Roland Garros - Day 2, Monday May 25 - Order of Play

[golds girl]

Well looks like Venus is bout to make an early exit down 1-5 in the second.

 

[kskate2]

Happy for Daria, Kerber, Vika, Carla. Disappointed with Aga.

It will take a bit of time to purge Martin's coaching from her head, but I think Aga will recover. She is too good to be outside top ten.

Stosur seems to be playing well. Too bad Pova will end her run.

Kerber, Mugu, and Carla in the same eighth is cruel.

I don't know how much of this slide can be attributed to Martina. Aga was slumping before Martina came on aboard. In fact, you could say it's one reason why she was brought in.

 

[kskate2]

Venus got outclassed today. Just like her other matches this year, she was leading in the set, got tight and made sloppy errors.

 

[golds girl]

And that's it. Sloane plays a well-rounded aggressive and defensive match and wins it. 7-5 6-1

 

[kskate2]

7-6(5) 6-1 GG.

 

[golds girl]

^ oops....didn't mean to take points away from you Venus

 

[kskate2]

It's OK GG. That's where she gave the match away anyhow, in the TB.

 

[tossip]

its time for my Vee to hang up the racket...its time to realize that the sun has set...

 

[tented]

its time for my Vee to hang up the racket...its time to realize that the sun has set...

Because she lost to Sloane? On clay? :nono

We're just coming into Venus' best time of the year -- Wimbledon, NA hard courts -- so I'd wait until after then before showing her the exit.

 

[MashaFan]

It's not you Berg....she has.
It's interesting...because now we know that she's capable of reducing the level.
Folks have been saying that it's too late for those players to change the noises that emanate when they play their points...but obviously it's not.

Masha was not well - probably a cold because she was coughing several times during the match - How well can you use your voice when you've a sore throat? - It was also the reason why she didn't want to give an on court interviews - So actually - you dunno anything
Link: Sharapova, Berdych cruise into second round of French Open

Battling a cold that had her coughing at times during the match, the defending champion was not in the mood for small talk after beating Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-4 in the first round, having been made to work harder than the scoreline suggested.

Note also that Masha doesn't shriek monotonously - She kind of tells the story about how she does during a match - Her shriek varies during a match and when you close your eyes you can tell when she's in distress - when she's pushed - hits a winner - has the upper hand and so on

I never had any doubt. I've watched her practice at Wimbledon and she never made a sound. I guess the noise is like the Jerzy Janowicz tactic! :nono

Masha doesn't make any sounds while she warms up right before the start of a match either - The explanation is simple - It's because she (and her opponent) doesn't strike the ball with full power during warming up - I've seen Masha practice as well and when she's practicing various shots (like karate in slow motion) she doesn't make any sounds because she then doesn't hit that hard - When she practices with her hitting partner in a more serious way she however does - Spreading all sorts of myths and suggest that Masha kinda lies about her shriek habit isn't very nice - All anyone has to do is to check Youtube and you'll find loads of practice videos in which Masha does shriek during practice

Also Masha has shrieked during her whole tennis career and the majority of the professionals have never protested - In fact many have witnessed that they don't even notice the shrieks - Everybody knows what to expect when playing Masha and only a very few have complained and that first after they've lost their match which in my opinion can be interpreted as sore loser whining - So what tactics?

I really wish people could stop complaining about this subject but I guess it's not going to happen - Some just have to let out their frustration match after match - tournament after tournament - year after year like infants and funny enough they're never able to see how their never ending complaints about Masha's shrieks have become more annoying than the phenomena itself during these 11 years

 

[10isfan]

Venus is far from having to retire. Her game is not suited for clay. Sloane can be dangerous on dirt.

 

[tossip]

its time for my Vee to hang up the racket...its time to realize that the sun has set...

Because she lost to Sloane? On clay? :nono

We're just coming into Venus' best time of the year -- Wimbledon, NA hard courts -- so I'd wait until after then before showing her the exit.

:cry....Venus has always been my favorite tennis player and have endured her heartbreaking losses to players she should not lose to.Its been a topsy turvy ride with Vee....almost near heart attack moments.
I dont want her to tarnish her legacy by losing to players she should be beating....:cry

 

[tented]

its time for my Vee to hang up the racket...its time to realize that the sun has set...

Because she lost to Sloane? On clay? :nono

We're just coming into Venus' best time of the year -- Wimbledon, NA hard courts -- so I'd wait until after then before showing her the exit.

:cry....Venus has always been my favorite tennis player and have endured her heartbreaking losses to players she should not lose to.Its been a topsy turvy ride with Vee....almost near heart attack moments.
I dont want her to tarnish her legacy by losing to players she should be beating....:cry

Yes, that's always a tough time: watching your favorite lose to a player she would have beaten in the past. It's painful.

If Venus loses early at Wimbledon, then again in Canada, Cincinnati, and the US Open, then I think she should give her future some thought.

Have hope: Maybe these two will have a rematch the first round in London, on the grass. Guess who will win that encounter?

 

[sk310]

Where does Aga go from here?

I think she's at a similar ceiling that Jankovic reached a few years ago. She had great results based on consistent play but not enough to power her to a BIG slam title. Other power players advanced and figured out her game. The losses started piling up and then confidence became an issue.

Im not sure if there is a solution here.

 

[tented]

Where does Aga go from here?

I think she's at a similar ceiling that Jankovic reached a few years ago. She had great results based on consistent play but not enough to power her to a BIG slam title. Other power players advanced and figured out her game. The losses started piling up and then confidence became an issue.

Im not sure if there is a solution here.

She can pretty much only go up from here, given how poor her results have been recently. I'm saddened by it, because she's such a likeable person, and a stunning shotmaker.

We'll never know what happened with Martina. Perhaps it was just a personality clash. But I hope Aga is able to find a coach who can help. She's far too talented to be stalling like this.

I do agree confidence is key at this point. Perhaps a sports psychologist is in order.

 

[sk310]

Where does Aga go from here?

I think she's at a similar ceiling that Jankovic reached a few years ago. She had great results based on consistent play but not enough to power her to a BIG slam title. Other power players advanced and figured out her game. The losses started piling up and then confidence became an issue.

Im not sure if there is a solution here.

She can pretty much only go up from here, given how poor her results have been recently. I'm saddened by it, because she's such a likeable person, and a stunning shotmaker.

We'll never know what happened with Martina. Perhaps it was just a personality clash. But I hope Aga is able to find a coach who can help. She's far too talented to be stalling like this.

I do agree confidence is key at this point. Perhaps a sports psychologist is in order.

Unfortunately theres definitely further she could fall...just ask Jankovic, Ivanovic, and Safina.
I actually think theres not a heck of a lot Martina could have done. I think she come in on a down swing and instead of rising to the challenge of impressing an all time great, Aga was intimidated by it and sunk even lower.

 

[tented]

Where does Aga go from here?

I think she's at a similar ceiling that Jankovic reached a few years ago. She had great results based on consistent play but not enough to power her to a BIG slam title. Other power players advanced and figured out her game. The losses started piling up and then confidence became an issue.

Im not sure if there is a solution here.

She can pretty much only go up from here, given how poor her results have been recently. I'm saddened by it, because she's such a likeable person, and a stunning shotmaker.

We'll never know what happened with Martina. Perhaps it was just a personality clash. But I hope Aga is able to find a coach who can help. She's far too talented to be stalling like this.

I do agree confidence is key at this point. Perhaps a sports psychologist is in order.

Unfortunately theres definitely further she could fall...just ask Jankovic, Ivanovic, and Safina.

I refuse to be that pessimistic.

I actually think theres not a heck of a lot Martina could have done. I think she come in on a down swing and instead of rising to the challenge of impressing an all time great, Aga was intimidated by it and sunk even lower.

I'm not going to read much into their teaming up, because it's always questionable when an all-time great steps in. I'm not convinced it's a good thing to bring in someone on that level simply because of their success, no matter how stellar. If anything, I suspect such a presence can make things worse.

Andy Murray and Lendl proved to be a successful team, but I think that was more coincidence than anything else. Former greats got where they did by doing what worked for them, so naturally they're going to be 100% convinced by those methods, and try to force them on their charges. But what worked for Martina may not necessarily work for Aga -- or any other player. But try telling that to Martina.

(And to be clear, I'm not picking on Martina. The same could be said of other former greats. Jimmy Connors hasn't worked out for anyone either, for example.)

 

[sk310]

She can pretty much only go up from here, given how poor her results have been recently. I'm saddened by it, because she's such a likeable person, and a stunning shotmaker.

We'll never know what happened with Martina. Perhaps it was just a personality clash. But I hope Aga is able to find a coach who can help. She's far too talented to be stalling like this.

I do agree confidence is key at this point. Perhaps a sports psychologist is in order.

Unfortunately theres definitely further she could fall...just ask Jankovic, Ivanovic, and Safina.

I refuse to be that pessimistic.

I actually think theres not a heck of a lot Martina could have done. I think she come in on a down swing and instead of rising to the challenge of impressing an all time great, Aga was intimidated by it and sunk even lower.

I'm not going to read much into their teaming up, because it's always questionable when an all-time great steps in. I'm not convinced it's a good thing to bring in someone on that level simply because of their success, no matter how stellar. If anything, I suspect such a presence can make things worse.

Andy Murray and Lendl proved to be a successful team, but I think that was more coincidence than anything else. Former greats got where they did by doing what worked for them, so naturally they're going to be 100% convinced by those methods, and try to force them on their charges. But what worked for Martina may not necessarily work for Aga -- or any other player. But try telling that to Martina.

(And to be clear, I'm not picking on Martina. The same could be said of other former greats. Jimmy Connors hasn't worked out for anyone either, for example.)

I tend to believe a pro of top 10 caliber has a game that is already fairly set. There's not much that can be changed. I think all that a GOAT player can do to help a current player is provide psychological help in terms of mentality, positivity, and motivation. I tend to agree with you about Lendl and Murray. I don't know that it was so much coincidence as it is someone like Murray or Djokovic wanting to impress that person in the box and tell them: I can be as good as you, now let me show you. It certainly doesn't always work and is far from a sure bet.

 

[sk310]

its time for my Vee to hang up the racket...its time to realize that the sun has set...

Because she lost to Sloane? On clay? :nono

We're just coming into Venus' best time of the year -- Wimbledon, NA hard courts -- so I'd wait until after then before showing her the exit.

I kind of think it's a bit premature to say Venus should retire especially when she's had a pretty stellar last year. She's in the top 20s with an auto-immune disease and advance age. I also think the way Venus and Serena approach the tour is very different. I think Serena loves tennis but she loves winning more. If the winning stopped or became nearly impossible for Serena the passion would be gone. Venus is a journey woman. She loves tennis, she loves the game, she loves the tour. If she's enjoying it and she's winning small tournaments here and there and making R16s and QFs here and there in slams then more power to her, stay till you're 45! Heck I wish she'd start experimenting playing doubles with other players than Serena. I think she could kick butt in doubles and as Serena zeros in her focus on getting past 22 she doesn't have as much time or energy for it. I would love to see Venus continue with doubles after she gives up singles. She's a great ambassador for the sport.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

heather Watson storms into round 2.