Comments on: REQUIRED READING: WOMEN’S TENNIS IS MORE “ENTHRALLING”

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:10:31 +0000

Yeah, that was a classic Serena moment. “Playing her way into shape” they said, but it was more like “kicking a** and taking names!”

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:33:34 +0000

Hi freakyfrites!

Serena is certainly capable of imploding early in a tournament. But when she has that trophy in her sights, look out!

I loved watching her in the 2007 Australian Open. The commentators just kept harping on how out of shape she was, but she stared down the competition and made it all the way.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:57:32 +0000

Hi Liz!

You make a good point that I hadn’t thought through before – so much of what is annoying me right now about the WTA players has to do with the mental toughness of the players. The Kuze! She has such a great game and I don’t even watch her anymore because of her breakdowns. And as much as I’ve admired Safina’s come backs, it’s getting to the point where I have to wonder why she’s always putting herself into these situations.
Not that men’s tennis doesn’t have its headcases (Mardy Fish now has a 2-10 record in finals) but the top players have their sh*t together.
Serena, of course, also has her sh*t together, at least when she takes to the court in a final.

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:57:35 +0000

I love women’s tennis. But right now a lot of the top players seem to have the pyschological heebie-jeebies about actually winning a match. It’s awful to watch Kuze or Dementieva give away matches, or root for Safina’s determination and grit though an entire tournament only to see her cave in the final. It wouldn’t be so bad if they were losing after a long, hard-fought battle, but so many times it seems like a give-away rather than a real effort. And as for Jankovic’s comments — this past year, has there really been any doubt on the women’s side about who the top player is?