Brisbane International 2014

[Calvy]

Absolutely terrible match. Ugly stats from both. At least it's over. Another set of that would've been torture.

Was it a terrible match in your eyes, or a terrible second set? Just curious, because , in earlier post u wrote Serena was playing well after first set, just that her serve wasn't clicking.

 

[Front242]

Well what must hurt is that even with Serena serving at 41% and with 7 DFs and way more errors than winners Sharapova still didn't even get a set. It was her best showing against her in some time though. Eventhough they both served like 25 year old rotten pig manure, Sharapova put in some decent deep service returns and rallies.

The scoreline would, however, be a lot different if Serena served at above 60%

 

[colleen66]

The match might have been poor due to all the under-currents between the two ladies. I am sure that created a lot of unnecessary tension which probably affected play quality.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Yeah, I was thinking that too colleen that this was the first match they have played against one another since that Wimbledon trade of barbs. I am just glad it is over. I don't think I could have watched a third set. I think Serena is naturally going to be nervous at this stage. She has set a ridiculously high standard that even she might feel the pressure to perform at again this year.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

19.00 - local time.

Serena Williams vs Victoria Azarenka

Doubles final follows after that.

Here comes the kitchen sink, better dodge it Serena!


Pick:
Vika in straight sets.

 

[Front242]

I think Serena will win. Azarenka wasn't great in her last match either and Serena will definitely serve better against Azarenka than she did against Sharapova today.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't know why people say here comes the kitchen sink when it comes to Serena. Serena is the kitchen sink not the other way around. I expect a fight. Serena is defending champion, and Vika wants to take her down and land a blow. I expect the claws to come out, and I expect Serena to serve much better than she did today. I expect a three setter. I mean Serena is the only one not to drop a set in this tournament.

 

[rugged]

I had to change my avatar to a shot taken after this win. Says it all!!! Congrats Queen of Tennis!

 

[Calvy]

I don't know why people say here comes the kitchen sink when it comes to Serena. Serena is the kitchen sink not the other way around. I expect a fight. Serena is defending champion, and Vika wants to take her down and land a blow. I expect the claws to come out, and I expect Serena to serve much better than she did today. I expect a three setter. I mean Serena is the only one not to drop a set in this tournament.

Exactly!!

They've applied their metaphor to the wrong individual.

 

[Front242]

Absolutely terrible match. Ugly stats from both. At least it's over. Another set of that would've been torture.

Was it a terrible match in your eyes, or a terrible second set? Just curious, because , in earlier post u wrote Serena was playing well after first set, just that her serve wasn't clicking.

Sorry, so many tabs open here and didn't see your post till now. I thought her ground game was good in set 1 despite the crap serving but all round poor in set 2. Can't recall the last time I saw her serve consecutive DFs and 7 in total and losing serve so often. At least she still had 1 less DF than Sharapova but the serving by both was atrocious. Serena's much worse in terms of first serve %
Only 41% for the match is the worst I've seen from her. No doubt it'll be much improved tomorrow. Hard not to really.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't know why people say here comes the kitchen sink when it comes to Serena. Serena is the kitchen sink not the other way around. I expect a fight. Serena is defending champion, and Vika wants to take her down and land a blow. I expect the claws to come out, and I expect Serena to serve much better than she did today. I expect a three setter. I mean Serena is the only one not to drop a set in this tournament.

Exactly!!

They've applied their metaphor to the wrong individual.

I would also like to add that Serena has had to be on it from the start of this tournament. I mean her list of opponents : Petkovic, Cibulkova, Sharapova and now Azarenka. Her draw was not one slouch. All of her opponents are dangerous in their own way when things are firing. I expected Serena to have an off match. She is usually good for one every tournament she plays. I just didn't expect her serve to go off nearly as bad as it did in the second set.

 

[Front242]

That's true, Serena had a rough draw this tournament. As bad as the serving was she can take some positives. Her down the line backhand was outstanding on many points in set one so there's at least one good thing to recall from this match.

 

[Calvy]

Absolutely terrible match. Ugly stats from both. At least it's over. Another set of that would've been torture.

Was it a terrible match in your eyes, or a terrible second set? Just curious, because , in earlier post u wrote Serena was playing well after first set, just that her serve wasn't clicking.

Sorry, so many tabs open here and didn't see your post till now. I thought her ground game was good in set 1 despite the crap serving but all round poor in set 2. Can't recall the last time I saw her serve consecutive DFs and 7 in total and losing serve so often. At least she still had 1 less DF than Sharapova but the serving by both was atrocious. Serena's much worse in terms of first serve %
Only 41% for the match is the worst I've seen from her. No doubt it'll be much improved tomorrow. Hard not to really.

I think the underlining tension due to comments made since Wimbledon played a part in the level of tennis, good and bad.

Also, curious what Maria takes away from this match, she had a opponent whom was far from her best, without her biggest weapon, and she, Maria, still comes away with the L.

I wonder if her mindset is, like after Miami, I got closer, or dang, what do I have to do to win a match against this woman.

 

[Front242]

Absolutely terrible match. Ugly stats from both. At least it's over. Another set of that would've been torture.

Was it a terrible match in your eyes, or a terrible second set? Just curious, because , in earlier post u wrote Serena was playing well after first set, just that her serve wasn't clicking.

Sorry, so many tabs open here and didn't see your post till now. I thought her ground game was good in set 1 despite the crap serving but all round poor in set 2. Can't recall the last time I saw her serve consecutive DFs and 7 in total and losing serve so often. At least she still had 1 less DF than Sharapova but the serving by both was atrocious. Serena's much worse in terms of first serve %
Only 41% for the match is the worst I've seen from her. No doubt it'll be much improved tomorrow. Hard not to really.

I think the underlining tension due to comments made since Wimbledon played a part in the level of tennis, good and bad.

Also, curious what Maria takes away from this match, she had a opponent whom was far from her best, without her biggest weapon, and she, Maria, still comes away with the L.

I wonder if her mindset is, like after Miami, I got closer, or dang, what do I have to do to win a match against this woman.

I was impressed by how strongly Sharapova started and she fought hard eventhough set 1 ended 6-2. That's disheartening too though to try so hard and still lose a set 6-2. There aren't a whole lot of positives to take tbh when you consider she still lost in straights to a Serena on probably the most woeful serving day in any of their previous matches. She knows Serena doesn't usually serve 41% first serves in any match and 7 double faults so next time they meet and the serving isn't like that it certainly won't be any easier.

And that's not meant to be nasty towards Sharapova fans, it's a simple truth. Serena never usually serves that badly against Sharapova so for her to still not drop a set serving so poorly can't be anything positive for Maria. The one positive is that Sharapova's ROS I thought was better than usual against Serena even when Serena did manage to get a 1st serve in. Sharapova hit some decent returns. But again, Serena's first serves were few and far between today so the ROS was bound to look better.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I do want to say. I think this is the slimmest and trimmest I have ever seen Maria look. Good for her. I think of the top 4 she is looking the fittest. That should definitely help her in the movement department this year.

 

[kskate2]

I have to agree w/ Front and others that the media tension from the Wimbledon incident played a role in their level. And no, it doesn't help Maria's confidence that she couldn't beat an off Serena even though she was able to break serve multiple times and get it to a breaker where it's anyone's match. New coach or not, she has to find a way to exorcise these demons in her head.

 

[Front242]

I do want to say. I think this is the slimmest and trimmest I have ever seen Maria look. Good for her. I think of the top 4 she is looking the fittest. That should definitely help her in the movement department this year.

Was thinking she looked very trim alright. Almost as thin as Hantuchova or Ivanovic since her way too drastic weight loss. I could probably use her as a dumbbell but yeah she looks in good shape for playing tennis.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I do want to say. I think this is the slimmest and trimmest I have ever seen Maria look. Good for her. I think of the top 4 she is looking the fittest. That should definitely help her in the movement department this year.

Was thinking she looked very trim alright. Almost as thin as Hantuchova or Ivanovic since her way too drastic weight loss. I could probably use her as a dumbbell but yeah she looks in good shape for playing tennis.

Yeah, I think in this case though it will work well for her and not a deterrent like it was for the players you mentioned.

 

[Fefe26]

I need masha to find another strategy other than grunting louder and hitting the ball harder. Overall it was a good match, considering the errors and poor serving. but is it me or does serena look a little heavy? she was breathing kinda hard out there.

 

[Front242]

Even when people think Serena is out of shape she beats them and wins the tournament so I wouldn't read too much into it. From watching her matches it seems to me that she breathes heavily when serving poorly as she has to then put extra effort into finishing points with her ground game and hits the ball a good bit harder. If her serve was working better she wouldn't have had to expend as much energy. I don't mean she has no cardio and can only breathe normally pelting aces left, right and centre but even getting first serves in sets her next shots up and therefore ends points sooner even if the opponent gets a racquet on it. By missing the first serve completely and having to hit far weaker second serves she's then forced to rally a lot more than she's used to.

Also with the amount of breaks of serve it made for more urgency to break back and therefore more energy exertion. She's not really used to being behind in sets to Sharapova. And she desperately didn't want it to go to a 3rd set so hence why she was playing hard to get it over in 2 and consequently out of puff a bit. Plus it was damn hot out there. On that note, check the weather for Saturday's final. Brutal. 41C (105.8F).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2174003