There is so much hate on this board about poor Sarita that I wondered what would be the matches when she played really clean and blasting winners. Don't tell me there aren't - every top 100 players has these matches at least now and then, let alone a former top 5 one.
Christmas is coming in 2 weeks, so we need a few positive threads.
Sara's game isn't about blasting winners. But, on the other hand, she's not simply a pusher as many would claim. She has great tactical nous, knows how to exploit an opponent's weakness and has the skill to execute more than one game plan. If plan A isn't working she's willing and able to improvise and find something that does work.
I like her to be honest and think she's fun to watch.
Sara's game isn't about blasting winners. But, on the other hand, she's not simply a pusher as many would claim. She has great tactical nous, knows how to exploit an opponent's weakness and has the skill to execute more than one game plan. If plan A isn't working she's willing and able to improvise and find something that does work.
I like her to be honest and think she's fun to watch.
Well, it's true. If she manages to beat Serena during their respective careers, I would never expect it to be because Sara outwinnered her, but because of tactics. On the other hand, there's a good chance for her wins against the likes of Aga, Simona, Angie, etc. to be due to some due to it.
I take that remark though, I guess we can collect those Sarita treeing tactical performances here also.
Errani was great in that 2013 RG QF vs Aga I think.
She must have had like 30 winners or something? She wasn't blasting winners everywhere, that's simply not her game, but she played great clay court tennis, nice dropshots, volleys etc. Perfect match-up for her on clay. We all know that Aga struggles there and there was no danger for Errani to get overpowered (unlike what happened in the SF vs Serena :lol
She was also quite strong vs Angie at 2012 US Open IMO. Angie lacked the killer instinct back then and she still had soo much trouble with high spinny balls, but Sara played very smart, attacked the net when she had to and was veery solid from the baseline.
Errani also played a very good match vs Jankovic in Rome 2014. Her defense was on point.
The points from 2:20-2:37 and 6:02-6:22 are excellent from Errani. Otherwise, she pretty much got annihilated by Gorgeous Goerges. :lol:
I mean from that, it seems like Errani's best tactical options are to bring her opponent to the net so she can pass them or get enough balls back and wait for the error.
I am surprised Errani doesn't use her doubles prowess and try and approach the net more often... I guess she is quite vulnerable to being lobbed though but if she came in on a good enough approach shot, with her speed and touch she'd be difficult to pass.
Sara was peaking in Rome 2014. Dropshotted and grinded Li to death, of course we knew at that point Li's knees were dead...
then mystified Jankovic. What she has is loads of persistence and tactical guile to make up for her non weapon of a serve.
The win over Venus at US Open 2014. That was a very good match
Also 2014 Rome when she beat Li, Jankovic and Makarova
Win over Stosur at FO SF was an example of how she can understand a situation and how to take advantage
I do enjoy watching her play. Specially when it's against a more powerful player and a contrast between flat strokes and Sara's extreme top spin is created.
You have to look for match-ups where the opponent can't blast Errani off the court. Recent examples off the top of my head are the two times she embarrassed Junkovic in 2014 - Rome + RG
I remember seeing Sara for the first time at RG 12 and being so awed by the fact that she hardly made any errors. I didn't even imagine then that she could be so hated.
You mean the match where Li was experiencing food poisoning and had two bad knees :lol:? Errani even had more first serve points won than Na :lol:. Before that match, Errani only ever won ONE set during those 6 meetings. That was not Peak Errani. That was Peak Error-Na.
The 2012 RG SF against Stosur springs to mind. I assumed Stosur would just bounce her topspin serves and FH over Errani's head but Errani's tactics completely dismantled her. You could feel her brain whirring on every point.
2014 USO against Venus as well, and an honourable mention to her sudden net-rushing in the Dubai 2013 final against Kvitova which resulted in Petra getting breadsticked.
Wonderful player to watch in general though. In terms of tactics and touch, one of the top 5 on tour.
She was kind of going in for the first six games of this match. For an example where she isn't playing some useless underpowered girl. She even aced Serena here. :lol:
Her big win was Stosur in a slam SF, but her US Open win over Venus is probably the best example of Errani at her best
For Wozniacki I would pick 2014 YEC
For Jankovic, Ivanovic, their 2008 FO SF. I also liked Jankovic in Moscow 2008, Ivanovic when she beat Sveta in IW Final
Not that hard to find when players are on form. Errani's best match after match probably Rome 2014, until she played Serena
Clean and blasting winners aren't what makes tennis great. Errani played her best tactically and that was great enough. Haters are pathetic idiots posting by the numbers on TF. Nothing new under the sun.