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Greg Garber(ESPN): "Petra Kvitova - the biggest disappointment"

13K views 118 replies 75 participants last post by  colt13 
#1 ·
"in the forth round she is playing Marion Bartoli. She beats her easily in the first and goes down 2-6, 0-6
This is a Wimbledon Champion from last year. This is a big lefty player who we expected great things of this year. She was one of those women who we thought might challenge Serena. .........Not even close.... "


http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8364694
 
#43 ·
I think everyone is hoping this is a "sophomore season" a la Hingis' 1998 (she probably played better tennis throughout 1999 and 2000, despite the slam in this year).

Obviously she has game, just give her a bit of time. Watching her at Wimbledon last year I thought Serena would need to get back to her very best if she wanted to win Wimbledon again. In the end Petra's defence wasn't even as impressive as Sharapova's or Davenport's defence of their Wimbledon titles.

Petra from Wimbledon 2011 vs. Serena at the Olympics 2012 would have been a good match.
 
#46 ·
In big matches this year she was mostly losing to players like Serena or Sharapova. It is hard to fault her that much for that. She obviously isnt playing badly, she just isnt playing quite well enough when it counts.

Maybe with the pressure off her again we will see her swing a bit more freely again and come up with some bigger wins again. I agree with banadou though she needs to show more fight when things arent going her way in a match, or when she feels a bit off. Her mentality really seperates her from Serena, Sharapova, and Azarenka right now, especialy the latter two who really dont have a better game right now, just a stronger mind.
 
#47 ·
Well said.

It's almost like she checked out when things didn't go her way this year against certain opponents.

And example would be, she would hit a shot that she didn't expect to come back, so wouldn't be ready for the return. That's on a smaller level.

And if she had you on multiple BP's and couldn't break (mind you the poor approach she took toward them), it's like she would tank her serve the service game or the rest of the set. That's on a bigger level.

It's not that she's not strong mentally strong certain matches. Petra has been. She just has to be mentally strong in every or almost every scenario, than selectively.

Quite honestly, she was much more that way last year when she needed to be, though she may not had been as consistent tournament to tournament. But she had more confidence, played better, and had more zeal to win. And like you said, she was swinging much better as well.

And of course it didn't help her that she didn't play Azarenka or Radwanka in her draws, or Sharapova on faster surfaces. But you gotta play who's in front of you.

It's all a learning process. She should be back.
 
#48 ·
"in the forth round she is playing Marion Bartoli. She beats her easily in the first and goes down 2-6, 0-6
This is a Wimbledon Champion from last year. This is a big lefty player who we expected great things of this year. She was one of those women who we thought might challenge Serena. .........Not even close.... "
She was definitely the biggest disappointment to me. But in fact she's had, by "normal" standards, a very good season. It's not her fault that some folks - myself included - decided that based on her 2011 she was going to totally dominate the tour in 2012. Still yeah - I do think that she rarely played nearly up to her potential this year.
 
#49 ·
Certainly its "not her fault". But obviously Ludmilla should be judged at a different standard because of the huge talent she possesses. She can of course turn into the SEWTA version of Mark Phillipoussis, a lazy, completely uncommitted supremely talented player who vultures the occasional title but never puts it together when it matters. Or she could be a great champion. Her choice, really.

But to me her demeanor on court is entirely "Let me hit every ball as hard as I can, if it lands in for a ridiculous winner, then KROTT ! If not, oh well who cares"
 
#57 ·
I wouldn't say that Petra is the biggest disappointment. It's not her fault that 3 players finally reached good form.

And I guess Petra won't finish this season with less than 7000 points.
 
#59 ·
It's normal to have a sophomore slump. Serena, Sharapova, and a lot of other players have plateaued a bit after they broke through. Some of her losses are a bit irritating though.

In 2011 it seemed like many tournaments were up for grabs, and this year I think the quality was a bit better and players really had to fight for whatever they got.
 
#60 ·
Petra salvaged her year with the HC season, but she was a disappointment overall in that she wasn't able to build on her YEC triumph at the beginning of the new year. What we found out is that she doesn't yet have a consistent world-beater mentality. I think she will grow in the next few seasons and take on the mantle of slam champion. She also experienced a sophomore slump. Not surprising, really. I still expect great things from her.

What I don't understand is why people are saying she can't beat Sharapova. She certainly can and has.

She needs to develop a winning mentality and get fit, and she will win slams again.
 
#64 ·
Petra's had a perfectly fine season. Just because she hasn't won a Slam doesn't mean her year has been a waste. She's had solid results at the majors, picked up 2 titles and is #5 overall for the season. Only 4 players can say they outdid her, she's doing just fine. She has many, many years ahead of her to pick up more Slams.
 
#65 ·
Definitely agree that Petra has been rather unwhelming this year, after last year I though she would kick on and be the dominant force this year instead she's slowly become less and less effective, people have used the argument that GS Quarter finals/4th rounds are good progress well I would agree if your name is Sara Errani for example, someone with the weapons that Petra has should be winning Grand Slams or at leat getting to the final. To me watching her this year she seems to have lost confidence and her shot making dosen't seem as spectacular as it could be and maybe more controversally her intensity dosen't look up to where it could be.

The way I look at it with Petra she should be able to beat the like's of Sharapova/Azarenka as she has more natural power than them and actually plenty more variety really she should be dualling it out with Serena Williams for GS title's as she's probaly the only person who could match her in the power stakes.

Hopefully she can come out Fresh for the start of next year and put this year behind her and call it a learning curve
 
#80 ·
Looking back at videos from last year she was capable of at least playing some defence and her court coverage wasn't dreadful, but that's no longer the case. I understand that she has had abdominal problems all year which would have restricted the running/cardio all year. But there will be no excuses this offseason - if she doesn't get herself back in shape by January, it will be a massive disappointment.

That said, if this simply turns out to be a sophomore slump then this is far from a bad year. She's still top five and has a chance to repeat her indoor heroics from last year.
 
#87 ·
She was supposed to dominate this year, but she flopped, and she is the biggest disapointment this year for me, by far.

What is the most shocking is that she is MUCH MORE talented than the current world number 1, as proved when they faced last year on the tour. But the current number 1 is better prepared physically, that explains her higher ranking compared to Petra.

100% of people know that if Kvitova is playing her best, the current number 1 doesn´t stand a chance, since Petra game is to finish points quickly with the winner, opposed to the grinding game style.
 
#89 ·
True in a way, but her sophomore slump is the same thing that happened to other players that went on to become great.

She is still growing into things and has a lot of upside to tap into. Although, I wish she had just been able to get her hands on Azarenka so she could bury her.

It's overreacting to write her off.
 
#93 ·
I can see Greg Garber's argument Petra didn't have a GREAT 2012 but she was consistent semifinalist at the Australian and French Opens, quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, fourth round at US Open.

After the incredible 2011, the media expected Petra to keep it up and dominate the game that did NOT happen.

The Sharapova match at the Australian Open was SO CLOSE but the problem was I think Petra felt the pressure if she won that match she would have reached number one. I think Petra crumbled under the pressure and she hasn't been the same since.

Petra did win two titles this year so she does have some consistency now. I think the problem for Petra is her fitness and I cannot believe people make excuses but the girl needs to get into much better physical shape. I think against Bartoli, Petra was tired because she won so much she played too much tennis winning Montreal, and New Haven, and also reaching semifinals of Cincinatti. She needs to really give 150% on her fitness lose the baby fat.

Petra also might also need to give more margin on her shots and maybe play some doubles and come to net more.

I think Petra is more naturally talented than Victoria BUT I see that Victoria has dedicated herself to fitness she is in amaazing physical shape.

If Petra can improve her fitness I believe her results will improve.
 
#99 ·
:eek: A great post and rational :eek:
 
#96 ·
She got blindsided by Azarenka, totally, everyone expected Kvitova to dominate this year after the end of the last one, but Azarenka took that spot and stole the show. It was unpredictable at the end of the last year, but now it's true and we see that Azarenka is a more stable player than Kvitova, who seems to have shone only once. :)
 
#97 ·
She got blindsided by Azarenka, totally, everyone expected Kvitova to dominate this year after the end of the last one, but Azarenka took that spot and stole the show. It was unpredictable at the end of the last year, but now it's true and we see that Azarenka is a more stable player than Kvitova, who seems to have shone only once. :)


 
#100 ·
The worrisome thing for Petra is even when she played well this year she still lost to Serena and Sharapova. The feeling before this year was when Petra played well she would usually win the title, but that was not the case. She didnt play Azarenka but one would think looking at their success she probably would have lost to her too. Add to that she has still has periods of inconsistency, while she has gotten better with that, and she has her work cut out fo rher.
 
#102 ·
The worrisome thing for Petra is even when she played well this year she still lost to Serena and Sharapova. The feeling before this year was when Petra played well she would usually win the title, but that was not the case. She didnt play Azarenka but one would think looking at their success she probably would have lost to her too. Add to that she has still has periods of inconsistency, while she has gotten better with that, and she has her work cut out fo rher.
Yeah, she "played well" leading up to those matches, but no where near what she played last year.

I shouldn't have to break it down, but Petra's level was not comparable.

In addition to her actual play, Petra's injuries, illnesses, adjusting to her new found fame, responsibilities and expectations, etc., has to be taken in consideration as well.

Azarenka was already a top 10 player for the last few years, and hadn't won a slam. And when she finally won one and became number one--no one noticed or had any expectations for her (no pressure), cause she wasn't the one being tapped by the media.

Even now, many tennis die hards and media still don't take her seriously, cause they don't feel she has the game to dominate. That helps her.

As far as Petra, we'll see where the next 3 months-two years takes her?
 
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