This is first tournament back from the AO,I know she has been working hard on clay,she is not match fitness on clay,though I think she can find her way to win in her first match.I will take her matches one match at a time,this is really a tune up for RG,I dont think she needs to play too many clay tournaments,at age 39.
There are SPECIAL players like Roger and Novak who can fall out of the bed and play a match. These two can reach their upper level of their God given abilities in 30-40 minutes.. Serena is very similar to Rafa's hit abilities.. needs repetitive balls and situation to get match tough..I think ten years ago, Serena could pull this off but it has been very evident that in the later rounds of a grandslam,, she is as mentally prepared as she needs to be. IMO
I really feel Serena has a good chance at Wimbledon this year to get that elusive 24 GS....I hope she does,so she can retire and have another baby she has been hinting of having.
I think at the AO this year she was in great physical shape,best she has been in a few years,sometimes in matches she comes out too hard and then cannot keep that level up for a full match,she needs to pace herself better,she runs out of steam to me,after producing a great first set.
Sloane has not been motivated for years,as a LL she was lucky to be in the main draw,mind the pun,I have suggested she should retire,cannot believe how much her game has gone down the drain,as a GS title winner.Trying to watch Keys and Stephens; a true ugly match! Sloane just didn't look mptivated; seeming to only stay in the match because Madison was a mess out there making unfathomable UFE's! Stephens had a lead throughout, but couldn't finish even up a break in the 3rd! Keys was trying to give her another break, but Sloane wouldn't take it!
Well that's what I am saying..being in great condition is vital but being match tough is essential. Remember a few years ago when Rafa decimated his draw but was not mentally ready to deal with Novak and he got totally dismantled..Being match tough gives you the confidence that if you are down in both the game or the set count you know you can eventually manage your nerves and hit through the ball. Go back and review the last 5 grand slam finals Serena has appeared in she wasn't a factor in any of the matches. As a matter of fact, she hasn't won a single set. That's lack of confidence,that is being lack of match tough and ready.
Is it really lack of match toughness when you've gotten through 6 rounds to make it to the finals? IMO Serena's trouble is she's thinking what the match signifies for her, legacy wise, during the match. Losing to these players, (especially Halep on grass) she has looked sooo tight, it's painful to see her struggling to both move and hit freely in those Major finals. Look at her SF loss at the USO with Roberta Vinci, that match had a very similar look to these finals. Osaka one could argue has as many weapons as Serena, but no one is going to tell me Halep, Kerber, & Andrescuu on paper should have won those finals. More than ever, I think by now it's a mental crutch with her.
I disagree with this. Serena was once the Queen of laying off, then winning a Major. Her issues can be fitness, though as Margaret says, she is back to better shape, and the incalculable problem between the ears in late career. The elusive #24 is an albatross. I do so hope she gets it, though.
Interesting matches to me seem to be:
Seeing this is proper red clay I am also interested to see how other seeds handle this surface before RG
The operative word is "once"...I know what I am talking about..Being match tough and in great shape are mutually exclusive...ask Fiero..
Speaking of WOW, watching Serena go down in flames to Podoroska; (who?)! After losing 1st set TB, she's down a break in the 2nd! She's holding on; barely!
Not really for me.i don't think you are shocked either ..I mentioned you in an earlier post.Speaking of WOW, watching Serena go down in flames to Podoroska; (who?)! After losing 1st set TB, she's down a break in the 2nd! She's holding on; barely!
Update: Serena breaks so back on serve, 4-5!
