful, that life somehow has its way of working things out the way it should be?

This is a defeated, bitter and disappointed Woes-Niacki that most everyone wanted to see. Like it was yesterday that she was making fun of Nadal, imitating Serena, ridiculing the press by asking herself questions and then answer them and giving silly Kangaroo stories. Now her demise is the story and everyone is enjoying it.
Thanks for sharing buddy.

 

[TTMR]

Right here, right now, just win

Great advice, bro. I only wish her coaches thought of that.

 

[Tshooter]

They're only repeating what almost everyone that follows the sport was either saying or thinking.

I think if you can be #1 for nearly two years and slamless the ranking system is in need of a serious look at if not overhaul.

" she added that she would never say either navratilova or hingis was no.1 when no one else was playing because that would be disrespectful."

More like nonsensical.

 

[ZeroSkid]

Slamless, I mean shameless

 

[Ronaldo]

Is it not wonderful, that life somehow has its way of working things out the way it should be?

This is a defeated, bitter and disappointed Woes-Niacki that most everyone wanted to see. Like it was yesterday that she was making fun of Nadal, imitating Serena, ridiculing the press by asking herself questions and then answer them and giving silly Kangaroo stories. Now her demise is the story and everyone is enjoying it.
Thanks for sharing buddy.

"The greatest way to witness is by walking that straight and narrow and also realizing that you're going to mess up. That's what grace is for. We're going to fall, but we've got to get back up. And you've got to improve. And that's what I'm all about." Tebow all those suckas and just win, baby,

 

[DjokovicForTheWin]

What do they expect her to do, give up the #1 ranking just because she hasn't won a slam? How stupid can people be? Seriously.

 

[stormholloway]

I'd say she brought this on herself. In defending her slamless career, she seemed to play up the accomplishment of becoming number one.

In reality, you're only as good as the tournaments you win, and she hasn't won any of the biggest ones.

 

[Ronaldo]

What do they expect her to do, give up the #1 ranking just because she hasn't won a slam? How stupid can people be? Seriously.

Stupid is as stupid does. Who's #1 now?

 

[Dilettante]

What do they expect her to do

To shut up.

For once.

I guess.

 

[Ronaldo]

To shut up.

For once.

I guess.

Don't hold your breath

 

[nadalwon2012]

If she wants to be taken seriously, just win.

That isn't in her hands. There are other players on tour.

 

[oneness]

I'd say she brought this on herself. In defending her slamless career, she seemed to play up the accomplishment of becoming number one.

In reality, you're only as good as the tournaments you win, and she hasn't won any of the biggest ones.

THIS!
She got to #1 simply because she played more tournaments than Kim, Serena et al. It is not her fault how the ranking systems works and she does not have to defend herself when she is being bashed for it, but it would be good for her to at least slightly acknowledge this and work towards getting better , so she can do well at majors and get wins over the top players.
People still rightly gave her credit her for her consistency, she can't ask for more.

 

[NadalAgassi]

Wozniacki should just shut up. She is lucky enough not only to have peaked amidst a terrible field that allows her success she could never otherwise dream of with her mediocre abilities, but that even amongst that horrific injury wrecked field she has two year end #1s she never deserved, the last one the most controversial and ridiculed in the history of the womens game. Of course knowledgable voices who represent the game will point this out to viewers, it would be an injustice for them not to.

 

[NadalAgassi]

That isn't in her hands. There are other players on tour.

It is in her hands to improve her pathetic game which currently features no power, no finesse, no volleying skills, no shotmaking ability, no variety, less than stellar point construction, and good but not great movement. She refuses to do so.


Also people need to realize it isnt just that she was #1 without a slam. There has never been a #1 with not only as poor a game, but as poor a record all around as she has. Compare her to other slamless #1s. In 2000 Martina Hingis, the first in a series of oft criticized slamless #1s won 9 tournaments, 4 regular tier 1 titles, the WTA Championships, and made the finals or semis of 3 of the 4 slams. In 2003 Clijsters reached #1 in a year she won numerous tier 1 and tier 2 titles, made the semis and finals of all 4 slams, and had almost no early losses. She didnt even end the year #1 though, even with Serena and Venus out injured by the end. Compared to these players Wozniacki's record is a joke. Her consistency that she is praised by defenders for is total BS, she lost in an early round in almost every event she plays from May onwards last year. Azarenka and Sharapova were both far more consistent than her last year, even Kvitova who was by far the most prolific winner on the WTA tour had a higher overall win %. Even the previously most dreadful #1 Dinara Safina made 3 slam finals in the span of about a year, and still failed to end a year ranked #1. Wozniacki was a terrible and completely unworthy #1 in all respects, it was MUCH more then just not winning a slam. Truth is that in her case the rest of her record is so pathetic (for a #1) that only winning a slam could possibly have half justified her being there.

I mentioned this before but on another forum a poster came up with a far more logical ranking system that would still reward consistency and regular tournament performance considerably, but would remove some of the loopholes and flaws of the current one. Wozniacki would have been year end #3 behind Clijsters and Serena for 2010, and year end #5 behind Kvitova, Sharapova, Azarenka, and Na for 2011. Which is exactly what she deserved.

No player will ever have such a pathetic year as Wozniacki's 2011 from ALL respects (slam performance, tier 1 performance, quality of fields faced and performed against, consistency, performance across all surfaces) and end it ranked #1. I would bet money that 10, 000 years from now this will still be the case. Hence why she got as much criticsm, fully warranted, as she did. It would be one thing if she quietly tried to ignore the controversy, but she instead makes comments on twitter and in interviews boasting about her farcial #1 ranking as if it is honorable and something to be proud of, then bitterly declaring she is the real #1 and will get "her #1 ranking" back after losing it at the Australian Open. Not to mention her schedule being clearly designed to abuse the flawed WTA ranking system. If she atleast gave the impression of making improving her game and trying to perform her best at the major events as her primary focus, rather than desperately trying to be the controversial and unworthy #1 maybe people would cut her some more slack.

 

[nadalwon2012]

It is in her hands to improve her pathetic game which currently features no power, no finesse, no volleying skills, no shotmaking ability, no variety, less than stellar point construction, and good but not great movement. She refuses to do so.

We don't know what she is working on. Often a player is incapable of improvement. We only hear about players who actually improve, and then we say 'they've worked hard'. Truth is, not all hard work has any effect on the finished product. Movement especially is not easy to improve. Finesse too, is very difficult to enhance. Point construction, actually she's been complimented for that. Shot-making ability, again very difficult to improve, or if you do improve it takes a long time to convert it into match situations. When you are a junior all these things can improve quickly. Less so mid-career.

 

[Evan77]

I really think that the whole WTA is simply a big joke at the moment. I mean, Serena plays when she feels like playing, same with Clijsters (they always find some injury excuse...). Woz simply plays more tournaments. yeah it's too bad she hasn't won a slam but the WTA is just a big mess.

and btw, both Martinas have big mouth.

we don't have any rivalry. no true champions. anybody can win anything. meh

 

[TERRASTAR18]

That isn't in her hands. There are other players on tour.

djokovic, serena, fed and your avator don't use that as a excuse. champions raise their level.

 

[NadalAgassi]

Wozniacki isnt the computer #1 anymore anyway. She is at #4, somewhat closer to where she belongs, but that rank will continue to plummet in the coming months. Her latest outburst is just one of her last desperate cries to remain relevant, which very soon she wont be.

 

[DeShaun]

It is in her hands to improve her pathetic game which currently features no power, no finesse, no volleying skills, no shotmaking ability, no variety, less than stellar point construction, and good but not great movement. She refuses to do so.


Also people need to realize it isnt just that she was #1 without a slam. There has never been a #1 with not only as poor a game, but as poor a record all around as she has. Compare her to other slamless #1s. In 2000 Martina Hingis, the first in a series of oft criticized slamless #1s won 9 tournaments, 4 regular tier 1 titles, the WTA Championships, and made the finals or semis of 3 of the 4 slams. In 2003 Clijsters reached #1 in a year she won numerous tier 1 and tier 2 titles, made the semis and finals of all 4 slams, and had almost no early losses. She didnt even end the year #1 though, even with Serena and Venus out injured by the end. Compared to these players Wozniacki's record is a joke. Her consistency that she is praised by defenders for is total BS, she lost in an early round in almost every event she plays from May onwards last year. Azarenka and Sharapova were both far more consistent than her last year, even Kvitova who was by far the most prolific winner on the WTA tour had a higher overall win %. Even the previously most dreadful #1 Dinara Safina made 3 slam finals in the span of about a year, and still failed to end a year ranked #1. Wozniacki was a terrible and completely unworthy #1 in all respects, it was MUCH more then just not winning a slam. Truth is that in her case the rest of her record is so pathetic (for a #1) that only winning a slam could possibly have half justified her being there.

I mentioned this before but on another forum a poster came up with a far more logical ranking system that would still reward consistency and regular tournament performance considerably, but would remove some of the loopholes and flaws of the current one. Wozniacki would have been year end #3 behind Clijsters and Serena for 2010, and year end #5 behind Kvitova, Sharapova, Azarenka, and Na for 2011. Which is exactly what she deserved.

No player will ever have such a pathetic year as Wozniacki's 2011 from ALL respects (slam performance, tier 1 performance, quality of fields faced and performed against, consistency, performance across all surfaces) and end it ranked #1. I would bet money that 10, 000 years from now this will still be the case. Hence why she got as much criticsm, fully warranted, as she did. It would be one thing if she quietly tried to ignore the controversy, but she instead makes comments on twitter and in interviews boasting about her farcial #1 ranking as if it is honorable and something to be proud of, then bitterly declaring she is the real #1 and will get "her #1 ranking" back after losing it at the Australian Open. Not to mention her schedule being clearly designed to abuse the flawed WTA ranking system. If she atleast gave the impression of making improving her game and trying to perform her best at the major events as her primary focus, rather than desperately trying to be the controversial and unworthy #1 maybe people would cut her some more slack.

This most damning fact about her exploitation scheme is really at the crux of why she deserves to be criticized; I am not familiar with her schedule's design but have long suspected her of travelling most busily around the globe from one relatively weak tourney to the next where she could best avoid being seriously challenged in an attempt to earn as many points in the easiest manner possible, cash in on the endorsements accorded to a #1 ranked player, and basically laugh at what a wonderful life it is that so enables her to keep a residence in Monaco, to meet famous people, to gain celebrity exposure, etc., all for asserting herself as world's top-ranked female tennis player, even while it could have been argued strongly that her game on a given day was never among the five best of active females. Now that the curtain has been thrown aside, she is acting affronted even snippy; but she is very sadly deluding herself if she imagines that Azarenka will surrender the #1 anytime soon, especially now that Vika apparently possesses much better physical conditioning than Caroline--Vika's muscles are thick, and hard as diamonds from her head to her toes. She is in a different league physically at the moment. Caroline is acting like the big fish taken from a little pond, now made to swim with other big fish in a large lake, and it's making her irritable the loss of hollow status.

 

[Jack Romeo]

caroline has a ways to go if she wants to get back on top, and she may very well have to win a slam to do it. she's not a great clay courter, even though her game would seem suited for it. so she'll have to wait for the us open series to garner points. i don't see azarenka cooling off significantly any time soon. maybe she'll stall a bit once the tour moves to the clay but i think she'll be fine. her australian title and her current winning streak guarantees her points and status. kvitova still has points from wimbledon and her winning streak indoors last year. she can play and win on all surfaces too. and sharapova is still there, putting up results that are arguably better overall than wozniacki.

to me, i just found it strange that she would choose this time to react to what people were saying almost a month ago. no one has been saying these things now since she isn't no.1 anymore. but she still wanted to speak about it. it makes me think that the no.1 ranking was really what it was about for her. she couldn't or wouldn't distinguish the significance of winning regular tour events against winning slams.

the truth is, that for 2 years now, it's been put up or shut up time for her. for her to be speaking about an issue which is basically irrelevant at the present moment means that she just doesn't want or just can't put up.

 

[big_bill]

I feel bad that her lips can't cover her teeth.

 

[nadalwon2012]

djokovic, serena, fed and your avator don't use that as a excuse. champions raise their level.

It's not an excuse, it's reality. You think every time a 'champion' raises their game they win? What if 2 champions raise their game to varying degrees at the same time? One has to lose. And what if Wozniacki isn't even good enough to beat certain players? Doesn't matter how much she raises her game, if she simply doesn't have the tennis ability.

 

[kimbahpnam]

woz and hingis should just kiss and make up....literally.

 

[syc23]

The womens no.4 should copy the mens no.4 who realised that the penny has dropped and playing aggressive tennis is the way forward in order to win a slam(s).

Murray has employed Lendl and is finally realising that a change was needed. Wozniacki on the other hand has fired her coach after 2 months and have gone back to her father - her game is going to regress for sure.

 

[bluetrain4]

Sort of another non-story. Everyone brought up the slamless No. 1 thing. Maybe the Martinas harped on it a bit too much, but their point was nothing out of the ordinary.

And, Woz's "firing back" is pretty tame. The whole thing is really not much of a conflict, though the tennis press may want to paint as some sort of drama.

 

[volleygirl]

To shut up.

For once.

I guess.

If they wanted her to shut up, why continually ask her questions?

 

[Terre Battu]

The golden retriever is dead!!!!

 

[sureshs]

Navratilova is frustrated because she knows she would not make it past the qualies in today's game

 

[Objective Danny]

Cards on the table:

I have a tough time following any statement made by Martina N.

"Zhe's bit the ball into the netz!???"

 

[purge]

yeah it was talked about over and over again. but what else was there to talk about? thats how it works. if youre the #1 and cant win a slam then that is unusual so people are gonna talk about it. for as long as it takes for you to either win a slam or lose the #1. no one in their right mind could really blame her for being #1. its not like its her fault that the opponents who did win slams would go on to lose 5 consecutive 1st round matches afterwards. but it is what it is and people will talk about it so you gotta just live with it.

and its not the ranking systems fault either. you can see right now that the system works perfectly fine as soon as someone who wins big titles plays halfway consistent for a couple months they pass wozniacki just as they should. no revamping the system nescessary

 

[chandler bing]

Sort of another non-story. Everyone brought up the slamless No. 1 thing. Maybe the Martinas harped on it a bit too much, but their point was nothing out of the ordinary.

And, Woz's "firing back" is pretty tame. The whole thing is really not much of a conflict, though the tennis press may want to paint as some sort of drama.

Agreed. The 'criticism' was pretty mild and the return attack from Woz was even less remarkable.

Must be a slow news week.

 

[jaggy]

woz and hingis should just kiss and make up....literally.

I was going to say needs pics but I do have a very creative imagination.

 

[sureshs]

woz and hingis should just kiss and make up....literally.

That would get Woz cited for doping.

And I have a feeling that the other Martina will enjoy the kiss more. Not that there is anything wrong with that.