I know starting this thread will cause a lot of comments especially for those who "whorship" their favourite but looking at top 10 it's clear that that raw, hitting till you wore your opponent down tennis is in front. Serena, Venus, Jennifer and especially Jelena and Kim (although i love her ) they hit ball as hard as they can - hardly using slice, drop shot, chip and charge (who uses it this days?) I guess people can say well it's working just fine, she is number one right. Maybe it's just me but i prefer allcourt tennis as much as diversity and flare you can bring in your game - it's also brings the unpredictable tennis.
I would watch match between Henin - Mauresmo any time insteed of boring Serena - Venus matches.
I know starting this thread will cause a lot of comments especially for those who "whorship" their favourite but looking at top 10 it's clear that that raw, hitting till you wore your opponent down tennis is in front. Serena, Venus, Jennifer and especially Jelena and Kim (although i love her ) they hit ball as hard as they can - hardly using slice, drop shot, chip and charge (who uses it this days?) I guess people can say well it's working just fine, she is number one right. Maybe it's just me but i prefer allcourt tennis as much as diversity and flare you can bring in your game - it's also brings the unpredictable tennis.
I would watch match between Henin - Mauresmo any time insteed of boring Serena - Venus matches.
Me too JRM. An all court tennis is what makes the Women's Tennis much more popular than Mens tennis today. The power of mens tennis is overrated...they need to get back to using wooden rackets . My favorite kind of matches are either all court player vs. power player or all court player vs all court player. Serena vs. Venus matches are quite interesting..becuz all of their shots look like winners...but each one manages to return the shots anyways!
I hear what you are saying, JRM. That is why I've always enjoyed the games of Martina and Justine. The variety they bring to the game and to each match is worth it, even if they lose the match.
I agree, there is nothing pleasing to the eye about the game of Monica/Jen/Jelena/Venus/Serena/Lindsay. Daniela and Kim, however, have much variety for being so powerful, and Mauresmo, Henin, and especially Hingis are obviously the most interesting to watch for those that know the game of tennis.
I love all court tennis too. It's fantastic that this year's
WTA CHAMPIONSHIP features the most diverse of playing
styles in recent years. We've got your one handed backhand
dynamo's ala Amelie, and Justine. There's the ball bashers
with Kim, ED, and Jelena. There's tall controlled power tennis
with Venus, Lindsay, and Daniela. We've got that wicked
lefty wit thanks to Patty. There's backcourt run around at
Smashnova. There's pure serving accuracy with Serena.
New kid Myskina, and the 90's tennis stars with Jen, Monica,
Chanda, and Maggie.
I don't think power tennis will rule the day. The indoor
season is proof that there's room for good all court tennis.
i have to say i prefer all-court play. i don't like straight baseline play or straight serve and volley play. if i hada to choose it would be baseline but i prefer a player like the new bovina who has the power to match the top players from the baseline but can also goes to the net. another player like this is bedanova but she does not have quite as much power.
i have to admit that i like raw power on the serve and i think with the game as it is now, those players like tulyaganova, bielik, molik, petrova and baltacha will be consistent top 15 players if not top 10 for the next few years as long as they develop.
i think serena is trying to bring in an all-court game while others like capriati, venus and dokic are not. what i find wierd is that when venus, dokic and clijsters play doubles they do well and yet they do not volley much in singles.
hey, the power players win grand slams. Has Amelia, Henin ever won a grand slam. Enough said. Have you ever really sat and watch Serena play. I do not think you have..do you see the accuracy of those angles and serves. Watching Venus and Serena playing tennis is like watching a great movie.
Venus and Serena play like you are watching the latest Vin Deisel action movie, a lot of explosions but no depth.
Players like Hingis, Schnyder, Henin, and others are like watching, say, Memento or American Beauty; those who can't process deep thoughts won't get it, but those of us who enjoy the art-form love it.
Again, WINNING tennis always works for me. When Hingis was winning, I watched her. Now that she is not even ranked in the top 5 (barely top ten), I don't see why she is still mentioned with the upper echelon of players.
She is mentioned becuz she is probably the best known all-court-player, and the most successful in her days. This isn't "who can win, power play or all court play" but "which do u prefer to watch." Serena is adding a bit court play in her game...i saw in the US OPEN, but they seemed to come only when she plays the weaker players. I didn't see much dropping or approach shots coming from Serena when she played Lindsay or Venus.
She was a great white hope. How many times did you hear "the establishment" casting their hopes on her, to subdue the Williams sisters????? Too many times to count. She couldn't do it, neither have any of the other "hopefuls" been able to dominate them. Those who will inherit the Williams sisters thrones, will BE "sisters". Martina Navaratilova herself knows this, and has stated so more than once.
SADER WROTE :She is mentioned becuz she is probably the best known all-court-player, and the most successful in her days. This isn't "who can win, power play or all court play" but "which do u prefer to watch." Serena is adding a bit court play in her game...i saw in the US OPEN, but they seemed to come only when she plays the weaker players. I didn't see much dropping or approach shots coming from Serena when she played Lindsay or Venus. "
I think this is true of all players who advance to later rounds of grand slams, winning week 1 matches allows u to use alot of variety without too much risk of losing. When was the last time u saw hingis use an allcourt game against serena or lindsay or venus or anybody in a semifinal or final. You would have to be insane to hit a drop shot against serena or venus as fast as they move. its a guaranteed point for them in my opinion. why slow up the play with a slice so they can have a year to get to it and run u around the court. if you are tired from chasing down all of their shots what kind of offense can u have against them. A lot of th eplayers are using an all court game, its the only way to win these days. if u dont come to net you are doomed. thanks to serena and Venus. Once Venus decides to go to net, Serena's reign of terror will end. its amazing that these two players can still improve on their games at this point. absolutely astonishing.
PS
serena is wise not to approach the net on Lindsay and Venus, they are the best at passing someone at net. why take the risk? if u are better at getting them out of position with that angled forehand.......