I just saw this on the WTA site, and she looked absolutely beautiful. I'm a little surprised Serena was considered her toughest opponent, but they did have some very interesting matches over the years, so I respect Kim's answer very much
She had real psychological issues when playing Justine! And her semi final match against Venus at Wimbledon several years ago must have hurt. Maybe that Australian semi against Serena when Kim was well ahead then lost is a big memory!
Agree with her on who looks most likely to lift the Aussie trophy this year!
Considering what she said in her winner's speech in 2011, I think Kim really really wanted to win Australia, probably more than the other slams. Maybe that's why that match stood out to her.
Agreed that Serena is one of her toughest players, well, who didn't feel that way? cough...masha...cough...
But I thought it must be Justine. AO 2003 must be really hurt, but I mean... 3 slam final losses... it must be veeerrrryy hurt.
Unless she felt different because 2010 matches
When Kim was up and coming she was often halted by a young Serena like at Us Open 1999, Indian Wells 2001. And who can ever forget the AO semi 2002 I screamed out loud with joy over Serena's epic comeback. How she charged the net on match point Kim and then read the passing shot and put away the volley with venom!! Oh, the adrenaline!
Kim is a respectable person on and off court with her senseful thinking, so down to earth unlike some other top player who couldn't admit that Serena is her toughest opponent in her career.
With Serena's pretty sizable H2H against Kim, it kind of makes the most sense. She only won 2 matches against Serena, in her career, and 1 of those was a questionable result for Kim, because while in a position to win, she didn't have to do anything for the last two points, against the best server in the womens game ever. (not saying Kim couldn't have won that USO semi on her own, but in her mind.. she finished things off and walked to the net for a handshake 1 time, and was handed a win after some on court disputes and ridiculous calls in the other)
^^ with that, who is to say Ausie 02 wouldn't have happened all over again. =? And maybe Kim thinks the same thing, had Serena NOT been FF'd and hit a winner, then maybe an ace.. her second win could have been a totally different outcome.
And who is to say Serena wouldn't have hit 2 more unforced errors to lose to Clijsters in that match instead of the footfault and code violation? We'll never know what would have happened, but what happened, happened. We all move on.
And who is to say Serena wouldn't have hit 2 more unforced errors to lose to Clijsters in that match instead of the footfault and code violation? We'll never know what would have happened, but what happened, happened. We all move on.
Kim loved tennis and managed a family with being a pro as well as she could in her second career. She has always been honest without being rude.
No doubt Serena was her toughest match up, Kim could draw more errors out of Venus and Henin only ever had a mental edge for about 6 months and only in slam finals.
Kim loved tennis and managed a family with being a pro as well as she could in her second career. She has always been honest without being rude.
No doubt Serena was her toughest match up, Kim could draw more errors out of Venus and Henin only ever had a mental edge for about 6 months and only in slam finals.