Race to Singapore

[Sundaymorningguy]

Well let's be real, Li Na's absence this year and Vika's injuries really messed with the rankings. Maria was a solid 3/4 behind those girls aside from her clay moments.

 

[kskate2]

We have almost reached that point of time in the calendar. Surely Serena will not play
Maria before WTF. 2004 WTF was the last time Maria beat Serena. Now comes the official
10 year anniversary of that episode.

It would be an anti-climax if Maria ends up being YE #1 (with or without Serena in WTF).

I agree. It would feel like a b it of a default if Maria became number 1. I can't remember any point this year (other than the two weeks of Roland Garros) where Maria dominated. The last few years it's been so clear that Serena dominated for huge stretches of the year or the entire year. Even Vika's year at number 1 was VERY dominant for her. She dominated about half the year. Maria has had a decent year with flashes of brilliance but that's it.

And even w/ RG she wasn't dominant. Remember how she won most of those matches. Dropping the first set, DFs and spraying errors everywhere. She was being outplayed for most of the match until she wore her opponent down mentally and then took control.


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[faradubii]

The Beijing week is the only one this year that Sharapova was truly dominant. During Roland Garros she was playing poor tennis, and it pains me to say that those 3 setters that she won over Stosur, Muguruza, Bouchard and Halep say more about those girls and their fortitude than about Maria's talents.

 

[HawkEye]

We have almost reached that point of time in the calendar. Surely Serena will not play
Maria before WTF. 2004 WTF was the last time Maria beat Serena. Now comes the official
10 year anniversary of that episode.

It would be an anti-climax if Maria ends up being YE #1 (with or without Serena in WTF).

I agree. It would feel like a b it of a default if Maria became number 1. I can't remember any point this year (other than the two weeks of Roland Garros) where Maria dominated. The last few years it's been so clear that Serena dominated for huge stretches of the year or the entire year. Even Vika's year at number 1 was VERY dominant for her. She dominated about half the year. Maria has had a decent year with flashes of brilliance but that's it.

I agree, the problem is Serena wasn't dominant (apart from the US series) either. Otherwise we would not be talking about it now.

 

[tossip]

We have almost reached that point of time in the calendar. Surely Serena will not play
Maria before WTF. 2004 WTF was the last time Maria beat Serena. Now comes the official
10 year anniversary of that episode.

It would be an anti-climax if Maria ends up being YE #1 (with or without Serena in WTF).

I agree. It would feel like a b it of a default if Maria became number 1. I can't remember any point this year (other than the two weeks of Roland Garros) where Maria dominated. The last few years it's been so clear that Serena dominated for huge stretches of the year or the entire year. Even Vika's year at number 1 was VERY dominant for her. She dominated about half the year. Maria has had a decent year with flashes of brilliance but that's it.

Maria and brilliant dont go together...laydownlaughing those double faults,the screaming,three sets and cold persona..sorry:nono

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just some updated news,Kvitova has withdrawn from Moscow tournament.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ana Ivanovic has also withdrawn from Moscow tournament

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Crap! I know Singapore has to be sweating bullets with all these injuries cropping up now. Suckapova might have an easy time getting to number 1 if Serena, Halep and Ana can't play because lord knows the other girls that would take their place probably wouldn't be too much of a challenge for her.

 

[kskate2]

Crap! I know Singapore has to be sweating bullets with all these injuries cropping up now. Suckapova might have an easy time getting to number 1 if Serena, Halep and Ana can't play because lord knows the other girls that would take their place probably wouldn't be too much of a challenge for her.

Caro isn't afraid of the challenge and will have confidence beating Maria twice at the USO.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I have to agree again with you Kskate,Caro knows how to defeat Maria,she dosent back down from the challenge,also she dosent hit straight down the middle of the court,right into Maria's strike zone,she moves her around the baseline constantly and also attacks Maria's fhand wing.

 

[tossip]

^ I have to agree again with you Kskate,Caro knows how to defeat Maria,she dosent back down from the challenge,also she dosent hit straight down the middle of the court,right into Maria's strike zone,she moves her around the baseline constantly and also attacks Maria's fhand wing.

Caro stares her down too..:snigger...she wears pova down by chasing every ball down and is very efficient .Caro doesnt scream but is very strong mentally and never gives up..she blocks out the screams,prayers after every point,the fist clenching,stare downs and bathroom breaks...:snigger

 

[sk310]

^ I have to agree again with you Kskate,Caro knows how to defeat Maria,she dosent back down from the challenge,also she dosent hit straight down the middle of the court,right into Maria's strike zone,she moves her around the baseline constantly and also attacks Maria's fhand wing.

Caro stares her down too..:snigger...she wears pova down by chasing every ball down and is very efficient .Caro doesnt scream but is very strong mentally and never gives up..she blocks out the screams,prayers after every point,the fist clenching,stare downs and bathroom breaks...:snigger

I think there's only a handful of players that played Maria in her prime that have mental blocks against her. Otherwise I think any player can beat her on a good day. Caro rose to prominence in Maria's down time so I don't think she has any fear playing her.

I think a lot of Maria's greatest triumphs were taking more about her taking the opportunities presented to her by better players getting beaten earlier in tournaments. I mean just look at this tournament. Ana lost because had played SO much in the previous weeks. Serena lost before the final... She took the opportunity. It's not so much about beating the best. When she plays Serena in a final she loses. When she plays Azarenka in a Slam final she loses. When she plays Kvitova in a slam final she loses.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I have to agree again with you Kskate,Caro knows how to defeat Maria,she dosent back down from the challenge,also she dosent hit straight down the middle of the court,right into Maria's strike zone,she moves her around the baseline constantly and also attacks Maria's fhand wing.

Caro stares her down too..:snigger...she wears pova down by chasing every ball down and is very efficient .Caro doesnt scream but is very strong mentally and never gives up..she blocks out the screams,prayers after every point,the fist clenching,stare downs and bathroom breaks...:snigger

I think there's only a handful of players that played Maria in her prime that have mental blocks against her. Otherwise I think any player can beat her on a good day. Caro rose to prominence in Maria's down time so I don't think she has any fear playing her.

I think a lot of Maria's greatest triumphs were taking more about her taking the opportunities presented to her by better players getting beaten earlier in tournaments. I mean just look at this tournament. Ana lost because had played SO much in the previous weeks. Serena lost before the final... She took the opportunity. It's not so much about beating the best. When she plays Serena in a final she loses. When she plays Azarenka in a Slam final she loses. When she plays Kvitova in a slam final she loses.

You made good points.Personally I feel Maria's best GS win was at the AO in 2008,,Henin,Dementieva,Davenport were also in the draw.There was drama at the AO that year,when there was that incident from Maria's father Yuri,when Maria was playing Henin,the media had a field day with that incident.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW just read a tweet from Courtney Nguyen saying that Serena will start practicing at the end of the week,her inflamed knee appears to be okay.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Per the WTA Website

Kerber has been confirmed as the alternative no 1 player at Singapore

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW the race for the second alternative will reach its climax in Moscow next week with five players-Makarova,Cibulkova,Errani,Jankovic and Pennetta in the running.All five players have entered Moscow

 

[10isfan]

Fashion, thanks for sharing the good news about Serena's knee. The finals would not have been as fun with her sidelined.

Are Serena and Pova the only ones who can theoretically end the year as number one?

 

[kskate2]

Fashion, thanks for sharing the good news about Serena's knee. The finals would not have been as fun with her sidelined.
Are Serena and Pova the only ones who can theoretically end the year as number one?

Mathematically I believe it's still up in the air. It really will come down to how well Serena does. Maria has 6680 pts. Currently Halep is 400 pts behind Maria and Petra is 120 pts behind Simona. I could be wrong about that so if a rankings expert wants to verify, I don't mind.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Essentially, Maria has to really fail. Had Serena been well enough to play Wuhan and Beijing it might not have been so easy, but Serena definitely has to make the semis or better and hope Maria flops in Round Robin and doesn't make it to the semis.

 

[Front242]

BTW the race for the second alternative will reach its climax in Moscow next week with five players-Makarova,Cibulkova,Errani,Jankovic and Pennetta in the running.All five players have entered Moscow

Personally out of that group I like Cibulkova and Pennetta but in terms of standing of chance of actually doing well in Singapore if chosen as an alternative, I'd like to see Cibulkova.