Now that all the Slams have been played...

[August]

I'd be a bit surprised if Serena won more than two slams. She won two slams in '12 and '13 and she ain't getting any younger. And Vika is a dangerous opponent even against Serena, especially on HCs.

 

[RJD11]

I agree with everything you wrote, Sunday. Two slams for Serena next year to break the American record. I am hesitant to predict beyond that because of the injury factor. Serena is at higher risk of injury as she gets older. I hope Li can win one more before retiring.

The Serena vs Vika rivalry is great for the sport.

If she wins 2 slams, she wouldnt be breaking the American record, but tyine it. Remember Helen Wills Moody won 19 slams.

Lets face it, not many are calling Moody or Court the GOAT

Which tells me its not just about numbers.

Its mainly between Nav, Graf, and now Serena ( Maybe Chrissy

but Chrissy herself has said Serena was better than her ).

So passing Nav and Chris is the goal for now. If she

gets that goal then she will worry about Steffi I'm sure.

I don't think She is concerned about Moody or Court.

It wasn't about whom was the greatest, it was about what the American record is. which is 19.

I know Calvy, But in all of these types of side comparisons

The GOAT issue is always the elephant in the room.

 

[RJD11]

Why are you bring up who's the greatest?

That's not the topic, it's about the slams favorites for next year.

Serena is playing for history right now. Each win She

gets now is not for just a compilation of stats for stats

sake. If they say it or not, Everything she does is geared

for GOATness. They are starting to question her about it

more and more. In front of the mike she is PC and denies

it, but as more and more pundits declare her the best its

always the underlying topic. Why the hoopla over such

seemingly benign stats? Why do you keep emphasizing it

Serena has done an about face recently. No more " Rome

and Madrid " type of putdowns. She praises her opponents

endlessly, She thanks the fans endlessly. Do you think

she has changed her ways or is she doing repair the image

to get more fans behind her for the GOAT debate. And its

working. Did you hear the crowd cheering when she walked

on court. So many hated her for being arrogant. Well no

more. She is the nice Serena now. I love it and have

maintained that She is the GOAT for some time now. There

has been 2 polls this fortnite on ESPN and now on SI about

the greatest. Serena is winning both polls. Nearly every article

about her now mentions " best ever " in it. Like the one you

responded to.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

You know having given it some thought I think Serena will defend her title in Paris. She did what she wanted to do and end the year with a second slam at the US Open, and if she can win Australia and get on a roll, she usually does well. Serena is a big confidence player and when everything is going in her direction it is hard to stop her. If she wins Australia, I definitely think she will roll into RG with the confidence to repeat. I think the only players who might bother her are Kuzzy or maybe Sam if she gets it together, but no one else is going to make her sweat in Paris not even Vika.

 

[jhar26]

Its mainly between Nav, Graf, and now Serena ( Maybe Chrissy

but Chrissy herself has said Serena was better than her ).

Chrissie has said about virtually anyone other than Pam Shriver that they were or are better than her though. She's the opposite from Martina in that regard.

 

[golds girl]

I think Serena has something to prove in Australia, after the Sloane loss, so I'll sign her up for that one.
I don't know how Maria will fare if she has to have surgery for her ailments; I'm also uncertain about her drive right now, so I'm leaving the French open. I actually like the way Li is playing under Gonzales so I might sign her up for that one.
I need to think on Wimby.
I'll sign Vika up for U.S. Open barring injury or excessive weight issues. As an aside, does anyone think perhaps Vika is putting on weight a little to get some more bang for her buck in the weight room...in an effort to bulk up the serve?

 

[RJD11]

I think Serena has something to prove in Australia, after the Sloane loss, so I'll sign her up for that one.
I don't know how Maria will fare if she has to have surgery for her ailments; I'm also uncertain about her drive right now, so I'm leaving the French open. I actually like the way Li is playing under Gonzales so I might sign her up for that one.
I need to think on Wimby.
I'll sign Vika up for U.S. Open barring injury or excessive weight issues. As an aside, does anyone think perhaps Vika is putting on weight a little to get some more bang for her buck in the weight room...in an effort to bulk up the serve?

Except for injury or some other major happening

Serena is going to be the favorite for each slam next year

If she wins or not will be between her and her nerves.

That whole USO final was on Serena. Vika did well to

capitalize and played the best she could. But Serena

won that first set when both played well. She was the

better player. Serena was winning the 2 nd set and the

pressure got to her. She messed up. She righted the ship

and calmed down the nerves and used that special gear

she has and did her thing in the 3rd. But that match was

on Serena and how she played. Next year same song..second verse

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The AO 2014 will be interesting
This surface also suits Vika's game.Li usually plays well at the AO as well.
Though knowing Serena she will target the AO 2014.I also feel Wimbledon 2014 will be high on her list.

 

[RJD11]

The AO 2014 will be interesting
This surface also suits Vika's game.Li usually plays well at the AO as well.
Though knowing Serena she will target the AO 2014.I also feel Wimbledon 2014 will be high on her list.

I agree. I don't think Wimb 2013 sits to well with her. She has

mentioned it several times. And she'll be looking to start the

year on a high note.

 

[special700]

If Serena wins her 18th major at the AO she's not going to kill herself trying to defend her FO she will concentrate on getting her 19th major at Wimbledon.

 

[special700]

I agree with everything you wrote, Sunday. Two slams for Serena next year to break the American record. I am hesitant to predict beyond that because of the injury factor. Serena is at higher risk of injury as she gets older. I hope Li can win one more before retiring.

The Serena vs Vika rivalry is great for the sport.

Isn't Li at higher risk for injury too? Li and Serena are the same age so why leave her off the injury list and only mention Serena.

 

[special700]

I think she just needs to work on placement. She can probably stand to add 5 mph to that serve. You saw flashes of smart serving from her where she served into Serena's body and it worked. She just needs to gain consistency with placement and variety. I don't think she will ever have a serve that gets her cheap, easy points, but she can work on one that will set her up better.

Apparently it did not work because she did not win the tournament.

 

[special700]

Why are you bring up who's the greatest?

That's not the topic, it's about the slams favorites for next year.

Serena is playing for history right now. Each win She

gets now is not for just a compilation of stats for stats

sake. If they say it or not, Everything she does is geared

for GOATness. They are starting to question her about it

more and more. In front of the mike she is PC and denies

it, but as more and more pundits declare her the best its

always the underlying topic. Why the hoopla over such

seemingly benign stats? Why do you keep emphasizing it

Serena has done an about face recently. No more " Rome

and Madrid " type of putdowns. She praises her opponents

endlessly, She thanks the fans endlessly. Do you think

she has changed her ways or is she doing repair the image

to get more fans behind her for the GOAT debate. And its

working. Did you hear the crowd cheering when she walked

on court. So many hated her for being arrogant. Well no

more. She is the nice Serena now. I love it and have

maintained that She is the GOAT for some time now. There

has been 2 polls this fortnite on ESPN and now on SI about

the greatest. Serena is winning both polls. Nearly every article

about her now mentions " best ever " in it. Like the one you

responded to.

RJD - I totally disagree with you Serena has always been a nice person and she does have any so call image to repair Serena has matured even in the way she dresses in her tennis outfits. She does nto need people's approval to annoint her GOAT her record will and has spoken for itself. I truly hated the way Serena was prasing the fans in NY it was more like she was begging them to get behind her and she should not have to do that. Again, she does not need polls or articles to get behind her because her record play speaks for itself.

 

[special700]

I think Serena has something to prove in Australia, after the Sloane loss, so I'll sign her up for that one.
I don't know how Maria will fare if she has to have surgery for her ailments; I'm also uncertain about her drive right now, so I'm leaving the French open. I actually like the way Li is playing under Gonzales so I might sign her up for that one.
I need to think on Wimby.
I'll sign Vika up for U.S. Open barring injury or excessive weight issues. As an aside, does anyone think perhaps Vika is putting on weight a little to get some more bang for her buck in the weight room...in an effort to bulk up the serve?

Except for injury or some other major happening

Serena is going to be the favorite for each slam next year

If she wins or not will be between her and her nerves.

That whole USO final was on Serena. Vika did well to

capitalize and played the best she could. But Serena

won that first set when both played well. She was the

better player. Serena was winning the 2 nd set and the

pressure got to her. She messed up. She righted the ship

and calmed down the nerves and used that special gear

she has and did her thing in the 3rd. But that match was

on Serena and how she played. Next year same song..second verse

After Serena gets her 18th major I do not think nerves will factor into it anymore because she would be on par with Nav and Chrissy, and anything after that is just bonus.

 

[RJD11]

Why are you bring up who's the greatest?

That's not the topic, it's about the slams favorites for next year.

Serena is playing for history right now. Each win She

gets now is not for just a compilation of stats for stats

sake. If they say it or not, Everything she does is geared

for GOATness. They are starting to question her about it

more and more. In front of the mike she is PC and denies

it, but as more and more pundits declare her the best its

always the underlying topic. Why the hoopla over such

seemingly benign stats? Why do you keep emphasizing it

Serena has done an about face recently. No more " Rome

and Madrid " type of putdowns. She praises her opponents

endlessly, She thanks the fans endlessly. Do you think

she has changed her ways or is she doing repair the image

to get more fans behind her for the GOAT debate. And its

working. Did you hear the crowd cheering when she walked

on court. So many hated her for being arrogant. Well no

more. She is the nice Serena now. I love it and have

maintained that She is the GOAT for some time now. There

has been 2 polls this fortnite on ESPN and now on SI about

the greatest. Serena is winning both polls. Nearly every article

about her now mentions " best ever " in it. Like the one you

responded to.

RJD - I totally disagree with you Serena has always been a nice person and she does have any so call image to repair Serena has matured even in the way she dresses in her tennis outfits. She does nto need people's approval to annoint her GOAT her record will and has spoken for itself. I truly hated the way Serena was prasing the fans in NY it was more like she was begging them to get behind her and she should not have to do that. Again, she does not need polls or articles to get behind her because her record play speaks for itself.

I know She is a nice person Special and for us She doesn't have to

repair her image. But we are fans and have followed her story for years

Casual fans and new fans don't know her like we do. How many times

have we heard pundits and haters talk about her being arrogant over the

years. I just watched the Nine for IX thing again and Venus said that when they

came up they would not interact with the other players, they only saw

them as someone they had to beat. She said Richard told them the only

way to gain acceptance on their terms was to " win ". And that is what

they did. They were confident in themselves. And to the casual fans

this may come off as " arrogant " Their remarks on the Oprah show,

that if the players didn't like the way they were let them come up and

Beat them. And people still talk about the Dinara coments, and the

thing with Hingis. And you know that many saw her as a big, strong,

black woman beating up on those little white girls although some of them

were bigger than her. Serena just seems so intimidating on the court.

Last week they kept saying how Vika was not scared of Serena. This

tells me that they believe many of the players WERE Scared of her.

These last 2 years since the big injury she is showing her human side

and her humble side. How many times has She has been castigated for

not praising her opponent? That has been said many many times.

Now she praises them incessantly. I think this is bringing in many

new fans or changing the minds of some of those on the fence who

may have heard some of the negative things the haters have been

spouting. Back in the day She prolly didn't much think about how she

would be remembered. Now she wants everyone to know how nice of

a person she really is. And she is not as those haters have portrayed her.