[Excelscior]

Originally Posted by Petronius

Henin, Hingis, Clijsters, Mauresmo, Safina, Wozniacki, Ivanovic, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic...

Just a few

I guess you didn't read what I wrote?

It's OK. I excluded the men (including the ones you wrote), but I forgot about Muresmo, Safina (does she really count, she's from Big Ole Russia), Henin, Hingis, Wozniaki and Clijsters. OK. Duly noted. Thx.

However, I guess the point that poster was making was, a disproportionate amount of Top Women Players train or spend years in America and (I'll throw in) some of the big European Tennis academies--outside the Czech Republic. That is a fact. Cause the list of number one and top 10 women who spent time in America dwarfs the list from any other ONE country.

I for one don't advocate Petra going anywhere currently for specific training, unless she worked with some new people that require it. I would just want her to leave the Czech Republic in the winters for the warmer weather and so she can get better acclimated and comfortable playing on outdoor hardcourts (i.e. second nature).

As far as people to work with: I would just want her to have access to people all over the world, instead of just Cernosek's circle in the Czech Republic. So no, I'm certainly not advocating Petra go to some academy or any such place (she's way beyond that of course), unless she has a relationship that requires it and she wants to. Of course we know, that's probably not happening anytime soon with our beloved Petra.

[Raiden]

Originally Posted by Excelscior

Correct it's the entourage.

But one of our posters were saying that the current Czech Republic has many talented players who really can't win much, and maybe it's because they rely almost exclusively on the Cernosek/Czech tennis Network.

It may be good for Petra to leave the Czech Republic more so for the good weather. That conversation came up, cause one of the Czech posters were worried about Petra (who's in a very cold Czech Republic region now) getting sick practicing indoors,

Forget ball practice for the moment, I actually thought she was supposed to go to the Tatra mountains or something and do some major fitness work (sorta like boot camp) to get rid of the belly and get ripped up for 2013

What happend to that? Cancelled?

[paulmara]

Originally Posted by Raiden

What happend to that? Cancelled?

not planned this year

[Excelscior]

Originally Posted by Raiden

Forget ball practice for the moment, I actually thought she was supposed to go to the Tatra mountains or something and do some major fitness work (sorta like boot camp) to get rid of the belly and get ripped up for 2013

What happend to that? Cancelled?

I don't know what's going to happen regarding that (though Paulmara answered it for you as a negative).

However, what do you expect for Petra when she gets a Safarova Hand Me Down as her new Fitness/Physio Coach after such a supposedly long, careful search.

It's not exactly a top flight run organization over there the past year and at the moment you know.

[bruce goose]

To re-assure any proud,Czech fans here,I don't think that anyone intends to put down the CR as being some backward nation that can't produce winners;it's probably more of a concern that,as long as Petra's close to home,she'll never cut the strings held by the Czech mafia stooge,Dr.Pikola,the Pyle brothers,and El Orinon Enmascarado.However,if she just listens more to respected Czech legends,that'll probably spark some productive ideas within her

[steni]

Originally Posted by Raiden

Careful w/ that shit dude. You may get inundated with phone calls from hacks like journalists (looking for a dirty Kvitty gossip). They'll all be calling you, pretending that they are Petronius

[netphobia]

Hey, over in GM there is a "Predict the Top 8 of 2013" thread and I was surprised to see the amount of people who have Petra in the top 3...not because I don't think she's capable of getting there or staying there, but because somehow, even after a 'disappointing' year in which she fell 6 places, a lot of people still expect her to get to at least the top 3 next year. I guess 2012 was widely assumed to be a sophomore slump...

[Excelscior]

Originally Posted by netphobia

Hey, over in GM there is a "Predict the Top 8 of 2013" thread and I was surprised to see the amount of people who have Petra in the top 3...not because I don't think she's capable of getting there or staying there, but because somehow, even after a 'disappointing' year in which she fell 6 places, a lot of people still expect her to get to at least the top 3 next year. I guess 2012 was widely assumed to be a sophomore slump...

That's cause they don't know how crappy her support personnel is like we do.

It's that, or they feel Petra's good enough to overcome her wayward band of misfits controlled by the Evil Sith of The Dark Side--Lord Cernosek of Prostojev!

And believe it or not, Petra has a lot of fans on GM. They're just waiting for her to play well again to show their faces and support again.

Just remember Slutiana's last post ("Petra has to fulfill her side of the bargain by actually winning shit occasionally"), when discussing Petra's PR activity? Yup Yup!!

[honzaneumannn]

Originally Posted by netphobia

Hey, over in GM there is a "Predict the Top 8 of 2013" thread and I was surprised to see the amount of people who have Petra in the top 3...not because I don't think she's capable of getting there or staying there, but because somehow, even after a 'disappointing' year in which she fell 6 places, a lot of people still expect her to get to at least the top 3 next year. I guess 2012 was widely assumed to be a sophomore slump...

Yes, you are right. I have already sent a message to her father Jiri that he should have a look at that thread and I am pretty sure he will be pleased how faithful and loyal Petra's fans still are despite her playing not that well last year !!!

I hope the 4th place in the rankings should be her principal aim cause she would not meet the biggest TOP 3 opponents before the semifinals which should increase her chances to go deep in the tournaments. All of us know what it concretely means - Radvanska's replacement in the rankings - tough but not unrealistic...

[netphobia]

Petra has a good h2h vs. Aga anyways. I don't think it would be too difficult for her to get to #4 with good showings in her AO warm ups. Ugh, you know, I'm a fan of Maria, but if there could be a rematch of that semifinal at this year's AO... :P

[ShiftyFella]

Originally Posted by netphobia

Petra has a good h2h vs. Aga anyways. I don't think it would be too difficult for her to get to #4 with good showings in her AO warm ups. Ugh, you know, I'm a fan of Maria, but if there could be a rematch of that semifinal at this year's AO... :P

don't get your hopes up, first she must survive damn extraliga

[netphobia]

Originally Posted by ShiftyFella

don't get your hopes up, first she must survive damn extraliga

It's at such a weird time, too. How are you supposed to get in a good amount of fitness training, be ready to hit, and then go to Australia, if you have this thing smack in the middle?

[bruce goose]

You Czechs could speak a lot more authoritatively,of course,but I'm wondering if this 'Extraliga' is an event where there's LOTS of interaction between players and fans,patriotism,and camaraderie between players from the same country.......if it's the sort of thing where Petra would be seen as 'less Czech',sort of arrogant or an outsider for not playing.If that's the case,then I can understand why Petra would feel compelled to play;however,if it only attracts lukewarm interest amongst fans....as with soccer in the U.S.--where there are more Mexicans than Americans at the matches--then she should be satisfied with playing FC

[Excelscior]

Originally Posted by netphobia

It's at such a weird time, too. How are you supposed to get in a good amount of fitness training, be ready to hit, and then go to Australia, if you have this thing smack in the middle?

Well, according to our resident reporter and record compiler--Petronius, Petra's not doing and mountain or beach boot camp type training this year.

[Excelscior]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

You Czechs could speak a lot more authoritatively,of course,but I'm wondering if this 'Extraliga' is an event where there's LOTS of interaction between players and fans,patriotism,and camaraderie between players from the same country.......if it's the sort of thing where Petra would be seen as 'less Czech',sort of arrogant or an outsider for not playing.If that's the case,then I can understand why Petra would feel compelled to play;however,if it only attracts lukewarm interest amongst fans....as with soccer in the U.S.--where there are more Mexicans than Americans at the matches--then she should be satisfied with playing FC

It's because:

1) It's a Cernosenk event

2) He REALLY wants her to play it.

3) Petra's too nice and gracious; while Cernosenk is too greedy and myopic (i.e. short term, short sighted view and viewpoints).

4) Once playing, Petra's competitive spirit and National pride come into the mix (like last years finals vs Hrdecka where she got hurt).

5) Based off of what I hear from some of the Czech Brethren here, it's really not THAT big of a deal per se (though it could be to a scrub like Lucie H., playing someone like Kvitova in a final there). However, even if it was, its still PRE PRE Season in the Czech Republic and therefore should be treated like practice (unless you're already in good physical condition and tennis shape for further exertion) for a "top player" like Petra.

Last year Lucie was farther along in her tennis playing at the time than Petra and Kvitova--unfortunately got caught up in the moment, and hurt. This is one of the several reasons why Petra's association with the Cernosenk Cabal is an ass backwards relationship, as far as I'm concerned. Too much control/hands in the cookie jar.

Petronius seems to regard Extraliga as a big deal though. Last year he seemed really excited that Lucie H. beat Petra and gave it/her all relevance, pomp & ceremony, and kudos here. I on the other hand and some others (with all respect to the Czech posse), couldn't care less, cause we could see the bigger picture and goals for Petra.

Note: I apologize to the Czech Posse for any incorrect spellings.