Who wins Singapore?

[MashaFan]

I wondered about Serena's health, but she looks in great spirits and tweeting pictures away. Go Rena! Looking forward to her playing Sharapova. :clap

Um.. and why is that? - Does it excite you somehow to watch Serena defeat Masha 17 times in a row for some dubious reason?

 

[MashaFan]

Apparently you didnt read my email to you,when you came on the post after Beijing and Maria won?

I will again remind you,I am not a fan that gets into any discussion,or uses excuses if that player loses,even if there is a injury cloud okay.Do I make myself clear on this subject.I dont want have to repeat myself again.

BTW I have always been of the opinion with any player,if they take the court,to me they are fit and healthy.

*nods* - Maybe you don't use excuses but you've ruined it for every Serena fan now

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Apparently you didnt read my email to you,when you came on the post after Beijing and Maria won?

I will again remind you,I am not a fan that gets into any discussion,or uses excuses if that player loses,even if there is a injury cloud okay.Do I make myself clear on this subject.I dont want have to repeat myself again.

BTW I have always been of the opinion with any player,if they take the court,to me they are fit and healthy.

*nods* - Maybe you don't use excuses but you've ruined it for every Serena fan now

BTW I also didnt make any excuses when Maria came back from her last shoulder issue either?I thought it was a wise decision on her behalf last year when she decided to not play the later part of the season.

 

[MashaFan]

BTW I also didnt make any excuses when Maria came back from her last shoulder issue either?I thought it was a wise decision on her behalf last year when she decided to not play the later part of the season.

*hugs*

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I personally don't think the Serena vs. Masha streak is forever. Unless Serena retires tomorrow...

Nothing is forever.

 

[tossip]

I personally don't think the Serena vs. Masha streak is forever. Unless Serena retires tomorrow...

Nothing is forever.

she will win by a walkover..:lolz:..:snigger

 

[rugged]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

You always pick Petra, which is your right. But even if Serena somehow gets knocked out, do you honestly believe Petra will defeat Sharapova? Not happening when Maria has a chance to clinch #1 without having to play her nemesis. :nono

You are right Kskate2. I like Petra but she doesn't have the goods to bring it against Serena, even if Serena isn't 100% And Petra isn't handling Pova as well as she could or should.

 

[rugged]

I voted for Petra. I believe Serena is not ready and Petra will take it.

You always pick Petra, which is your right. But even if Serena somehow gets knocked out, do you honestly believe Petra will defeat Sharapova? Not happening when Maria has a chance to clinch #1 without having to play her nemesis. :nono

Yes I do believe. In Beijing Petra was tired. It might not have been aparent from her movement on the court. But her serve was a little bit weaker. This time I believe it will be different. I don't always pick Petra. There are periods when you just can't pick Petra, but when Petra is in form I believe she can beat Serena and Masha.

Petra might - and that is a big might, be able to beat Maria, but she has no game for Serena. That is why she has never had a win against her. Maria is Petra's best shot for a win.

 

[rugged]

I wondered about Serena's health, but she looks in great spirits and tweeting pictures away. Go Rena! Looking forward to her playing Sharapova. :clap

Um.. and why is that? - Does it excite you somehow to watch Serena defeat Masha 17 times in a row for some dubious reason?

wait! I am confused - you don't want to see your fav, the number 2 in the world, play the number 1? I would have expected a true Pova fan to echo my sentiments. Instead of speculating that it will be another defeat - why aren't you hopeful about a possible win for Marsh???:nono

On a different note - when will we see you on tennis.com again? Or are you there under another tag?

 

[rugged]

I personally don't think the Serena vs. Masha streak is forever. Unless Serena retires tomorrow...

Nothing is forever.

Oh it is forever. Psychologically Marsha can't clear the hurdle. And Marsha knows it - shows on her face every time she stands across the court from Serena. Serena just has a superior tennis IQ. And if you recall, even Marsha's father knows it. He said that if they have to play each other in a tourney Maria won't be able to beat Serena.

 

[10isfan]

I am hoping for a Petra vs Serena final. Pova has no chance against Serena unless she is injured. That is primarily because they have similar games, but Serena is superior in every department.

One of these days, Pova will probably get a win over Serena. Maybe at AO where Serena has a history of being injured.

 

[rugged]

Apparently you didnt read my email to you,when you came on the post after Beijing and Maria won?

I will again remind you,I am not a fan that gets into any discussion,or uses excuses if that player loses,even if there is a injury cloud okay.Do I make myself clear on this subject.I dont want have to repeat myself again.

BTW I have always been of the opinion with any player,if they take the court,to me they are fit and healthy.

*nods* - Maybe you don't use excuses but you've ruined it for every Serena fan now

Dear Mashafan, how might have things been ruined for Serena fans? Our fav hasn't taking ten years of public beatings by the same person (giggle, laffs, hehe). We are quite a happy group. So this is where you have been hiding. Did the fire get too hot on tennis.com:lolz: And by the way, you lied: you told another poster on tennis.com that you would never come back here to post. Did it get lonely?

 

[rugged]

I am hoping for a Petra vs Serena final. Pova has no chance against Serena unless she is injured. That is primarily because they have similar games, but Serena is superior in every department.

One of these days, Pova will probably get a win over Serena. Maybe at AO where Serena has a history of being injured.

Nope, Maria is not capable of beating Serena. Maria just doesn't have the mental or athletic ability to do it. It has been said many times - Serena grew up hitting against Venus - someone who is a better athlete than Maria: almost as tall, moves better than Maria, Better serve than Maria's, hits as hard as Maria. For Serena Maria is just a lesser version of someone she grew up hitting against.

In addition, Serena is able to read what is happening on court and the new tactics that Pova tries to use. Serena can immediately adapt to what is going on and turn it on Maria. On the other hand, Maria can't adapt her game. Even when her coaches come down to try an help her think her way through it, it is obvious that she doesn't believe she can do it. With other players she listens to her coach with little to no response. With Serena she starts complaining to her coach about what is going wrong with her game. Maria knows it is useless.

 

[Calvy]

Serena's got this, and a possible Serena vs Maria is not an enticing possibility to me, because I know the outcome.

I'd prefer a Serena vs Caroline or Ana. Players whom occasionally push Rena.

 

[10isfan]

Pova is not capable of beating Serena. I agree. But can Serena lose because she is injured?

Is Sloane capable of beating Serena? No. Did Serena lose to her because of her ankle? Yes.

In most matches, one should differentiate between beating an opponent and being on court when the opponent beats herself. Lisicki and Petra beat themselves often. It is not impossible that Pova happens to be on court when Serena is too injured to play well. Let's just hope it is in the very distant future.

 

[tented]

Serena's got this, and a possible Serena vs Maria is not an enticing possibility to me, because I know the outcome.

:clap Hear, hear! I don't ever want to see another Serena/Sharapova match. Ever. The outcome is predetermined, and the actual play is boring.

I'd prefer a Serena vs Caroline or Ana. Players whom occasionally push Rena.

Again, completely agree. The "problem" with 95+% of Serena matches is you're absolutely certain who's going to win. I know this isn't a problem for her fans, but it's a problem in terms of the WTA gaining a larger audience.

I also realize Serena herself brings in a lot of viewers, but I think the numbers could be even higher if they were more exciting, more competitive.

And to be clear, I'm not thinking about matches such as the one she lost to Stephens, in which Serena was clearly physically compromised. That wasn't an example of a more competitive and exciting match. I'm thinking about ones like the Cincinnati final against Azarenka, or the Wimbledon semifinal against Dementieva.

Before anyone jumps on me, I also want to stress that none of this is Serena's fault, so to speak. It's not her fault that so many of her matches aren't competitive; this is her opponents' fault. Serena is to be praised for having reached such extraordinary heights of success.

 

[special700]

I am hoping for a Petra vs Serena final. Pova has no chance against Serena unless she is injured. That is primarily because they have similar games, but Serena is superior in every department.

One of these days, Pova will probably get a win over Serena. Maybe at AO where Serena has a history of being injured.

Nope, Maria is not capable of beating Serena. Maria just doesn't have the mental or athletic ability to do it. It has been said many times - Serena grew up hitting against Venus - someone who is a better athlete than Maria: almost as tall, moves better than Maria, Better serve than Maria's, hits as hard as Maria. For Serena Maria is just a lesser version of someone she grew up hitting against.

In addition, Serena is able to read what is happening on court and the new tactics that Pova tries to use. Serena can immediately adapt to what is going on and turn it on Maria. On the other hand, Maria can't adapt her game. Even when her coaches come down to try an help her think her way through it, it is obvious that she doesn't believe she can do it. With other players she listens to her coach with little to no response. With Serena she starts complaining to her coach about what is going wrong with her game. Maria knows it is useless.

It is also very embarrassing when a coach has to come down and tell a 5x major winner how to win a match. It's truly a damn shame and shows major weakness.

 

[sk310]

Serena's got this, and a possible Serena vs Maria is not an enticing possibility to me, because I know the outcome.

:clap Hear, hear! I don't ever want to see another Serena/Sharapova match. Ever. The outcome is predetermined, and the actual play is boring.

I'd prefer a Serena vs Caroline or Ana. Players whom occasionally push Rena.

Again, completely agree. The "problem" with 95+% of Serena matches is you're absolutely certain who's going to win. I know this isn't a problem for her fans, but it's a problem in terms of the WTA gaining a larger audience.

I also realize Serena herself brings in a lot of viewers, but I think the numbers could be even higher if they were more exciting, more competitive.

And to be clear, I'm not thinking about matches such as the one she lost to Stephens, in which Serena was clearly physically compromised. That wasn't an example of a more competitive and exciting match. I'm thinking about ones like the Cincinnati final against Azarenka, or the Wimbledon semifinal against Dementieva.

Before anyone jumps on me, I also want to stress that none of this is Serena's fault, so to speak. It's not her fault that so many of her matches aren't competitive; this is her opponents' fault. Serena is to be praised for having reached such extraordinary heights of success.

I agree with your last point. I actually think this is what made people finally warm up to Azarenka. In 2013 there was a time when Vika could actually push Serena and she believed she could win. Serena still had the overwhelming upper hand every time, but they pushed each other to be better that entire year. I think it was nice to watch because you knew they really respected each other's game and because of the other each raised their quality of play the entire year. I really hope to see Vika back at the peak of her game next year at some point. I love watching those two play, especially on the biggest stages.

I think the reason most Serena finals are boring is that she has an overwhelming record against top 10 players. She raises her level of play and she likes playing for a title. High stakes bring out the best in Serena. It's a great quality in a champion but makes for some boring finals for fans .

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

My thoughts have always been with this Isane Rule that the WTA has adopted,letting coaches come day to talk to their players,is just pure Spoon Feeding Period.

By the way I have also noticed half the time the players Take No Notice of what their coaches told them to do in the first place.

Tactics are a most important part of our game....period,if a played at this level cannot change their game plan on court,when it is not working,it appears to me they are clearly lacking in the fundamental's of our game...Heaven Help Them

I feel very strong on this subject.

 

[Front242]

^ I agree. It's embarrassing and demeaning and as you said if they haven't the brains to be able to solve it for themselves they shouldn't be playing. There's always a solution. If your opponent is overpowering you, beat them with angles, make them run, tire them out, etc. You don't need a coach for that.