2016 USO Poll and Draw Talk

[the AntiPusher]

Wow..extremely tough draw for Serena .. especially the first round will face Ekaterina Makarova..

My thoughts are Serena will have to raise the bar immediately.. No time to come out half hearted, she has got to aggressive and move the feet regardless if the serves are clicking.

Two ways to look at this:
1. She really has no pressure since she has tied Steffi for number 22

2. The other is high pressure to win break Graf's records (grand Slams #23 and the consecutive weeks at number one ranking)

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Will Serena reach 22 slams? More?

Wow..extremely tough draw for Serena .. especially the first round will face Ekaterina Makarova..

My thoughts are Serena will have to raise the bar immediately.. No time to come out half hearted, she has got to aggressive and move the feet regardless if the serves are clicking.

Two ways to look at this:
1. She really has no pressure since she has tied Steffi for number 22

2. The other is high pressure to win break Graf's records (grand Slams #23 and the consecutive weeks at number one ranking)

She will be tied with Graf's weeks record as well no matter what happens at USO. She will break
both records if she wins USO. However, she can break that record without really winning USO also
depending how she does in comparison to other contenders.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

RE: Will Serena reach 22 slams? More?

Actually, I don't think Serena's draw is that bad aside from Makarova being her first round opponent. Serena knows what is at stake, and she usually raises her game when things are on the line. I saw her quarter and half and no one completely alarming other than Halep, but who knows which Halep will show up.

Kerber's side actually has a lot of land mines.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

RE: Will Serena reach 22 slams? More?

Makarova has been plummeting day after day for the last 6 months, if not an year or so.

 

[kskate2]

Find the complete draw here

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena's draw really isn't that terrible. There are a lot of players on her side that could prove tricky, but I don't think should cause her any issues. I think Serena needs to see a Makarova early to keep that focus. I'm not particularly worried about Ivanovic or Stosur or Halep. Ivanovic has been MIA all year, and Stosur well has never really been the player who has won a slam since that win. Halep could prove tough, but as we have seen before when something important is on the line she folds easier than a fitted sheet does. Actually Serena playing against a fitted sheet would probably be a better match.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Serena's draw really isn't that terrible. There are a lot of players on her side that could prove tricky, but I don't think should cause her any issues. I think Serena needs to see a Makarova early to keep that focus. I'm not particularly worried about Ivanovic or Stosur or Halep. Ivanovic has been MIA all year, and Stosur well has never really been the player who has won a slam since that win. Halep could prove tough, but as we have seen before when something important is on the line she folds easier than a fitted sheet does. Actually Serena playing against a fitted sheet would probably be a better match.

SMG ..on paper everything you say is true. However, Serena has had some extremely horrendous experiences at USO. There is no need to provide chronological-real assessment of the past 17 years because also she has been at times a mental midget as was evident last year vs Vinci. These days with Serena it's one match at a time although she still has the ability to absolute anhilate the majority of her opponents.

 

[tossip]

Serena will be ready for Makarova..Eketarna is not very good on the USA hardcourts...especially on Arthur Ashe during prime time.
Serena has very good history in first round matches at big events,her only loss was to Razzano...light years ago.
Serena in two..

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Yeah but Vinci was an anomaly I don't think you can use that match as a good example as Serena was playing for a Calendar Slam that is a very different pressure. While Serena has had some horrendous experiences, she has also had some of her greatest moments here too. I don't think she will lack for motivation #1 is on the line, and that seems very important to Serena. She also has a shot at #23. It seems equaling feats was more the challenge for Serena than beating them.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Yeah but Vinci was an anomaly I don't think you can use that match as a good example as Serena was playing for a Calendar Slam that is a very different pressure. While Serena has had some horrendous experiences, she has also had some of her greatest moments here too. I don't think she will lack for motivation #1 is on the line, and that seems very important to Serena. She also has a shot at #23. It seems equaling feats was more the challenge for Serena than beating them.

I don't think we have seen the same Serena we saw prior to last year's Cincy tournament. However, you are correct. I think she should be more relax, should be able to open up the shoulders and let it fly. I will abandon my desire for her to try to incorporate more serve n volley because she still doesn't have a great comfort level in that part of the court. Venus on the other hand, IMO is a no brainer, she should be coming to the net. Venus wingspan is astounding and would be more of a threat there because she doesn't have the consistency or stamina to bang from the baseline against ladies 8-13 years younger than her.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think we will see Serena play within herself to conserve the shoulder then from QF on we will see her put more effort into it if she makes it that far. Remember, there is the potential for the roof to play a factor in these matches, and we know how much better she is when the roof is closed.

 

[kskate2]

And just like all the previous years, all her matches will be on Ashe. So some indoor tennis could be played if it's really wet.

 

[tossip]

Kvitty and Kerber are good indoors...

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Yeah but Kvitova sucks at the US Open and Kerber doesn't have nearly as much fire power as Serena and will not be nearly as lethal as Serena with a closed roof.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Yeah but Kvitova sucks at the US Open and Kerber doesn't have nearly as much fire power as Serena and will not be nearly as lethal as Serena with a closed roof.

If Serena gets that big 1st and 2nd serve booming by the second week plus the presence of a closed roof, the female Sampras will be smiling.

 

[Calvy]

I find it hilarious that one "Someone Else" vote is always by the same person, everytime.

:laydownlaughing

 

[10isfan]

How is Serena's shoulder?

I am hoping Cibby helps Serena stay number one when or if she meets Kerber.

 

[tossip]

Vika is busy dissing certain players on her twitter,its no one s fault that she got knocked up.She must be unhappy in her life that she has the need to disrespect her contemporaries as if they caused her pregnancy...#miserablebanshee..
so happy that the two loudest banshees are banished from the Open..

 

[the AntiPusher]

Vika is busy dissing certain players on her twitter,its no one s fault that she got knocked up.She must be unhappy in her life that she has the need to disrespect her contemporaries as if they caused her pregnancy...#miserablebanshee..
so happy that the two loudest banshees are banished from the Open..

Pova may be back before :heart: Day.. I think she has her appeal hearing in a few weeks

 

[10isfan]

I still can't believe what happened to Vika. She could have had a great chance at Olympic gold and this US Open title if she didn't get pregnant. She is a dolt for messing up her career like this. Li Na did it right. Got everything out of her game then had a child ten months after retiring. I doubt Vika can get back near the top. What a waste.