Brisbane International 2014

[Moxie]

Muscle is heavy, lots of muscle is good for power but a drag to haul around, lots of muscle can slow one down.

Speed is as much of a key in tennis as is power, sometimes more effective.

Serena is heavy.

I'm surprised at you, Kiu, saying she's "heavy," as if it's an unqualified truth. She's not too heavy for her size, and she's not like an Isner dragging around a 6'9", 250 lb. body. As Front says, big quads, and as I maintain, glutes, give her a speed and power advantage. She's fit for long matches, so I don't see a complaint about her size.

Well, the heaviest thing is definitely those 17 slams. She's gotta be doing something right.

Agreed!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

No idea when this was taken but looking pretty good here. Both of them.

I would estimate early 2000s

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

She is heavy for her size, too much muscle, Look at Caro, that's fit!

 

[Front242]

The fact that Serena is dominating the WTA tour at age 32 says she's gotta be pretty fit. I personally don't think anything else needs to be said on that issue really when you take into account her last season against the skinnier, speedy little cherubs out there playing against her.

 

[Front242]

I'd hazard a guess if Serena lost that power by losing a few pounds of muscle (doesn't appear to be carrying a whole lot of fat for all the talk of her being "heavy") it'd actually make her game suffer. The big serve would lose a good few mph/kph if her core became weaker. Her muscle contributes to not only her power but speed as Moxie pointed out. She runs down a lot of balls only to hit them bang into the corner for winners so she appears pretty damn fit. And again, she's 32, world number 1 and beating all the lighter girls. I'd gladly settle to be considered "heavy" if it keeps you beating everyone and grabbing all the trophies.

 

[Front242]

She is heavy for her size, too much muscle, Look at Caro, that's fit!

And look at the number of slams. 0 v 17. Hmmm. Again, Serena's doing just fine the way she is.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

The fact that Serena is dominating the WTA tour at age 32 says she's gotta be pretty fit. I personally don't think anything else needs to be said on that issue really when you take into account her last season against the skinnier, speedy little cherubs out there playing against her.

Fit has nothing to do with being heavy, Serena has lots of muscles, so she is heavy, I would estimate her weight at 165 pounds, that's heavy!

Vika is heavy too!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Muscle is heavy, lots of muscle is good for power but a drag to haul around, lots of muscle can slow one down.

Speed is as much of a key in tennis as is power, sometimes more effective.

Serena is heavy.

I'm surprised at you, Kiu, saying she's "heavy," as if it's an unqualified truth. She's not too heavy for her size....

Rafa is not heavy! Very fit too...

 

[Front242]

Apparently she's currently 70kg (155lbs). Not exactly heavy. Heavier than the little stick insects out there for sure but why would she want to lose weight if her game would suffer as a result?

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

She is heavy for her size, too much muscle, Look at Caro, that's fit!

And look at the number of slams. 0 v 17. Hmmm. Again, Serena's doing just fine the way she is.

what does that to do with being heavy?

Isn't she?

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

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Apparently she's currently 70kg (155lbs). Not exactly heavy. Heavier than the little stick insects out there for sure but why would she want to lose weight if her game would suffer as a result?

Apparently is right, I was being conservative, she is 5' 9" tall.
She could be 180 pounds!

 

[Front242]

She is heavy for her size, too much muscle, Look at Caro, that's fit!

And look at the number of slams. 0 v 17. Hmmm. Again, Serena's doing just fine the way she is.

what does that to do with being heavy?

Isn't she?

It's got everything to do with it. Her muscle power aids her serve and speed. You're citing a player you deem fit (yeah Wozniacki looks in great shape) as if Serena would be better if she looked like Caroline. I beg to differ. Serena would then have no big serve or strong core to enhance her power game. Maybe some of the other girls could do with eating a few burgers more to the point and then they too might serve big and hit the ball harder. Errani could definitely do with munching a few burgers to help that Bambi serve.

 

[Moxie]

The fact that Serena is dominating the WTA tour at age 32 says she's gotta be pretty fit. I personally don't think anything else needs to be said on that issue really when you take into account her last season against the skinnier, speedy little cherubs out there playing against her.

Fit has nothing to do with being heavy, Serena has lots of muscles, so she is heavy, I would estimate her weight at 165 pounds, that's heavy!

Vika is heavy too!

Here you're being disingenuous and back-tracking. 5'9''/165 for a professional athlete who is muscular is not "overly" heavy, at all. And what is otherwise "heavy?" Nadal and Federer drag around 185 lbs., which doesn't seem to slow them down. Sharapova is 6'1'' and listed at 130lbs. You have to be kidding me. She's got to weigh 150-165lbs. just in muscle and reasonable weight for her height. Venus is 6'1'' and lists at 160lbs. Comparable, I'd say. And comparing Serena to Caro is a bit of a joke. I would say that Vika is one of those I say carries a bit of belly fat, which I don't get. There's no benefit to that, in terms of power, and can slow a player down.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

So does Petra, more than a bit.
Boy, can she smack the ball...

 

[Moxie]

So does Petra, more than a bit.
Boy, can she smack the ball...

Kvitova is 6' tall and lists at 154lbs. (So she probably weighs more.) She would be physically imposing standing next to a lot of us. That's what we're talking about.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

While you all were arguing with me, Ana got ahead of Venus an early break in the 3rd set!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

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.

I was grilled for saying she was!

 

[Moxie]

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.

I was grilled for saying she was!

Here we go again! :lolz: Sorry, Kiu, it was about the political issue of women and athletics and body type. Not singling you out in particular, obviously. It's an on-going topic.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Well, Serena is going to be breathing hard out there especially in set 2 because she wasn't getting her first serve in, so she was having to hit a lot more balls back because she wasn't ending the points sooner because her serve wasn't helping her to do so sooner.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Moxie,
She is heavy, has nothing to do with her being good, or awesome...
I am heavy!