2019 Wimbledon Final: Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep

[MargaretMcAleer]

"I just have to figure out a way to win a final",Williams said."Maybe it is playing one of the finals outside of Grand Slams would be really helpful"

You think Serena? we here at TF have been saying that all year?
Serena did say in her press conference she has entered both Toronto and Cinncy this year.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Simona Halep on Darren Cahill,

" Darren is part of this.I talk to him all the time.He came to see my match again today.His heart is with us.Made me a little bit stronger today,honestly,to be able to believe that I have a chance to win."

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

Wow. Haley played a truly near perfect match. Her defense was unbelievable. I can't believe she hit only 3 unforced errors even if it is Wimbledon. Truly remarkable. I didn't even think Serena played badly for most of the match though she did seem to get a little dispirited in the last couple of games.

 

[Hoergren]

 

[tossip]

making the final doesn't matter if you're not winning the top hardwaare

maybe she should have trusted her instinct when she wanted to play before Wimbledon.I think she has other priorities in her life and tennis is no longer her baby.She either has to retire now or put in the work to prepare herself for a win ...the game is still there all she needs are more matches even if she has to play a challenger to get her confidence up.I hate to see her lose to players she should be beating with one hand

 

[tossip]

wow BJK has something to say about Serena....just feel like hugging her because the negativity is too much.Its easy to see that she has been crying....did BJK ever talked to Pova like this..

 

[kskate2]

maybe she should have trusted her instinct when she wanted to play before Wimbledon.I think she has other priorities in her life and tennis is no longer her baby.She either has to retire now or put in the work to prepare herself for a win ...the game is still there all she needs are more matches even if she has to play a challenger to get her confidence up.I hate to see her lose to players she should be beating with one hand

Well I said that a long time ago, but not sure her pride will allow her to. She doesn't have to play a challenger, but she can enter a 250 and as long as she doesn't retire, I'm pretty sure she would get to the final. A win anywhere would do loads for her confidence. She's never gone this long w/o winning any kind of title.

 

[kskate2]

wow BJK has something to say about Serena....just feel like hugging her because the negativity is too much.Its easy to see that she has been crying....did BJK ever talked to Pova like this..

Probably not. But then nobody expects Pova to break any records. Serena is the "queen" for a reason. With that comes a lot of responsibility and pressure.

 

[Moxie]

I wanted to say one thing, because it came up in the Live Chat today, during the men's final. Someone said at least it was better than the women's final. I didn't want to disrupt the conversation to say this, but: well, it might have been better if the women were allowed to play Bo5. The men's final would have been pretty dull today, too, if it had been Bo3. It was only epic, if it actually was, because it went 5. I don't understand how fans of the women's game don't advocate for a Bo5 in Majors. Women are deprived of the epic matches if they don't go 5. Plus, it would close down what is a stupid but stalwart argument on the equal pay issue.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I wanted to say one thing, because it came up in the Live Chat today, during the men's final. Someone said at least it was better than the women's final. I didn't want to disrupt the conversation to say this, but: well, it might have been better if the women were allowed to play Bo5. The men's final would have been pretty dull today, too, if it had been Bo3. It was only epic, if it actually was, because it went 5. I don't understand how fans of the women's game don't advocate for a Bo5 in Majors. Women are deprived of the epic matches if they don't go 5. Plus, it would close down what is a stupid but stalwart argument on the equal pay issue.

This was actually brought up a few ago.Personally I have no problem with women playing Bo5,though some say it would be boring,(meaning women's tennis is boring).Top players sell seats,that also happens in mens tennis.Women train hard,so I think they are up to playing Bo5.Women's final this year was a blow out agree,in just 57 minutes.Playing schedules would have to be looked at in Majors if the men and women's tennis went the Bo5,they could cause problems down the track.
I am in favor,regardless of the argument of the equal pay issue.

 

[Moxie]

This was actually brought up a few ago.Personally I have no problem with women playing Bo5,though some say it would be boring,(meaning women's tennis is boring).Top players sell seats,that also happens in mens tennis.Women train hard,so I think they are up to playing Bo5.Women's final this year was a blow out agree,in just 57 minutes.Playing schedules would have to be looked at in Majors if the men and women's tennis went the Bo5,they could cause problems down the track.
I am in favor,regardless of the argument of the equal pay issue.

The notion that Bo5 for women would be "boring" is sexist, on its face. I hate this argument. It also ignores the fact that Bo5 for men is often really boring. I think the most important point is that not allowing women the Bo5 format deprives them of the really epic matches that men have. There is no men's Bo3 match that even compares to the greatest of the Bo5 ones. So if women want to play epic matches, they have to play Bo5.

As to equal pay, I've always said that tennis players don't get paid by the hour, but it would help the argument. (Which is basically settled, in the real world, but men on the internet still go crazy over it.)

I have been arguing for a long time that Majors should go to a Bo3 format for men and women, up to the QF rounds. Then they go to Bo5, all of them. It would be much more interesting, and women would get the chance to play epic matches, too.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The notion that Bo5 for women would be "boring" is sexist, on its face. I hate this argument. It also ignores the fact that Bo5 for men is often really boring. I think the most important point is that not allowing women the Bo5 format deprives them of the really epic matches that men have. There is no men's Bo3 match that even compares to the greatest of the Bo5 ones. So if women want to play epic matches, they have to play Bo5.

As to equal pay, I've always said that tennis players don't get paid by the hour, but it would help the argument. (Which is basically settled, in the real world, but men on the internet still go crazy over it.)

I have been arguing for a long time that Majors should go to a Bo3 format for men and women, up to the QF rounds. Then they go to Bo5, all of them. It would be much more interesting, and women would get the chance to play epic matches, too.

I agree that the notion of Bo5 for women would be boring is sexist,on its face,though sad to say when this was brought up before the general consensus was it would be boring.Maybe I am old fashioned and a traditionalist I prefer Majors to be the best of five sets,even the final of Master's I prefer to be the best of 5 sets,like it used to be.As a compromise women playing the Bo5 in Majors from the quarter finals has been raised before.I still prefer the men playing the best of five sets in Majors.

 

[Moxie]

I agree that the notion of Bo5 for women would be boring is sexist,on its face,though sad to say when this was brought up before the general consensus was it would be boring.Maybe I am old fashioned and a traditionalist I prefer Majors to be the best of five sets,even the final of Master's I prefer to be the best of 5 sets,like it used to be.As a compromise women playing the Bo5 in Majors from the quarter finals has been raised before.I still prefer the men playing the best of five sets in Majors.

You mean men playing Bo5 throughout the tournament. Fine, but still I think women should play Bo5 at Majors, and I think they should play same as men. If you don't shorten the men's matches, then they should all play Bo5 the whole tournament. And on-court coaching is infantilizing. Until the women work on the same playing field, there's going to be an argument. But worst, women won't play epic matches w/o Bo5.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You mean men playing Bo5 throughout the tournament. Fine, but still I think women should play Bo5 at Majors, and I think they should play same as men. If you don't shorten the men's matches, then they should all play Bo5 the whole tournament. And on-court coaching is infantilizing. Until the women work on the same playing field, there's going to be an argument. But worst, women won't play epic matches w/o Bo5.

I also heard a rumor they might trial on court coaching at the USO this year,I am totally against it.Personally I do not have a problem with women playing the Bo5 at Majors,like the men.When we had this discussion before,a lot of people like the idea of women playing Bo5 from the quarters at all Majors,though I can see your proposal,both have to be on the same playing field at Majors.

 

[isabelle]

I'm in heaven; not only Simona won but the awfull badass lost...really great day for tennis for sure, congrats Simona and her team

 

[the AntiPusher]

maybe she should have trusted her instinct when she wanted to play before Wimbledon.I think she has other priorities in her life and tennis is no longer her baby.She either has to retire now or put in the work to prepare herself for a win ...the game is still there all she needs are more matches even if she has to play a challenger to get her confidence up.I hate to see her lose to players she should be beating with one hand

I still haven't seen the match for it's entirety however I saw Halep only had 3 UFEs..Even on Serena's best day, it's hard to beat a top 3 talent like Simona. If her knees remain healthy,Serena can rebound at the Cincy and USO.

 

[Vince Evert]

This was actually brought up a few ago.Personally I have no problem with women playing Bo5,though some say it would be boring,(meaning women's tennis is boring).Top players sell seats,that also happens in mens tennis.Women train hard,so I think they are up to playing Bo5.Women's final this year was a blow out agree,in just 57 minutes.Playing schedules would have to be looked at in Majors if the men and women's tennis went the Bo5,they could cause problems down the track.
I am in favor,regardless of the argument of the equal pay issue.

it would be boring if the two finalists are playing the same baselining trend in the game. The day more attacking players arrive on the scene is when they should have a BO5 Wimbledon final, but only Wimbledon.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

it would be boring if the two finalists are playing the same baselining trend in the game. The day more attacking players arrive on the scene is when they should have a BO5 Wimbledon final, but only Wimbledon.

I am afraid baseline tennis is here to stay,I cannot see in the future of playing BO5 at Wimbledon only,to be fair it would have to be at all GS tournaments.When you compare the grass at Wimbledon today,it is slower also the balls are heavier for some unknown reason? I raised this question on the mens blog and asked why are they using heavier balls?
The serve and volley game is hardly used,I used to Yawn when Pete Sampras was playing (my husband would kill me if he knew I wrote that,Pete was his idol).

 

[Vince Evert]

I am afraid baseline tennis is here to stay,I cannot see in the future of playing BO5 at Wimbledon only,to be fair it would have to be at all GS tournaments.When you compare the grass at Wimbledon today,it is slower also the balls are heavier for some unknown reason? I raised this question on the mens blog and asked why are they using heavier balls?
The serve and volley game is hardly used,I used to Yawn when Pete Sampras was playing (my husband would kill me if he knew I wrote that,Pete was his idol).

yeah that goes for me too from that era of 1990 to 2002, Pete, followed by Pat Rafter and just a tad earlier Stephan Edberg was my fave players to watch.

With regards to women modern day competitors, you never know. If Ashleigh goes on to became a consistent domiant champion , with her attacking and economical style of play, this could bring in a new era of players who plays the game like Miss Barty does.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

yeah that goes for me too from that era of 1990 to 2002, Pete, followed by Pat Rafter and just a tad earlier Stephan Edberg was my fave players to watch.

With regards to women modern day competitors, you never know. If Ashleigh goes on to became a consistent domiant champion , with her attacking and economical style of play, this could bring in a new era of players who plays the game like Miss Barty does.

Ash has great variety in her game,to me has the best bhand slice in the game,her serve has improved out of sight.Today I feel the key is to have 'variety in your game' playing doubles also enhances your singles play as well.Ash is also a fine doubles player.