2016 Australian Open Final: S. Williams vs. Kerber

[special700]

Serena was very slow ...her footwork did her in.I think its okay she lost to someone like Kerber who is not the media favorite.I think her game has become a bit predictable and every player is looking to defeat her...and the errors were too many...she didnt seem to have a game plan.

When has Serena ever had a game plan? Davenporte is giving her too much credit in Williams figuring out patterns and taking advantage of weaknesses! With both Williams' it's about blowing the other woman off the court; period, end of story! The only thing strategic about it is getting off the court sooner rather than later if all is clicking well in hitting with abandon and mindless aggression! uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover Is that too much honesty? Sorry! :ras:

I strongly disagree with this assessment. I think lumping them together is disingenuous. If they are one in the same about how they play, then why does Serena have triple the number of slams to her sister? Now, do I think Serena is a strategist and works things out like a Martina Hingis, no. I think Serena is a lot smarter often than not in how she serves and when to go for it and when to play it safe. I think she has had the nuances and the smarts all the time, but some portions of her career have been more obvious in displaying it than others. I think under Patrick we have seen a far more controlled aggression in which she has held off on that trigger until mostly the right moments. Her return of serve has been more dialed back at times in an attempt to make more returns. I remember a time where Serena was trigger happy and would win or lose matches in ugly fashion with 80+ errors. Now you rarely see that from her because she has gotten smarter about how to use her weapons.

This bullshit never cease to amaze me with these so call fans. Hell yes Serena is a Strategist and 10 times better than Hingis, that is why she has 21 majors and Hingis only has 5. Now tell me who's the best strategist? just because she lost a match all these nay sayers coming out talking shit about a woman with 21 majors and comparing her to someone with 5. Are you frigging kidding me. Serena and hingis should never be mentioned in the same sentence, ever.

 

[tossip]

Serena has the best tennis IQ on tour,she can concerntrate for hours in a match and is always aware of everything going on on court.
I think in this particular match her body failed her,she was slow to the ball and was making error after error.Her serve was not there and seemed tight...she lost the match just gave it away..

 

[Kieran]

I tend to agree with Fiero here: Serena's "strategy" is indistinguishable from her forearm muscles. She's a bruiser, a puncher, not a boxer. The only time I've seen her employ inspired "strategy" or tactics is in her toilet breaks, or pretend ones like the match with Danny Long Legs at Wimbledon a few years ago. It ain't subtle, but it was all she got...

 

[tossip]

I tend to agree with Fiero here: Serena's "strategy" is indistinguishable from her forearm muscles. She's a bruiser, a puncher, not a boxer. The only time I've seen her employ inspired "strategy" or tactics is in her toilet breaks, or pretend ones like the match with Danny Long Legs at Wimbledon a few years ago. It ain't subtle, but it was all she got...

:devil...Serena is the best on focusing on every point when the match gets tight:ras:

 

[Kieran]

I tend to agree with Fiero here: Serena's "strategy" is indistinguishable from her forearm muscles. She's a bruiser, a puncher, not a boxer. The only time I've seen her employ inspired "strategy" or tactics is in her toilet breaks, or pretend ones like the match with Danny Long Legs at Wimbledon a few years ago. It ain't subtle, but it was all she got...

:devil...Serena is the best on focusing on every point when the match gets tight:ras:

She's intense, yeah, but that's not strategy...

 

[Fiero425]

When has Serena ever had a game plan? Davenporte is giving her too much credit in Williams figuring out patterns and taking advantage of weaknesses! With both Williams' it's about blowing the other woman off the court; period, end of story! The only thing strategic about it is getting off the court sooner rather than later if all is clicking well in hitting with abandon and mindless aggression! uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover Is that too much honesty? Sorry! :ras:

I strongly disagree with this assessment. I think lumping them together is disingenuous. If they are one in the same about how they play, then why does Serena have triple the number of slams to her sister? Now, do I think Serena is a strategist and works things out like a Martina Hingis, no. I think Serena is a lot smarter often than not in how she serves and when to go for it and when to play it safe. I think she has had the nuances and the smarts all the time, but some portions of her career have been more obvious in displaying it than others. I think under Patrick we have seen a far more controlled aggression in which she has held off on that trigger until mostly the right moments. Her return of serve has been more dialed back at times in an attempt to make more returns. I remember a time where Serena was trigger happy and would win or lose matches in ugly fashion with 80+ errors. Now you rarely see that from her because she has gotten smarter about how to use her weapons.

This B.S. never cease to amaze me with these so call fans. Hell yes Serena is a Strategist and 10 times better than Hingis, that is why she has 21 majors and Hingis only has 5. Now tell me who's the best strategist? just because she lost a match all these nay sayers coming out talking crap about a woman with 21 majors and comparing her to someone with 5. Are you frigging kidding me. Serena and hingis should never be mentioned in the same sentence, ever.

:nono :snicker I wholeheartedly agree, but that GS count disparity has NOTHING to do with strategy! Seek serious help if you think a little girl who obviously was the best thinker on the court in recent memory has anything to worry about mentally with either Williams! They can have all the wins in the world; Hingis lost from "power" tennis of the day with these Amazons who were twice her size, slamming aces and crushing their groundstrokes and ROS! Hingis did well to win as much as she did; on par with Aggie Radwanska who has the same problem today! Martina's obviously smart and talented or she wouldn't have won 5 more majors last season; taking another one at this past AO! We'll see who has the longevity, skill, and mental fortitude to continue well past their prime! She's still winning after retiring twice! My money's on Hingis! You stay with the mindless ball bashers and see how far they go! :cover

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Well I have stayed with Serena from start and will until finish, and I am quite proud of where she started and what she will continue to achieve. 17 years and counting. I like a lot of the players mentioned Radwanska, Hingis and many more, and I don't have to insult any of them to respect what they bring to the table. They all have different attributes that make them special. Does Serena have fire power sure, but so do many other players like Petra, Maria, Azarenka, Muguruza, Lisicki and well it doesn't get them quite as far as Serena. The only thing I can think of is because Serena knows how to use her tennis skills better. Which would mean she is smart about using what she has because if she wasn't then she would have the numbers and the results of the other players I just mentioned.

 

[tented]

I like a lot of the players mentioned Radwanska, Hingis and many more, and I don't have to insult any of them to respect what they bring to the table. They all have different attributes that make them special.

Well said. :clap

 

[tossip]

I tend to agree with Fiero here: Serena's "strategy" is indistinguishable from her forearm muscles. She's a bruiser, a puncher, not a boxer. The only time I've seen her employ inspired "strategy" or tactics is in her toilet breaks, or pretend ones like the match with Danny Long Legs at Wimbledon a few years ago. It ain't subtle, but it was all she got...

:devil...Serena is the best on focusing on every point when the match gets tight:ras:

She's intense, yeah, but that's not strategy...

its strategy...:lolz:...if you can focus on every point and play it well thats strategy...ask Azarenka at the USA Open...Vika was 5-3 up but lost the match....or Henin at AO10 final...or Aga at Wimbledon final 2012..:ras:

 

[Kieran]

:devil...Serena is the best on focusing on every point when the match gets tight:ras:

She's intense, yeah, but that's not strategy...

its strategy...:lolz:...if you can focus on every point and play it well thats strategy...ask Azarenka at the USA Open...Vika was 5-3 up but lost the match....or Henin at AO10 final...or Aga at Wimbledon final 2012..:ras:

It's not strategy, it's concentration and intensity. Intensity, because she stays so focused on everything. Strategy is to do with gameplan, working out the opponent and playing a certain way to neutralise them, while maximising your own game against them. Serena goes Blam, with a huge fat bird grunt at the finish. This is effective and it neutralises the opponent etc, but it isn't a sign of great strategy because it's actually her only strategy and she employs it the same against everybody, everywhere.

That's not to say Serena is unintelligent as a player. She's not, she's fiercely bright. But she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff...

 

[the AntiPusher]

Serena has the best tennis IQ on tour,she can concerntrate for hours in a match and is always aware of everything going on on court.
I think in this particular match her body failed her,she was slow to the ball and was making error after error.Her serve was not there and seemed tight...she lost the match just gave it away..

Couldn't have been said better, there have been numerous situations where Serena was down mp or made a miraculous comeback when she clearly was in the best physical condition (e.g Google Queen of the Comeback).

I am a bit disappointed in some of the posters who think that Serena wins because she is physically stronger than most of her opponent. MJ , Tiger , Gretzky, Kobe and Joe Montana in their prime was the best players I ever seen as being clutch when the situation was at its most critical. Serena is right in that class and I rank Serena right behind MJ as being the most mentally strong or having the ability to recognize the moment as well as hold their composure during the " eye of the storm" . That's by being very cerebral. Nuff Said.

 

[the AntiPusher]

She's intense, yeah, but that's not strategy...

its strategy...:lolz:...if you can focus on every point and play it well thats strategy...ask Azarenka at the USA Open...Vika was 5-3 up but lost the match....or Henin at AO10 final...or Aga at Wimbledon final 2012..:ras:

It's not strategy, it's concentration and intensity. Intensity, because she stays so focused on everything. Strategy is to do with gameplan, working out the opponent and playing a certain way to neutralise them, while maximising your own game against them. Serena goes Blam, with a huge fat bird grunt at the finish. This is effective and it neutralises the opponent etc, but it isn't a sign of great strategy because it's actually her only strategy and she employs it the same against everybody, everywhere.

That's not to say Serena is unintelligent as a player. She's not, she's fiercely bright. But she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff...

Typically my brother from another parent , we are on the same page However , this time we differ. I stated numerous times my admiration for Hingis 's cerebral tennis prowess. Swiss Miss never had the tennis physical strength of The Williams Sisters or a Sharapova but has beaten those types of players on a few occasions with her strategies. However she never dominated those players the way Serena has dominated all types of players for years. It takes a plan to have the ability to break an opponent's game down especially when some days you don't have that physical energy on some days.Go back and Google Serena Williams's comebacks. Look at the numerous situations where Serena just had to "figure it out".

 

[Kieran]

Serena has made many comebacks, and as I said, she's not a tennis dunce standing in a corner of the court with a cone on her head, but most of her comebacks were of the WTA variety. That is, the shrinking violet over the other side of the net caught a dose of the Novotnas and shanked her dream away over the backstop.

It can be difficult to distinguish this kinda play from normal WTA play, but I think the comeback can be recognised from the score...

 

[freedomsmom]

its strategy...:lolz:...if you can focus on every point and play it well thats strategy...ask Azarenka at the USA Open...Vika was 5-3 up but lost the match....or Henin at AO10 final...or Aga at Wimbledon final 2012..:ras:

It's not strategy, it's concentration and intensity. Intensity, because she stays so focused on everything. Strategy is to do with gameplan, working out the opponent and playing a certain way to neutralise them, while maximising your own game against them. Serena goes Blam, with a huge fat bird grunt at the finish. This is effective and it neutralises the opponent etc, but it isn't a sign of great strategy because it's actually her only strategy and she employs it the same against everybody, everywhere.

That's not to say Serena is unintelligent as a player. She's not, she's fiercely bright. But she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff...

Typically my brother from another parent , we are on the same page However , this time we differ. I stated numerous times my admiration for Hingis 's cerebral tennis prowess. Swiss Miss never had the tennis physical strength of The Williams Sisters or a Sharapova but has beaten those types of players on a few occasions with her strategies. However she never dominated those players the way Serena has dominated all types of players for years. It takes a plan to have the ability to break an opponent's game down especially when some days you don't have that physical energy on some days.Go back and Google Serena Williams's comebacks. Look at the numerous situations where Serena just had to "figure it out".

" but she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff..."

WTA's level of play evolved to a faster/ power game before Hingis or the Williams sisters began their professional careers. Graf and Seles served and returned the ball a hundred plus mph. Check the record.
Discuss strategic stuff/tennis smarts Serena lacks? Be specific.

 

[the AntiPusher]

It's not strategy, it's concentration and intensity. Intensity, because she stays so focused on everything. Strategy is to do with gameplan, working out the opponent and playing a certain way to neutralise them, while maximising your own game against them. Serena goes Blam, with a huge fat bird grunt at the finish. This is effective and it neutralises the opponent etc, but it isn't a sign of great strategy because it's actually her only strategy and she employs it the same against everybody, everywhere.

That's not to say Serena is unintelligent as a player. She's not, she's fiercely bright. But she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff...

Typically my brother from another parent , we are on the same page However , this time we differ. I stated numerous times my admiration for Hingis 's cerebral tennis prowess. Swiss Miss never had the tennis physical strength of The Williams Sisters or a Sharapova but has beaten those types of players on a few occasions with her strategies. However she never dominated those players the way Serena has dominated all types of players for years. It takes a plan to have the ability to break an opponent's game down especially when some days you don't have that physical energy on some days.Go back and Google Serena Williams's comebacks. Look at the numerous situations where Serena just had to "figure it out".

" but she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff..."

WTA's level of play evolved to a faster/ power game before Hingis or the Williams sisters began their professional careers. Graf and Seles served and returned the ball a hundred plus mph. Check the record.
Discuss strategic stuff/tennis smarts Serena lacks? Be specific.

"But she is no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategics stuff"

I Beg to differ , by your statement that's the almost pure equivalent of saying Tom Brady is no Peyton Manning.Brady has more accomplishments in the NFL than Peyton however to say that Peyton is more supremely gifted upstairs than Brady is unfair. Yes, Brady is coached by Bill Beli but it takes a very cerebral disciple to go on the field to read the defense and execute the plays when all "Helter Skelter" is occurring every play. Serena has been dominate during the past 3 era s of tennis,(late 90, 2000 and after 2010 on all four surfaces. She has won titles in mixed and lady doubles, a course singles while enduring personal and medical tradegies.If you had one match for a female player to play with your wellbeing at stake, would you prefer Hingis or Serena? Most definitely it's Serena for me even if she is playing against Graf, Evert or Martina Nav in their prime on their best surfaces including clay. IMO

 

[Fiero425]

- :violins: -

 

[Kieran]

There's a reason why the Klitscho brothers will never be compared to Ali or Joe Louis. The fighters they beat were tripe. Serena is great but she's not blessed in who she faces, for us to compare her with Navratilova or Evert...

 

[Fiero425]

There's a reason why the Klitscho brothers will never be compared to Ali or Joe Louis. The fighters they beat were tripe. Serena is great but she's not blessed in who she faces, for us to compare her with Navratilova or Evert...

She hasn't had real competition since Henin and Clijster! The few players that have the firepower to blow her off the court are "head cases" who can be spotted 4 match points and they'd find a way to lose it; Sharapova and Azarenka! Then you have SW's bestie in Woz who's also thrown off; has the game, but will never beat Serena on her worst day! At this time you need either an old vet like Vinci or newbie like Bencic who had "nothing to lose" and let it rip; upsets for the ages when the established stars are pathetic and rarely win if ever! Why it's called a rivalry with Maria; I'll never understand! She hadn't won a match against Williams in over 10 years! Aza should just default if she sees Serena's name next to hers! That AO CHOKE serving for it a couple times allowing Serena to save so many MP's; why didn't she just retire? If she couldn't win that one, she may never beat Serena again! :cover :nono uzzled

 

[freedomsmom]

Typically my brother from another parent , we are on the same page However , this time we differ. I stated numerous times my admiration for Hingis 's cerebral tennis prowess. Swiss Miss never had the tennis physical strength of The Williams Sisters or a Sharapova but has beaten those types of players on a few occasions with her strategies. However she never dominated those players the way Serena has dominated all types of players for years. It takes a plan to have the ability to break an opponent's game down especially when some days you don't have that physical energy on some days.Go back and Google Serena Williams's comebacks. Look at the numerous situations where Serena just had to "figure it out".

" but she's no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategic stuff..."

WTA's level of play evolved to a faster/ power game before Hingis or the Williams sisters began their professional careers. Graf and Seles served and returned the ball a hundred plus mph. Check the record.
Discuss strategic stuff/tennis smarts Serena lacks? Be specific.

"But she is no Hingis when it comes to tennis smarts in strategics stuff"

I Beg to differ , by your statement that's the almost pure equivalent of saying Tom Brady is no Peyton Manning.Brady has more accomplishments in the NFL than Peyton however to say that Peyton is more supremely gifted upstairs than Brady is unfair. Yes, Brady is coached by Bill Beli but it takes a very cerebral disciple to go on the field to read the defense and execute the plays when all "Helter Skelter" is occurring every play. Serena has been dominate during the past 3 era s of tennis,(late 90, 2000 and after 2010 on all four surfaces. She has won titles in mixed and lady doubles, a course singles while enduring personal and medical tradegies.If you had one match for a female player to play with your wellbeing at stake, would you prefer Hingis or Serena? Most definitely it's Serena for me even if she is playing against Graf, Evert or Martina Nav in their prime on their best surfaces including clay. IMO

I agree. I quoted the comment from a earlier post from another member.

 

[Fiero425]

Even clay; with 10+ years between FO titles with no clay court specialist like Henin? Not sure I'd take that bet Serena would beat any of the past greats like Navratilova, Evert, Graf, or Seles! ;-)