2015 French Open Final: S. Williams vs. Safarova

[tented]

^ My only concern is her health. If not for that, this would be a formality.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I am concerned too. Serena skipped her presser to see the tournament doctor, so hopefully, he or she can give her something to make her feel better. At least she has a day to rest.

 

[sk310]

Serena has to find a way to at least feel better then she started out today. The thing about Lucie is she's had a few slow starts in the last few matches also. If Serena can come out guns blazing she can quickly overwhelm Lucie. I don't really expect Lucie to come out of the gates like Timea did today with a picture perfect game for a set and a half. I expect Lucie to struggle through the first set. So Serena needs to try and get over that first set and then ride the confidence through.

 

[tossip]

She will be aight..if she goes to bed early and have a late practice.
Timea played great today but once she lost the set she lost confidence...I really love her game...she is very efficient and can take down names at Wimbledon..

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think she will find a way to do it. It will be tough if she isn't feeling well, but she will. When was the last time a player beat #1 and #2 to win a slam?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Good news is she has an extra week between the French and Wimbledon to rest and recover. Her serve is coming along nicely, Serena.

I bet she won't sign up for any itsy/bitsy warm-up grass tourneys. Just a week of rest, a week of training and a week of practice should do.

They never play grass warmups. Either she or Venus. One time I think when Serena was coming back from the embolism, but not any before that or since then.

I am aware of that. But, this year things are different with 3 weeks gap and so there could be a change in their attitude towards grass warm-up tourneys. But, with this flu business, she will certainly not play warm-up. But, I do expect venus to play a warm-up event this year.

 

[sk310]

I bet she won't sign up for any itsy/bitsy warm-up grass tourneys. Just a week of rest, a week of training and a week of practice should do.

They never play grass warmups. Either she or Venus. One time I think when Serena was coming back from the embolism, but not any before that or since then.

I am aware of that. But, this year things are different with 3 weeks gap and so there could be a change in their attitude towards grass warm-up tourneys. But, with this flu business, she will certainly not play warm-up. But, I do expect venus to play a warm-up event this year.

I think the only thing that would make them play a grass warmup is an appearance paycheck. Even three weeks. Even at 3 weeks coming from being sick, hard play, and making the finals (possibly winning) it would be a stretch for Serena to go into Wimbledon after a warmup. Still if the money is right I don't see why she or Venus wouldn't show up since its 3 weeks now.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena has gone on record as saying she hated playing warm ups back early in her career when she played them because the bounce was different and threw her off at Wimbledon.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I hope Azarenka plays a warm up, she needs to get her ranking up. I will be highly annoyed if she ends up on the Serena or Petra quarter playing them in the third round. She can play the Halep or Sharapova quarter. She could stand to win a tournament too to learn what it feels like to be a winner again.

 

[Kirijax]

I don't know guys/gals. I'm rooting for Serena but the force in Safarova is strong this tournament. I'm getting some major 2011 U.S. Open-Stosur-like vibes. Safarova in three.

Of course, it could be that seaweed I had for breakfast this morning. uzzled

 

[Calvy]

I think she will find a way to do it. It will be tough if she isn't feeling well, but she will. When was the last time a player beat #1 and #2 to win a slam?

Hana Mandlikova, US Open, 1985??

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I hope Azarenka plays a warm up, she needs to get her ranking up. I will be highly annoyed if she ends up on the Serena or Petra quarter playing them in the third round. She can play the Halep or Sharapova quarter. She could stand to win a tournament too to learn what it feels like to be a winner again.

Wimbledon seedings for WTA are done by a committee (not even in a formulaic way). If they want, they can promote Azrenka much higher than her ranking (as long as her ranking is at least 32).

 

[tented]

I think she will find a way to do it. It will be tough if she isn't feeling well, but she will. When was the last time a player beat #1 and #2 to win a slam?

Great question! I found this list of all tournaments (not just slams), but I don't know how accurate it is:

1965
Lesley Turner (French Open)

1966
Billie Jean King (Wimbledon)

1968
Virginia Wade (US Open)

1969
Ann Jones (Wimbledon)

1971
Evonne Goolagong (Wimbledon)

1978
Evonne Goolagong (Virginia Slims of Boston)

1979
Tracy Austin (US Open)
Tracy Austin (Porsche Classic)

1981
Tracy Austin (Toyota Series Championships)

1985
Hana Mandlikova (US Open)

1989
Gabriela Sabatini (Bausch and Lomb Championships)

1998
Steffi Graf (Advanta Championships)

1999
Steffi Graf (French Open)
Serena Williams (US Open)

2000
Amelie Mauresmo (adidas International)
Venus Williams (Wimbledon)
Serena Williams (estyle.com Classic)
Venus Williams (US Open)

2001
Jennifer Capriati (Australian Open)
Monica Seles (Acura Classic)

2002
Serena Williams (NASDAQ-100 Open)
Serena Williams (French Open)
Kim Clijsters (WTA Championships)

2005
Serena Williams (Australian Open)

 

[tented]

I hope Azarenka plays a warm up, she needs to get her ranking up. I will be highly annoyed if she ends up on the Serena or Petra quarter playing them in the third round. She can play the Halep or Sharapova quarter. She could stand to win a tournament too to learn what it feels like to be a winner again.

Wimbledon seedings for WTA are done by a committee (not even in a formulaic way). If they want, they can promote Azrenka much higher than her ranking (as long as her ranking is at least 32).

Actually, Wimbledon seeds the women by WTA ranking. They only use a formula for the men.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

So Serena herself was the last to beat #1 and #2 how ironic that Lucie has a shot at doing the same thing by taking out the last person to do it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I hope Azarenka plays a warm up, she needs to get her ranking up. I will be highly annoyed if she ends up on the Serena or Petra quarter playing them in the third round. She can play the Halep or Sharapova quarter. She could stand to win a tournament too to learn what it feels like to be a winner again.

Wimbledon seedings for WTA are done by a committee (not even in a formulaic way). If they want, they can promote Azrenka much higher than her ranking (as long as her ranking is at least 32).

Actually, Wimbledon seeds the women by WTA ranking. They only use a formula for the men.

No.

For Men, they use the formula to seed the top 32 players in the ranking and so there is no subjectivity.

For Women, the committee decides the seeding based on their subjective opinion of who
should be seeded at what level. However, most often, they do not tinker too much and let the seeding to be same as ranking. But, there are instances where the committee decided to use
their privilege in the past.

 

[tossip]

seeding has always been controversial at Wimbledon...I remember they didnt seed Venus properly as a former champion and she ended up wining Wimbledon seeded no.23.
Azarenka is playing Birmingham...I guess she hopes to build on her ranking before Wimbledon.
Serena just needs a full day s rest and then train after the men semis are done..

 

[HawkEye]

I think Serena will win this but I'll be rooting for Lucie.

 

[tented]

Wimbledon seedings for WTA are done by a committee (not even in a formulaic way). If they want, they can promote Azrenka much higher than her ranking (as long as her ranking is at least 32).

Actually, Wimbledon seeds the women by WTA ranking. They only use a formula for the men.

No.

For Men, they use the formula to seed the top 32 players in the ranking and so there is no subjectivity.

For Women, the committee decides the seeding based on their subjective opinion of who
should be seeded at what level. However, most often, they do not tinker too much and let the seeding to be same as ranking. But, there are instances where the committee decided to use
their privilege in the past.

I see. Thanks for the more detailed explanation. I was basing my post on straightforward comments I remember reading on Wimbledon's site stating the Ladies seeding will be based on WTA rankings -- with no mention of a committee.

 

[nehmeth]

Lefty Lucy in two. Serena stays stuck at 19.