[Asherahpova]

Now that she's won a Slam there's no reason why they won't Maria on at night. If Serena/kim are on the opposite half she will literally have zero competition for those spots. That said she'll more than likely have to play three day matches at least. Two in the first week and the SF. Given how she served in the wind at RG and now that she's covering her shots with a bit of spin to keep the errors down we can be cautiously optimistic. But there's a lot of road to the USO.

[dsanders06]

It's actually only 685 ranking points for winning the Olympics.....yet another example of how fucked-up the ranking system is, they try to have us believe that winning the China Open is a bigger achievement than winning a gold medal

[JoPova]

Since this has become our new chat thread, I want to say this to all my fellow Masha fans. I feel so ashamed!

I'm so sorry for not returning some your good reps, because I simply had no idea how that thing worked and I just learnt how to use it! I took me a couple of months!

Back on topic... Do we have a picture of Maria's OG dress already?

[perseus2006]

Originally Posted by dsanders06

It's actually only 685 ranking points for winning the Olympics.....yet another example of how fucked-up the ranking system is, they try to have us believe that winning the China Open is a bigger achievement than winning a gold medal

Maybe you should think a bit deeper and things won't be so fucked up. Olympic points cannot be defended. It's a one-off tournament. So, the points given for Olympic Glory need to be in moderation so as not to destroy a player's ranking next year when Olympic points dissipate into thin air.

The China Open is an annual event. Points can be defended one year to the next under the same tournament conditions.

I don't recall the discussion about giving points for Olympic competition. I have questions why the decision was made to do that and I doubt there is a player on the roster that is participating because of the points. Just participating in the Olympic Games is Honor and Glory enough, regardless of medals and points.

You are raging all over the TF boards about the Ranking System and making some wildly outrageous assertions about it. The current WTA Ranking System is actually pretty darn good. I suggest you read through the Rules in the WTA site for a better understanding of why the system works the way it does.

The main thrust of the System is to get the Best players competing against one another at as many tournaments as possible to encourage long term rivalries, which makes the game more exciting for fans and will force the best players to really sharpen up their games. So, while many tournaments are now mandatory, others are off limits to the Top 10/20 to discourage MM Queens.

[joão.]

I want her to either win the Olympics, USO or YEC No pressure though, career grand slam: check

[perseus2006]

Originally Posted by joão.

I want her to either win the Olympics, USO or YEC No pressure though, career grand slam: check

I don't need much. Never one to be greedy. Always operate close in to the vest, grounded in reality. But, What I want is a different proposition. I want her to win all three! And for shits and skittles, throw in Montreal, Cinci, Tokyo and Beijing. That's what I want!

*smiles*

[NashaMasha]

Maybe you should think a bit deeper and things won't be so fucked up. Olympic points cannot be defended.

who cares about defending points next year? Do you really think that players consider " Oh, No , I don't want 1500 points from Olympics because it will raise my ranking by 5 positions, thus i'd better take 650 points and increase my ranking only by 1 postion, Otherwise next year I won't be able do defend these points and it would be a disastrer"

In reality Olympic Champion should get a bonus for his performance and the fact that these points will be dropped in year doesn't have any significance ,

[perseus2006]

Originally Posted by NashaMasha

who cares about defending points next year? Do you really think that players consider " Oh, No , I don't want 1500 points from Olympics because it will raise my ranking by 5 positions, thus i'd better take 650 points and increase my ranking only by 1 postion, Otherwise next year I won't be able do defend these points and it would be a disastrer"

In reality Olympic Champion should get a bonus for his performance and the fact that these points will be dropped in year doesn't have any significance ,

As I said, I don't think there is a player on the Olympic Roster that has even had a thought that points are given for participation, well, maybe Serenka. The fact that there are points is insignificant!

Participation in the Olympic Games Spectacle is the ultimate experience for an athlete. It is an incredible honor to be selected to represent your country and associate with the world's most gifted athletes from all fields. Being there as a participant is simply glorious.

[Trih]

Originally Posted by perseus2006

As I said, I don't think there is a player on the Olympic Roster that has even had a thought that points are given for participation, well, maybe Serenka. The fact that there are points is insignificant!

Participation in the Olympic Games Spectacle is the ultimate experience for an athlete. It is an incredible honor to be selected to represent your country and associate with the world's most gifted athletes from all fields. Being there as a participant is simply glorious.

This.
And even if the points are "only" 685, Olympic Gold is above every other tournament except Majors.

[Vodkapova]

Originally Posted by dsanders06

It's actually only 685 ranking points for winning the Olympics.....yet another example of how fucked-up the ranking system is, they try to have us believe that winning the China Open is a bigger achievement than winning a gold medal

This post....

If you get 2000 points for winning Olympics then how the hell will you defend 2000 points the year after?

[Vodkapova]

Originally Posted by NashaMasha

who cares about defending points next year? Do you really think that players consider " Oh, No , I don't want 1500 points from Olympics because it will raise my ranking by 5 positions, thus i'd better take 650 points and increase my ranking only by 1 postion, Otherwise next year I won't be able do defend these points and it would be a disastrer"

In reality Olympic Champion should get a bonus for his performance and the fact that these points will be dropped in year doesn't have any significance ,

Yes. To some it has a big significance. It can determine whether you'll be seeded at tournaments or not. How do you know what players think? Don't assume. You're not considering the lower ranked players at all.

[**mashafierce**]

I would prefer a silver or a bronze medal and the USO title than a gold

[JoPova]

Originally Posted by **mashafierce**

I would prefer a silver or a bronze medal and the USO title than a gold

I totally agree with you! I know the importance of a Gold medal, Olympics and playing for your country. But I'd prefer Slam number 5 for Maria!

[dsanders06]

Originally Posted by perseus2006

Maybe you should think a bit deeper and things won't be so fucked up. Olympic points cannot be defended. It's a one-off tournament. So, the points given for Olympic Glory need to be in moderation so as not to destroy a player's ranking next year when Olympic points dissipate into thin air.

The China Open is an annual event. Points can be defended one year to the next under the same tournament conditions.

I don't recall the discussion about giving points for Olympic competition. I have questions why the decision was made to do that and I doubt there is a player on the roster that is participating because of the points. Just participating in the Olympic Games is Honor and Glory enough, regardless of medals and points.

You are raging all over the TF boards about the Ranking System and making some wildly outrageous assertions about it. The current WTA Ranking System is actually pretty darn good. I suggest you read through the Rules in the WTA site for a better understanding of why the system works the way it does.

The main thrust of the System is to get the Best players competing against one another at as many tournaments as possible to encourage long term rivalries, which makes the game more exciting for fans and will force the best players to really sharpen up their games. So, while many tournaments are now mandatory, others are off limits to the Top 10/20 to discourage MM Queens.

Originally Posted by Teerin

This post....

If you get 2000 points for winning Olympics then how the hell will you defend 2000 points the year after?

I'm sorry, the "defending points" argument is AWFUL You say it like "the winner doesn't get a chance to defend their points" - but, after the 1-year period, it's not like they'll have less points than they otherwise would - they'll have simply been boosted in their ranking points for the 1 year after the Olympics (and rightly so), but once the points drop off, they'll still have the same amount of points than they would if the Olympics gave less/no points.

Imo, they should either not give any points for the Olympics atall (if they're going by the argument that a Gold is reward enough in itself and there shouldn't be ranking points aswell), or they should do it properly and make the points actually reflect the Olympics' significance for the players, i.e. the same amount of points for a Gold medal as a YEC win (1500 points). Like I said, as of now, the ranking system tries to have us believe it's less significant than the China Open, when in reality players consider it the year's 5th Slam. And let's face it, at the end of the year, in the GM debates about who the best player of the year is, posters WILL be using the Olympic Gold as an argument, they certainly won't be using the China Open as part of an argument for a player being the best of the year

[denny5576]

There are some sports for which Olympic Games have not the same prestige and significance like for many other sports. Football and tennis are such sports. Any tennis tournament with 64 players is stronger than the Olympic tennis tournament.