[Olórin]

It's one of the stock phrases/cliches/idiosyncrasies players have used for decades*. Do you expect players to keep coming up with insightful and meaningful answers when the journalists are asking unoriginal and recycled questions 250 days a year. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

It's not that hard to understand at all - why make such a fuss over it?

*Although when Bud Collins was more active he used to regularly interview Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean etc. after big matches and asked them very specific questions about the match and the performances which unsurprisingly got very specific, often quite technical and detailed answers. However, this was after the match. Again, there's a limit to what you can say about a match before it actually happens.

[sweetadri06]

It's just a way for players to take pressure off themselves and try to relax. There is no need to overanalyze it. Since we are talking about Serena, even though she is a 15 GS champ, she feels great pressure and she's a perfectionist.

[sweetpeas]

Really ,do you think Serena the ONLY player to say that? She playing not you!Go get a life.

[Mr.Sharapova]

We all know what's the meaning of this phrase don't we. The meaning of this phrase has changed a bit since Rena started using it though .

[RYNJ]

[harloo]

Originally Posted by RYNJ

[.Ivan.]

Originally Posted by The Dawntreader

Come on now, we're all girls here.

Negative.

Anyway players say this to put the pressure on the other opponent. Even though I think it doesn't necessarily work its all mental with the players so if it works for them they will keep saying it.

[tkutsaar]

I think all participants in sports: players, coaches, TV commentators et al speak the universal language of pure cliché. By definition a cliché is a trite saying not exposing a serious thought to ponder. One can only go insane, trying to delve into deeper meaning of any uttering of a sports personality; women’s tennis being no exception.

[tennisbum79]

Originally Posted by calabar

OK I get it. When you are an underdog, chances are you are going to lose. But that is a phrase I've heard by players who are both favorites and underdogs. I've also heard players who are part of a team use this rather SILLY phrase. Bear in mind that these are all PROFESSIONAL athletes claiming they have "nothing" to lose. How about your damn PRIDE? Isn't that enough to get one motiviated? If you really have nothing to lose, then what is the point of competing? Can you even call it "competing" when you take this attitude onto a court or whatever the sporting venue might be? Venus and Serena are my two favorite female athletes of any sport, and it really pisses me off to hear Serena (in particular) or any athlete uses this dumb, defeatist phrase before a professional match.
Anyone else feel this way?

If my recollection is correct, Serena only start saying this when she was coming back after a long absence due to health scare.
And that was truly humbling.

But as she started beating opponent left and right and kept saying it, it became her way to put pressure on her opponent.
Also, I think it shuts up the critics who have always accused her of being too arrogant, disrespectful of opponents, etc...


One more thing, while ti sound defeatist when it is said by other players, somehow, when Serena says it, I hear "Girl, you don't know what is coming your way, you'd better be ready..."

[machinist]

I don't like it when players say it, it's like giving up before the match even started

[MatchpointPRT]

Originally Posted by hablo

It's to take the pressure off themselves and it's a phrase they're fed by their PR or have seen other top players say.

The likes of Sharpie say it too; another phrase I hate: something like "I just have to go out there and play my own game" as if they don't have to take into consideration what tactics or strengths their opponents have...

I agree with this. I always think the same and really dislike the phrase as for me it seems that the player who says means that no matter how amazing her opponents plays, if she plays "her game" it will be enough to win... which for me is a bit of self-assurance, but in some cases i also don´t think they believe in that...

The "I have nothing to lose phrase" it depends of the player. Some players use it to take pressure off themselves. I think it´s not bad for the non-favourites and sometimes it is used to send a message to the opponent before the match.
Among the top players they aren´t sincere when they say that playing against lower ranked player, but if it´s a top ranked opponent with whom he/she has lost in the previous match maybe the phrase is used to put pressure on the him/her.

[edificio]

It means they are trying to stay relaxed and not put pressure on themselves.

Originally Posted by Wintermute

You get the impression that when the players get on the tour they are given some sort of WTA public relations handbook with all these useless phrases in there.

Did you ever see the movie Bull Durham?

[MB.]

To take pressure off themselves.

[JoPova]

Serena says it almost every time she's about to face a decent player, and it's a lie every single time