Is she for real with that grade for Serena

[special700]

http://www.si.com/tennis/2014/12/02/wta-report-card

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I would think if you asked Serena if she had a great year,remember she is a perfectionist,she would probably say it wasnt as good as 2013.I guess the main reason for the A minus grade was the fact that Serena suffered shock losses at 3 of the 4 Grand Slams in 2014.If you read ESPN report from Kamakshi Tandon,she gave Serena,the WTA Player of The Year.

 

[tented]

I would think if you asked Serena if she had a great year,remember she is a perfectionist,she would probably say it wasnt as good as 2013.I guess the main reason for the A minus grade was the fact that Serena suffered shock losses at 3 of the 4 Grand Slams in 2014.

Exactly. There's no way Serena would have graded herself higher, especially with the 3 out of 4 early GS losses.

She still got an A-range grade. It's not like Nguyen gave her a C.

 

[sk310]

I don't think she's grading the players against other players but rather against their own historical results and their own standards.

If a person were to grade Serena's 2013 an A or A+ then how could you grade Serena's 2014 anywhere near that?

It's a bit of a reach to give Madison Keys a B+. I think she's going to become for America tennis commentators what Isner is for the men. I don't think she has the goods. She doesn't think like a champion. Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion. For me Keys is a kind of middling top 20 player who may touch the top 10 at some point in her career. She's Bethanie Mattek-Sands part 2 for me. Which is nothing to scoff at. Most players would love that career.

 

[tented]

I don't think she's grading the players against other players but rather against their own historical results and their own standards.

That's an excellent point, sk310.

 

[faradubii]

Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion.

I certainly don't think that. Seriously? Or maybe I read you wrong, and you say she thinks she's already a Champion so she doesn't give a rat's ass. With that I would agree.
About Keys, a bit of temperance in her game and she would be in the top. Maybe Fissette is the right man for that.

 

[sk310]

Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion.

I certainly don't think that. Seriously? Or maybe I read you wrong, and you say she thinks she's already a Champion so she doesn't give a rat's ass. With that I would agree.
About Keys, a bit of temperance in her game and she would be in the top. Maybe Fissette is the right man for that.

Whether its true or not doesn't matter. I'm not saying ANYONE else has to believe she is a champion. What I'm saying, and what almost ALL great champions have in common is that they believe they will be and are great players. It's a consistent theme in the minds of great players. I'm not saying she'll amount to anything. What I'm saying is she has the belief in herself (at least in some great performances) to win.

Again I feel like I'm debating about an intangible that neither of us can actually prove so it's a moot point.

 

[tossip]

every Serena fan knows that Nguyen is not a Williams fan and she will try to put down Rena any chance she can...and thank goodness Serena checked her at some press conference.

 

[sk310]

every Serena fan knows that Nguyen is not a Williams fan and she will try to put down Rena any chance she can...and thank goodness Serena checked her at some press conference.

When any of you start calling her "Rena" I know you are going to start making wild conjectures based on 0 fact. Its my cue to stop listening.

 

[tossip]

every Serena fan knows that Nguyen is not a Williams fan and she will try to put down Rena any chance she can...and thank goodness Serena checked her at some press conference.

When any of you start calling her "Rena" I know you are going to start making wild conjectures based on 0 fact. Its my cue to stop listening.

anyone who reads Nguyen blog or tweets knows she is not a Williams fan...she is more of a pova fan.Ben Rothenberg is more objective...
then stop listening:eyepop

 

[special700]

I don't think she's grading the players against other players but rather against their own historical results and their own standards.

If a person were to grade Serena's 2013 an A or A+ then how could you grade Serena's 2014 anywhere near that?

It's a bit of a reach to give Madison Keys a B+. I think she's going to become for America tennis commentators what Isner is for the men. I don't think she has the goods. She doesn't think like a champion. Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion. For me Keys is a kind of middling top 20 player who may touch the top 10 at some point in her career. She's Bethanie Mattek-Sands part 2 for me. Which is nothing to scoff at. Most players would love that career.

If so then I would agree. However, she should have stated how she was grading we are not mind readers. She never really have anything positive to say about Serena anyway so I should be be surprise at anything she writes pretaining to Serena.

 

[tossip]

I don't think she's grading the players against other players but rather against their own historical results and their own standards.

If a person were to grade Serena's 2013 an A or A+ then how could you grade Serena's 2014 anywhere near that?

It's a bit of a reach to give Madison Keys a B+. I think she's going to become for America tennis commentators what Isner is for the men. I don't think she has the goods. She doesn't think like a champion. Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion. For me Keys is a kind of middling top 20 player who may touch the top 10 at some point in her career. She's Bethanie Mattek-Sands part 2 for me. Which is nothing to scoff at. Most players would love that career.

If so then I would agree. However, she should have stated how she was grading we are not mind readers. She never really have anything positive to say about Serena anyway so I should be be surprise at anything she writes pretaining to Serena.

Madison hits hard and harder but something is missing....confidence.She always comes off as a girl who doesnt know where she belongs like she is running away from herself...no matter how many super coaches she hires she will remain mediocre unless she changes her inferiority complex...she straddles the fence a lot....

 

[Calvy]

I don't think she's grading the players against other players but rather against their own historical results and their own standards.

If a person were to grade Serena's 2013 an A or A+ then how could you grade Serena's 2014 anywhere near that?

It's a bit of a reach to give Madison Keys a B+. I think she's going to become for America tennis commentators what Isner is for the men. I don't think she has the goods. She doesn't think like a champion. Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion. For me Keys is a kind of middling top 20 player who may touch the top 10 at some point in her career. She's Bethanie Mattek-Sands part 2 for me. Which is nothing to scoff at. Most players would love that career.

If so then I would agree. However, she should have stated how she was grading we are not mind readers. She never really have anything positive to say about Serena anyway so I should be be surprise at anything she writes pretaining to Serena.

I don't we need everything explained, sometimes common sense comes into play.

Fact is, Serena, although winning a slam, has a less than A year. She lost before the quarters in three slam, and that right there own gets you downgraded. She also had two of her worst losses of her career, and just barely held on to the number ranking at year end. I am sorry, but, that's not and A+ or an A year, and anyone complaining is just blinded by their fanaticism.

 

[sk310]

I don't think she's grading the players against other players but rather against their own historical results and their own standards.

If a person were to grade Serena's 2013 an A or A+ then how could you grade Serena's 2014 anywhere near that?

It's a bit of a reach to give Madison Keys a B+. I think she's going to become for America tennis commentators what Isner is for the men. I don't think she has the goods. She doesn't think like a champion. Whatever you think of Sloane Stephens I think she has or had more possibility of reaching the top of the game. She has big holes in her game but she has the mindset that she IS a champion. For me Keys is a kind of middling top 20 player who may touch the top 10 at some point in her career. She's Bethanie Mattek-Sands part 2 for me. Which is nothing to scoff at. Most players would love that career.

If so then I would agree. However, she should have stated how she was grading we are not mind readers. She never really have anything positive to say about Serena anyway so I should be be surprise at anything she writes pretaining to Serena.

Madison hits hard and harder but something is missing....confidence.She always comes off as a girl who doesnt know where she belongs like she is running away from herself...no matter how many super coaches she hires she will remain mediocre unless she changes her inferiority complex...she straddles the fence a lot....

I totally agree.

I'm not sure how to explain it. It's almost an X factor. I Was trying to explain this above when I wrote about sloane. People hate her so much they failed to see my point despite that I wasn't defending Her. At very least the differencr between Stephens and keys is that keys doesn't look like she walks into every match like she believes she can and will win. That's an X factor champions must possesses. Not saying it's everything but as of now keys doesn't have it.

 

[tossip]

If so then I would agree. However, she should have stated how she was grading we are not mind readers. She never really have anything positive to say about Serena anyway so I should be be surprise at anything she writes pretaining to Serena.

Madison hits hard and harder but something is missing....confidence.She always comes off as a girl who doesnt know where she belongs like she is running away from herself...no matter how many super coaches she hires she will remain mediocre unless she changes her inferiority complex...she straddles the fence a lot....

I totally agree.

I'm not sure how to explain it. It's almost an X factor. I Was trying to explain this above when I wrote about sloane. People hate her so much they failed to see my point despite that I wasn't defending Her. At very least the differencr between Stephens and keys is that keys doesn't look like she walks into every match like she believes she can and will win. That's an X factor champions must possesses. Not saying it's everything but as of now keys doesn't have it.

I have to say it..:cry...Ithink Madison is more worried about what people will say...she doesnt want to be considered a black girl and is trying really hard to run away from that part of her DNA....once she embraces who she is she will start doing well...Serena and Venus came on the tour with confidence and very quickly were on top...straddling the fence will never work.
What demographic will her agent market her to ....she is sillyshe better be careful that she wont becomes a Lolo Jones character..

 

[faradubii]

I'm not sure how to explain it. It's almost an X factor. I Was trying to explain this above when I wrote about sloane. People hate her so much they failed to see my point despite that I wasn't defending Her. At very least the differencr between Stephens and keys is that keys doesn't look like she walks into every match like she believes she can and will win. That's an X factor champions must possesses. Not saying it's everything but as of now keys doesn't have it.

I understand what you're saying about Sloane, but I'm sorry, I just can't see it. You say she walks on court like she knows she will win. I'm very serious in saying this, my perception is the exact opposite. She walks on court like she's already won, she makes the least effort possible and she walks off like she won, in the mean time she lost the match. I think out of all the new American hopes Sloane has the most talent and versatility. That is why it's infuriating to see her waste it like this. Think about it! She has yet to get to a WTA final! How the hell is this happening?
Meanwhile Keys found her A game in Eastbourne and won a tournament on grass! I think Keys could be a permanent fixture in the quarters or even semis at Wimbledon. Basically in 2014 the results contradict what you say: Sloane showing champ mentality and doing diddly-squat and Keys not having the X factor of a champ and winning a title.
Btw, if you read what I say and get that I hate Sloane, trust me, I hate her attitude, I would love to see her get her s#@t together and getting the important wins. She has all the tools to be a top 10 girl.

 

[Calvy]

Madison hits hard and harder but something is missing....confidence.She always comes off as a girl who doesnt know where she belongs like she is running away from herself...no matter how many super coaches she hires she will remain mediocre unless she changes her inferiority complex...she straddles the fence a lot....

I totally agree.

I'm not sure how to explain it. It's almost an X factor. I Was trying to explain this above when I wrote about sloane. People hate her so much they failed to see my point despite that I wasn't defending Her. At very least the differencr between Stephens and keys is that keys doesn't look like she walks into every match like she believes she can and will win. That's an X factor champions must possesses. Not saying it's everything but as of now keys doesn't have it.

I have to say it..:cry...Ithink Madison is more worried about what people will say...she doesnt want to be considered a black girl and is trying really hard to run away from that part of her DNA....once she embraces who she is she will start doing well...Serena and Venus came on the tour with confidence and very quickly were on top...straddling the fence will never work.
What demographic will her agent market her to ....she is sillyshe better be careful that she wont becomes a Lolo Jones character..

HUH???

 

[special700]

Madison hits hard and harder but something is missing....confidence.She always comes off as a girl who doesnt know where she belongs like she is running away from herself...no matter how many super coaches she hires she will remain mediocre unless she changes her inferiority complex...she straddles the fence a lot....

I totally agree.

I'm not sure how to explain it. It's almost an X factor. I Was trying to explain this above when I wrote about sloane. People hate her so much they failed to see my point despite that I wasn't defending Her. At very least the differencr between Stephens and keys is that keys doesn't look like she walks into every match like she believes she can and will win. That's an X factor champions must possesses. Not saying it's everything but as of now keys doesn't have it.

I have to say it..:cry...Ithink Madison is more worried about what people will say...she doesnt want to be considered a black girl and is trying really hard to run away from that part of her DNA....once she embraces who she is she will start doing well...Serena and Venus came on the tour with confidence and very quickly were on top...straddling the fence will never work.
What demographic will her agent market her to ....she is sillyshe better be careful that she wont becomes a Lolo Jones character..

WTF are you talking about? Madison, black girl, DNA....WHAT?? Where do you come up with these so call theories and how did you get all of that from Madison? She's hardly ever in the public eye other than when she' playing tennis, hardly give any interviews for you to make a random statement like that...You are frigging nuts...

 

[faradubii]

You are frigging nuts...

Nah, he's just tossip.

 

[sk310]

I'm not sure how to explain it. It's almost an X factor. I Was trying to explain this above when I wrote about sloane. People hate her so much they failed to see my point despite that I wasn't defending Her. At very least the differencr between Stephens and keys is that keys doesn't look like she walks into every match like she believes she can and will win. That's an X factor champions must possesses. Not saying it's everything but as of now keys doesn't have it.

I understand what you're saying about Sloane, but I'm sorry, I just can't see it. You say she walks on court like she knows she will win. I'm very serious in saying this, my perception is the exact opposite. She walks on court like she's already won, she makes the least effort possible and she walks off like she won, in the mean time she lost the match. I think out of all the new American hopes Sloane has the most talent and versatility. That is why it's infuriating to see her waste it like this. Think about it! She has yet to get to a WTA final! How the hell is this happening?
Meanwhile Keys found her A game in Eastbourne and won a tournament on grass! I think Keys could be a permanent fixture in the quarters or even semis at Wimbledon. Basically in 2014 the results contradict what you say: Sloane showing champ mentality and doing diddly-squat and Keys not having the X factor of a champ and winning a title.
Btw, if you read what I say and get that I hate Sloane, trust me, I hate her attitude, I would love to see her get her s#@t together and getting the important wins. She has all the tools to be a top 10 girl.

I totally see what you're saying. I kind of meant in the grand slam context. But you're right that all broke down this year. I kind of meant in her debut breakthrough period she believed she could beat anyone. That's kind of the crux of the problem. Even this year her best results came at slams. Thats a huge problem. She has the belief when theres a big crowd and a big stage. Reaching the top means playing like a champion week in and week out at the lower tournaments.