[Samsuin]

Originally Posted by Mexicola

I still think she's resented more than respected overall.

Don't think so.
This board is really not representative.

[Chrissie-fan]

Originally Posted by Mexicola

It was very promising and I thought Maria would build on that in the offseason and come out in 2013 on a mission. But the way this Aussie Open unfolded was so discouraging. It was the same pattern that's been all too familiar. Start strong and then her game starts crumbling as the tourney progresses. Same DFs, same errors, same one-dimensional game. Still getting exploited by the stronger, more athletic players, whether it's Serena, Vika, or Li.

I just get mentally exhausted by the broken record that is Maria and I vent because I want her to win so badly. I want people to respect her as a great tennis champion, whether it's her peers or the media or internet tennis boards. But I don't think she is. I still think she's resented more than respected overall. And each of these kinds of losses adds more fuel to the ridicule and it frustrates me.

I think Maria is VERY respected by the tennis world as a whole. She's perhaps not respected by everyone on internet tennis boards, but frankly, who is??? If anything, 'hate' is a sign of respect on tennis boards. As soon as the hate stops it's usually a sign that you're 'no longer relevant.'

As for Maria's loss - well, Li Na is at her best a great player with wins against anyone. Losing is inevitably part of any players career, no matter how great she is. Nobody can win 'em all. But if you win enough like Maria has done everyone that matters will consider you one of the best of your era. Don't worry, if Maria would stop playing today she's already done enough to earn her place in history. But she has several, possibly even many more years to try and add to her already impressive list of achievements. And let's not forget that making a slam semi isn't too shabby but an achievement in itself.

[Asherahpova]

Still gutted, it was hers to lose.

I wouldn't be annoyed if Li had played her usual game of trying to outhit Maria, because when she does that she can outhit anyone á la Rome before the choke. What has me gutted is that Li played high % which as shit as Maria played still allowed her more than ample opportunities to take most of the games. It's that Maria didn't mentally turn up that has me disappointed, didn't hear a C'MON! once and any fistpumps were only half fistpumps after staring at the line for a while to make sure it was good, no confidence whatsoever.

I have to compliment Li though, the intelligent tactics really worked against Maria in that form and she has to be commended for not resulting to bashing UEs. The only thing that concerns me is the long term success of these tactics, as I said Maria had lots of opportunities in that match. If she had have been on I'm not sure Li's play would have worked very well.

[Fighterpova]

Lethal Laura just called me a 'fucking bitch' and a 'pressed hater-bitch' in a bad rep

Some people need to grow up

[MM_1257]

TBH I am disappointed. I didn't watch but didn't expect such a beating... Is she going back to the period when Li Na took the better of her? And now we have Li, Serena, Vika... who else??

[Fighterpova]

Ok, not to go to extremes, but I think all these haters would only be happy if Maria somehow died

Even then she would probably get hate, I can imagine Sgt.Shittykinz opening a thread about conspiracy theories

[RenaPova]

Maria....

After Serena lost, this tournament was hers for the taking.

I hope Na beats Vika. Not here for Vika getting her 2nd slam.

[Chrissie-fan]

Originally Posted by MM_1257

TBH I am disappointed. I didn't watch but didn't expect such a beating... Is she going back to the period when Li Na took the better of her? And now we have Li, Serena, Vika... who else??

Well, I like Na as much as Maria. So while I was disappointed for Masha I was also happy for Li. But I admit that the only thing I'm disappointed about is the margin of Li's win. If it had been a competitive match with both playing at or near their best it would have been a case of, "ok, both were good, but someone has to win in the end. This time it was Na, perhaps next time it will be Maria." But the disappointing thing from Maria's perspective is that Li played her best tennis in the matches where it mattered most (against Aga and Maria) while Maria played her best tennis against non-contenders while she played by her standards pretty poorly towards the business end of the tournament. Despite the convincing score she was already less impressive against Makarova than in earlier rounds while Li Na totally outplayed her.

[PimpMePova]

Originally Posted by Asherahpova

Still gutted, it was hers to lose.

I wouldn't be annoyed if Li had played her usual game of trying to outhit Maria, because when she does that she can outhit anyone á la Rome before the choke. What has me gutted is that Li played high % which as shit as Maria played still allowed her more than ample opportunities to take most of the games. It's that Maria didn't mentally turn up that has me disappointed, didn't hear a C'MON! once and any fistpumps were only half fistpumps after staring at the line for a while to make sure it was good, no confidence whatsoever.

This so much but I don't understand why she lacked the confidence and mental determination she was the favourite going into the match and had a really solid week She should have used that to get herself pumped I think that even if both players played the same way but Maria was there mentally this would have gone to a third and it definitely would have been more competitive.

Originally Posted by Chrissie-fan

I think Maria is VERY respected by the tennis world as a whole. She's perhaps not respected by everyone on internet tennis boards, but frankly, who is??? If anything, 'hate' is a sign of respect on tennis boards. As soon as the hate stops it's usually a sign that you're 'no longer relevant.'

As for Maria's loss - well, Li Na is at her best a great player with wins against anyone. Losing is inevitably part of any players career, no matter how great she is. Nobody can win 'em all. But if you win enough like Maria has done everyone that matters will consider you one of the best of your era. Don't worry, if Maria would stop playing today she's already done enough to earn her place in history. But she has several, possibly even many more years to try and add to her already impressive list of achievements. And let's not forget that making a slam semi isn't too shabby but an achievement in itself.

Also Chrissie-fan it's nice to have someone more positive and sensible everyone including me has been so pessimistic, your post made me feel a bit better and sort of hopeful

[MM_1257]

Originally Posted by Chrissie-fan

while Maria played her best tennis against non-contenders while she played by her standards pretty poorly towards the business end of the tournament. Despite the convincing score she was already less impressive against Makarova than in earlier rounds while Li Na totally outplayed her.

This is what worries me! And this pattern is there in her for quite some years now.

[Silas]

pretty simple for me..
ugly dress, ugly tournament.

[WarrenK]

Originally Posted by SILAS

pretty simple for me..
ugly dress, ugly tournament.

LOL. Yep. Posted something similar last night. I thought it had been established that she needs to be in white or black to win a slam (damn Nike sabotaging Masha while trying to make Na/Fooka happen). Obviously that cosmic pattern takes precedence over this whole bridesmaid-bride pattern since she bombed out at Wimbly last year too.

[JamieOwen3]

Cheer up everyone. Lets do whatever this bitch is doing

[slamchamp]

Just like last year Maria peaks in the first rounds Maybe she should start slow and not tire herself trying to play her best against scrubs?

[Samsuin]

I don't think a SF is that bad.
I have a huge respect for her and how she always fought back. There aren't that many players in history with 4 GS, and even less with a career-GS.
Before the match i had hope .. anyway, it goes on.
Who cares about that SF in a year ..and who in two?
She is 25, look at Li, Maria can win some more titles.