WTA Roland Garros 2014--->early poll!

[Sundaymorningguy]

Hmmmm....maybe Fognini, maybe Mirnyi as he was her old mixed partner back when she won the Wimbledon and US Open mixed titles. I know the guys I would want would never do it like Novak or Andy Murray. Maybe Mahut or Llodra would be nice get a little French support and luck to take the title.

 

[Moxie]

^ If that does happen,who would you like Serena's partner to be?

Funny, I was taking it as "who might be best for her game," not "who might get her the title," which are two different answers.

For the win, why not John Isner? The All-American team. That serving combination would neuter and good clay-court team, I reckon, given that they both have OK(Isner)/good-great(Serena) clay chops otherwise. Or Stan Wawrinka.

An interesting partner for combined skills would be Grigor Dimitrov, but I'm guessing that won't happen. :nono

 

[Moxie]

I think skipping Ivanovic in the poll was a mistake. She's playing with great confidence, and I'd put her over a lot of the poll options. In our recent Rome draw challenge no one chose her to reach the QFs, though she did. Are our memories so short that we have forgotten that she has actually won the French Open? Early mention here to Suarez Navarro as a spoiler.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Hmmmm....maybe Fognini, maybe Mirnyi as he was her old mixed partner back when she won the Wimbledon and US Open mixed titles. I know the guys I would want would never do it like Novak or Andy Murray. Maybe Mahut or Llodra would be nice get a little French support and luck to take the title.

If we want French Flavour.....I am with you all the way with Llodra

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ If that does happen,who would you like Serena's partner to be?

Funny, I was taking it as "who might be best for her game," not "who might get her the title," which are two different answers.

For the win, why not John Isner? The All-American team. That serving combination would neuter and good clay-court team, I reckon, given that they both have OK(Isner)/good-great(Serena) clay chops otherwise. Or Stan Wawrinka.

An interesting partner for combined skills would be Grigor Dimitrov, but I'm guessing that won't happen. :nono

Maybe I should have poised the question better? point taken....'who might be best for her game

I

 

[Moxie]

^ Well, since she doesn't need much work, except shaking her up…how about Dolgopolov? He would certainly test her improvisational skills.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Well, since she doesn't need much work, except shaking her up…how about Dolgopolov? He would certainly test her improvisational skills.

He would also test mine....come to think of it...

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

^ If that does happen,who would you like Serena's partner to be?

Funny, I was taking it as "who might be best for her game," not "who might get her the title," which are two different answers.

For the win, why not John Isner? The All-American team. That serving combination would neuter and good clay-court team, I reckon, given that they both have OK(Isner)/good-great(Serena) clay chops otherwise. Or Stan Wawrinka.

An interesting partner for combined skills would be Grigor Dimitrov, but I'm guessing that won't happen. :nono

Maybe I should have poised the question better? point taken....'who might be best for her game

I

Honestly though, I think you could pair her with an Isner, but if the chemistry isn't there, it won't work. Serena is at her best when she is comfortable, and if she isn't comfortable with what the other person brings to the table then it won't work. I think Serena needs someone with a decent serve, but is also great at net. I think a doubles specialist that she is comfortable with would work, but the only problem is I don't really know who she really would be comfortable playing with I mean I know but a Roger, Rafa or Nole isn't going to play mixed with her. Maybe Tsonga would be nice if he was healthy.

 

[golds girl]

Roddick? :snigger
Just kidding...but not really. Didn't Hingis come back to doubles after retirement? In any case Andy isn't physically capable of GS play. He's been looking rather paunchy.
I actually think Ryan Harrison would make an interesting match-up. I think she could keep his simmering rage under control.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think I will stick to the 'tried and tested' with Serena....Max 'The Beast' Miryni would be my first choice if she decides to play mixed doubles and for a French Flavour....Llodra would be my choice

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Hang on what about one of my fav male doubles player's Daniel Nestor?

 

[Moxie]

^ I thought about Tsonga, and thinking about the two strong personalities playing, I was rejecting the idea. However, giving it more thought, if they clicked, they could be an amazing team. Both great athletes. And I know we're talking about what would be best for Serena's tennis. But with her French, and his game…I actually think that could be great for HIS tennis, if it worked. As to how it would benefit Serena: not sure. Except that it's a much more interesting answer than Isner. If they worked as a pair they could catch real fire. But I will say again, it would likely benefit Tsonga more than Serena. That said…what does she really need?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

^ I thought about Tsonga, and thinking about the two strong personalities playing, I was rejecting the idea. However, giving it more thought, if they clicked, they could be an amazing team. Both great athletes. And I know we're talking about what would be best for Serena's tennis. But with her French, and his game…I actually think that could be great for HIS tennis, if it worked. As to how it would benefit Serena: not sure. Except that it's a much more interesting answer than Isner. If they worked as a pair they could catch real fire. But I will say again, it would likely benefit Tsonga more than Serena. That said…what does she really need?

The reason why I thought he could work is that he has a great serve and he is great at net. Serena wants an adept partner. If we are looking at a potential formidable team, I would be more nervous of that pairing than I would be of her and Isner.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Oh, Azarenka withdrew so everyone gets a seed bump.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I thought that might be the case with Vika.I guess we shall see her in grass season.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't know. She didn't give any specifics as to when she might return. I am thinking she will start back on the hard court circuit.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Originally thought she might start back on the HC and on another tennis site I was bagged because I made that comment......

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

^ Originally thought she might start back on the HC and on another tennis site I was bagged because I made that comment......

It depends on how Vika feels, but seeing as she bit the dust early, she could skip Wimbledon and not lose any points really and focus on training and making her move this summer. Or, she could be feeling good and try to gain back a lot of the points she is going to lose for not playing the French at Wimbledon. I am sure she will want a decent seeding for the US Open.

On another note, I am sure Serena won't come out and say it is one of her main goals, but I think she is looking to maintain her number 1 ranking for the entire year which would be a first for her to maintain it a full calendar year. Which will be a tough task given how well she did last year, but Li had a pretty decent summer and fall too last year, so that helps that Li needs to maintain as well.

 

[Moxie]

^ I thought about Tsonga, and thinking about the two strong personalities playing, I was rejecting the idea. However, giving it more thought, if they clicked, they could be an amazing team. Both great athletes. And I know we're talking about what would be best for Serena's tennis. But with her French, and his game…I actually think that could be great for HIS tennis, if it worked. As to how it would benefit Serena: not sure. Except that it's a much more interesting answer than Isner. If they worked as a pair they could catch real fire. But I will say again, it would likely benefit Tsonga more than Serena. That said…what does she really need?

The reason why I thought he could work is that he has a great serve and he is great at net. Serena wants an adept partner. If we are looking at a potential formidable team, I would be more nervous of that pairing than I would be of her and Isner.

Isner is the safe choice, but Tsonga would be the fascinating one.

 

[RJD11]

^ If that does happen,who would you like Serena's partner to be?

Max Mirnyi