I have been a bit emotional yesterday with Ana's wedding, I won't lie. It's been such a long way from 19 year old Ana to the married Ana. Wow. And I have forgotten the tennis TBH. :lol:
Back on court now, it doesn't left us much to expect. Ana has been in really bad form this season and it counts as one of Ana's weakest seasons in career. Losing to Alexandrova in Wimbledon was just a culmination and it was a fitting end to everything that was happening in first half of 2016. bBright moment was Ana beating #3 Halep in Dubai in February to reach Dubai quarterfinals. She had two more semis, but she is overall not doing good and is only #40 in race to YEC and #25 in official rankings.
She is so happy these days, Ana is radiating in every photo I have seen . We can only hope that Ana is determinated to work hard once that she is back on court before Rio games.
I wouldn't dare to have expectations at this point, the only thing that I do expect is that Ana finishes her work with Nigel soon, but we will probably not have any news tennis-related before the end of July.
Still 3 more weeks until we get to see Ana playing tennis. Hope she'll enjoy the honeymoon (if there will be) and then really shift her focus back on tennis.
Oh gosh how many long breaks did Ana have this year? 3? I have a feeling that we always have to wait for like a few weeks or a month to see Ana play a single match
I hope we still get to see Ana being happy on court... especially after all those photos from the wedding which reminded me that it's been a long time since I've seen Ana enjoying tennis.
I'm bored. Do you think Ana will draw a seeded player or an unseeded one in Rio?
My guess will be a seeded player. Hopefully it will be better than JJ's case in 2012 :lol:
It would be totally silly to have any expectations from Rio games. I am completely aware of a possibility to go out in 1st round, it's just a reality, regardless of a name of her opponent.
If she shows signs of caring and puts some effort and the draw is kind to her, then maybe shell repeat her 2012 London result and reach 3rd round again, but I can't see her going any further playing the tennis she's played recently.
I just hope that she fires Nigel as a first step and fights back to top 20. That's all I would dare to expect for the rest of the season.
depends from Bastian next destination
it's not sure he'll stay in UK but
If this will happen i don't know if she will fire Nigel and build a new team based on where they are living
She'll be lucky to reach R2 in Rio I have no expectations at all.
I just hope she will not lose in R1 of Cincinnati, USO and Beijing. That's all. Just win a match. She played well in Cincy and Beijing in the last 2 years so I hope she could somehow keep that up and maybe randomly reach R3?
I doubt she could win 3 matches in a row in 2016 if she keeps Nigel.
I can't see Ana doing anything any time soon.. her head will be elsewhere, like it was all year.. and it doesn't look like she will get rid of Nigel, so.. a whole bunch of 1st round losses are coming.
I can't see Ana doing anything any time soon.. her head will be elsewhere, like it was all year.. and it doesn't look like she will get rid of Nigel, so.. a whole bunch of 1st round losses are coming.
Totally agreed. She has no motivation and her fitness is horrible. And this is to say nothing of her strategy when on court.
And I honestly believe she'll stay with Nigel until she retires, which could be as soon as post-Beijing or at the end of the 2017 season. Can't see her playing beyond that.
Like mirkomenna said they might not be able to follow her where she moves... even working in part time with adidas coaches would be better. She might change her team without knowing that it's better for tennis.
howard green is a part time fitness trainer and i am pretty sure he won't leave his main job in bolton
also nigel sears is a part-time tennis coach, his main priorities and interests are in the uk i can't see him change nation and get far from them.
it's the reason because he stay with Ana
she didn't want him to stay with her all the time and for ana it's the same; their relationship leave free time to each other
i clearly remember ana forced to start clay preparation in wimbledon on the green clay because nigel didn't go to maiorca, and i remember nigel leaving ana in madrid and rome for doing his own things
by the way , where are they in honeymoon, still in venice?
adidas tennis program doesn't exist anymore
darren cahill is simona halep full-time coach
Azarenka is pregnant and out of tour for the next 1-1,5 years.
Now there's a short glimpse of how it's gonna sound like when Ana announces the same news and for some reason I feel it might happen sooner than we expect.
TBH, if Ana keeps Sears, it will tell a lot. In that case, I will be prepared for 2017 as a definite farewell season. :shrug:
I'm glad Ana didn't throw bombshells like this to us. At least she's married and we all know she's retiring sooner or later if she suddenly announces that she's pregnant.
What a strange year for the WTA/women tennis. Serena losing 2 GS F in a row, Maria getting banned because of doping and now Vika is pregnant after having some sort of 'comeback' by winning the IW-Miami double. What's next?
Serena won 22nd.
Maria failed a drug test and is banned for 2 years.
Two new slam winners, Kerber and Muguruza, both beating Serena in the finals.
Ana got married.
Azarenka announces pregnancy.
Serena won 22nd.
Maria failed a drug test and is banned for 2 years.
Two new slam winners, Kerber and Muguruza, both beating Serena in the finals.
Ana got married.
Azarenka announces pregnancy.
We can't say the WTA isnt bringing the entertainment off court this year.. there is some for all tastes.. suspense, intrigue, love, marriage, kids.. :lol:
We can't say the WTA isnt bringing the entertainment off court this year.. there is some for all tastes.. suspense, intrigue, love, marriage, kids.. :lol:
Ana: " I still have a lot of goals that i want to achieve and i believe that i have an opportunity to win more in tennis...But if my career was to end tomorrow - i would have no complaints. I would still be happy, i'm grateful for everything i have achieved so far."
Journalist Felix Grewe's impression of Shem...
" Her press manager, a posh Englishman, whose hair stays perfectly, eerily in place and looks more perfect than Milos Raonic's hair, said to me: You are the only German journalist who got an interview with Ana...I reject every day a dozen requests for interviews from german media so...don't ruin it, boy!"
Ana: " I still have a lot of goals that i want to achieve and i believe that i have an opportunity to win more in tennis...But if my career was to end tomorrow - i would have no complaints. I would still be happy, i'm grateful for everything i have achieved so far."
" Her press manager, a posh Englishman, whose hair stays perfectly, eerily in place and looks more perfect than Milos Raonic's hair, said to me: You are the only German journalist who got an interview with Ana...I reject every day a dozen requests for interviews from german media so...don't ruin it, boy!"
- Right now I am not planning to retire this year
- Since I'm still playing... I still want to do well in Rio/slams (but... I am not willing to pay effort, work hard and fire Nigel)
- However, I am still satisfied that I won a slam and was once #1, and I will not comeback if I retire (just in case I'm suddenly pregnant or so)
- Right now I am not planning to retire this year
- Since I'm still playing... I still want to do well in Rio/slams (but... I am not willing to pay effort, work hard and fire Nigel)
- However, I am still satisfied that I won a slam and was once #1, and I will not comeback if I retire (just in case I'm suddenly pregnant or so)
Well...This sounds to me that Ana is ready to go, it's just a matter of a moment when she feels ready to push the exit button. But, I do think she will play some more time, however not for too long, that's sure.
This only means one thing, I'm gonna try to enjoy watching her on court, not really letting result to present crucial importance. At this moment, I would be happy if Ana would go for one more full season, 2017, but I just don't think it's going to happen.
She is shining on every photo we've seen in the last few days and I believe that's because she's found out that off the court is where here happiness lies now.
I think that she was talking in general when she said "If it was to end tomorrow,..".
She said nothing new like all her interviews the past year... I don't see her lying about having big goals either and when she signed Sears back she did because she used to reach GSs 4th rounds with him while being more relaxed in other events and she thought that she can build on that ..It didn't work because her game got completly dissolved along the year and she kept blaming her nerves like what she did after her loss in RG.
I don't like when she sounds defensive like that.
We never expected her to play in her 30s so retierment is soon anyway.
I think that she was talking in general when she said "If it was to end tomorrow,..".
She said nothing new like all her interviews the past year... I don't see her lying about having big goals either and when she signed Sears back she did because she used to reach GSs 4th rounds with him while being more relaxed in other events and she thought that she can build on that ..It didn't work because her game got completly dissolved along the year and she kept blaming her nerves like what she did after her loss in RG.
I don't like when she sounds defensive like that.
We never expected her to play in her 30s so retierment is soon anyway.
I really don't think that was the reason she hired Nigel.. she hired him because he could train her in Bolton, and because she knew he would never be demanding of her, and she had other priorities. :shrug:
And what she says are her goals are more a hope than a goal.. a goal you fight to accomplish, a hope you wait to see if it somehow materializes.
I agree the end is near though.. so lets just somehow enjoy all those 1st round losses that are coming.. we might be less than 20 matches away from the final goodbye to Ana'a career.
every player ends his career
you can choose to leave like somebody who gives up or fight until the last point
the way she choose will define her as player and person
i hope she doesn't go like somebody who surrender
i ll never understand what she has got to lose if she tries at least for one last attempt and i 'll never understand why she wanted to throw away the last chance of being a successfull player after rg 15, especially because she have waited for that so many years and she has refused to retire in her worst moment
she said that if her career ends tomorrow she will have no complaints but if i look to what she has achieved there are more missed and wasted chances or regrets than glory moment
With so many withdrawals and unexpected events, Ana could have been seeded in Rio, had she had only slightly better results lately. Oh well.
Tennis tournament starts immediately, the day after opening ceremony and ladies are playing day-to-day, except of 1st round which is divided into two days. Curious to see if Ana will have any luck or will she run to top 8 seed in first round. :lol:
I really hope that Zika isn't that of a topic to be worried about. I thought that players are a bit exaggerating, but not sure what to think, maybe they have right, after all.
With so many withdrawals and unexpected events, Ana could have been seeded in Rio, had she had only slightly better results lately. Oh well.
Tennis tournament starts immediately, the day after opening ceremony and ladies are playing day-to-day, except of 1st round which is divided into two days. Curious to see if Ana will have any luck or will she run to top 8 seed in first round. :lol:
I really hope that Zika isn't that of a topic to be worried about. I thought that players are a bit exaggerating, but not sure what to think, maybe they have right, after all.
Players seem uninformed... like Bouchard saying she doesn't know if its worth the health of all her future babies.. :spit: As if Zika lasts forever.. once you are cured, and there are tests to know if the virus left your body, it does not affect you anymore.. let alone your future babies.
We don't even hear much about Zika anymore here.. it's really not an issue at all. Besides, it's winter in Brazil now, and the mosquitos that transmit the disease are not around during winter.
I feel like this Zika talk is a mix of a campaign from the international press to cause unnecessary and unjustified panic and athletes giving excuses to not go to Rio, since it does not offer money/points, and focus in the USO and USO series instead.
As for Ana.. first round loss is coming regardless of opponent.. she just lost to Alexandrova.. keep that in mind..
Yes. I would have more respect for players if they just were honest and said "I want the points and money from other tournaments more than representing my country''. Because like gaviotabr already said, I'm sure that is the biggest reason for not playing the Olympics. No points, no money. Zika is just an easy excuse to use..
Indeed. In small places like Hong Kong, none of the athletes withdraw from Olympics. They are all excited about participating in Olympics so I'm really shocked by some of those withdrawals... I could only understand the concern if you're married and/or want to have a baby soon. If that's the case then it's fine for me.
I'm afraid Peng has the power to destroy Ana
We can only hope that Ana plays someone who can't be aggressive and without much variety... I do want her to win a round here even though she'll most likely lose in R1. As I said previously, I hope losing in R1 will be disappointing enough to remind/alarm her that a change is needed if she still wants to play well for like one more year or so
They are neglegting the website big time. For example, Tokyo is still not included to her schedule there, even though the inforrmation is almost two months old, etc.
They are neglegting the website big time. For example, Tokyo is still not included to her schedule there, even though the inforrmation is almost two months old, etc.
Also the lack of 'On court news' for Mallorca and Wimbledon... so it's just really outdated :lol:
I only read that to see how they tried to explain why Ana lost
That website is a failure anyways, and the 'highlight' part is a joke. Not mentioning Ana's ranking/titles in 2014 and yet having "2015: Ranked no. 7 in World". Having 08 AO RU but nothing about 07 RG and also mentioning her two Bali titles but not one about Canada/Berlin/IW. It simply makes no sense
I saw Linz retweeted Ana's wedding photo and said "#hopetoseeyouinlinzthisyear" so she hasn't committed to Linz yet. Not sure whether she's playing anything after Beijing.