Nor in 2018. Her movement is really horrible, and, while it is enough to look good when facing elderly semi-retired players like Vinci, as soon as she faces a player with better talent than her (e.g. Kristina), her grinding game is all over the place.
She should focus on getting inside the top 100 first, which is going to be extremely difficult considering how weak, in regards to past performances, her game is at the moment.
And, by the way, the ban is not an excuse. She had a 15 months holiday break and should be winning 100% of her matches and with absolute ease.
The break most definitely means something but I absolutely agree that her movement is not up to par with her previous form. Not enough sliding Into or out of shots. BUT it was her first tournament so...
I wouldn't count out a career slam winner in this open field.
Her first fucking tournament, she lost with a top 10 in the making who smashed everyone in the last days, please.
I don't know if she win a slam this year but her level is already good and anyway i don't think movement cost her match but returns and shot selection.
And, why did fellow fans state after 4 matches, 3 of which she won, that she was going to win every tournament of the WTA despite looking "great" against extremely weak opposition? :lol:
Please. Sharapova looked awesome this week for the most part, movement included. With Serena out she is the best player on the WTA Tour, and will be the favorite in every major she plays until Serena is back.
There is a reason why she runs out of gas. She starts great, then it is gone, especially in a third set.
I believe it is related to her anatomy. I think this might be the best she has ever looked....I do not know if certain things which do not look great, would make her last longer, with most all of her strength...the possibilities....which I am not well versed in....
Her muscles are powerful, but they need a store of fuel to keep running. Not sure where it could be added, but if it would help---more fat.
That could be completely wrong. Maybe all that muscle makes her movement more difficult. She could be thinner, quicker, and have more in her tank when she needs it.
It looked to me like she intentionally added some muscle the last couple of weeks...I don't think she lost any pounds. Plus five, minus five...I would not care. Maybe she just needs time...and what looks so perfect now, might be exactly what she needs for sustaining maximum tennis power.
She'd need to keep serving well all year long cause she lost most rallies today and most of the points she won were quick points thank to her serve. And her serve began to look super fragile in the third set.
It is indeed her first tournament back but it's also what used to be her best tournament.
Stop with the uncalled overreaction. This was her first tournament back after 15 months and she still ended up reaching the semis and pushed one of the in form players of the year to a three setter. She's definitely winning a grandslam, maybe not this year but next year I wouldn't bet against her.
I'm not crazy. Except Williams no player can take a 5+ months break just like that and win slams.
As bad as the top 10 is, players like Muguruza etc. can find form and beat anybody including Victoria. So, I wouldn't underestimate the field, even if it's weak on a regular basis.
sorry @Vikapower but your bias is showing here, if Vika makes the SF in her first tournament back you will be over the moon:shrug: if Genie ever makes another SF ever you will be euphoric:spit:
Will it be easy as some think? No. [And, the same goes for Victoria]
Will she win a slam in 2017? I doubt it. Her best shot is RG but it's slim especially if she plays the Q -; because at Wimbledon and US Open, faster surfaces, she's been really bad.
I don't hate or dislike Sharapova. I'm more indifferent/neutral. This was the only match I saw of her in Stuttgart because she was playing Kristina but like many I read the internet and the hype, well...
If she reaches the QF/SF in RG, then, considering the WTA on clay, I'd see her but that's a massive long road to get to.
What movement? Hers previous success is never been based on movement
Even if she is going to be worse player than in past (we need time for such bold conclusion), that not necessarily mean that her chances to win slam is worse than anytime in past, because WTA Tour competition is obviously weaker than ever in past 10 years!
Here is players which ever beat Maria at QF+ rounds at slams:
Serena, Venus, Henin, Clijsters, Mauresmo, Li Na, Ivanovic, Azarenka, Kvitova and... Cibulkova.
So at RG and Wimbledon this year, out of all players which ever beat Maria at late rounds on slams, will play only Dominika Cibulkova (which beat Maria in RG2009 QF), and at USO2017 will there maybe be Azarenka or Kvitova.
Actually it scared me hoe good she looked. Kiki is one of the best players on tour this year and maria pushed her all the way in her first tournament. That is impressive and her serve has improved
sorry @Vikapower but your bias is showing here, if Vika makes the SF in her first tournament back you will be over the moon:shrug: if Genie ever makes another SF ever you will be euphoric:spit:
vika will be coming back from giving birth....Maria for all we know could have been training in peace for the last 15 months. When you think about it....a player should really improve with 15 months of interrupted training
Its true though......she has world class facilities and coaching. I dont understand the whole thing of rustiness. We are talking about someone who has played tennis. Sure if she hasnt held a racket for 15 months I can understand. But she has been training for 15 months. Whats the difference between playing 2 sets against another girl or 2 sets with her hitting partner who is a man every day?
I think FO is probably her best chance, if she gets a main draw WC. I dont remember which players won as qualifiers but I read Borg retired because he wasnt going to play them
Never say never, plenty of worse players than Sharapova won majors
Max Eisenbud really fucked her over. He had to lt her know there was a change in the banned substances list. Thats one of the reasons she pays him, to build and maintain her brand
I don't think it's possible to predict her form over the next year and a half on her performance in Stuttgart. I thought she actually did pretty well, better than I thought she would, in her first tournament back. She's clearly in need of match play and toughness and that will only come with time. You can't replicate that in practice. She was fairly close to the final here and considering that she played 4 matches back to back for the first time in a long time that's a decent result. Time will tell!