[Break My Rapture]

Uhm her most disappointing moment of this year was definitely withdrawing from the Miami final.

[Stonerpova]

Originally Posted by Break My Rapture

Uhm her most disappointing moment of this year was definitely withdrawing from the Miami final.

For sure. That walkover gave birth to SgtTimmyKinz

[JoPova]

Originally Posted by Break My Rapture

Uhm her most disappointing moment of this year was definitely withdrawing from the Miami final.

She had to leave right after beating Caroline. Had already booked her hotel stay at Disneyland!

[Trih]

Originally Posted by Tennisvampire

Actually, I'll settle with anything except Hagatha defending it

Originally Posted by Break My Rapture

Hope Sam wins.

Originally Posted by Break My Rapture

Uhm her most disappointing moment of this year was definitely withdrawing from the Miami final.

All this.

[Mexicola]

Is Maria a clay court specialist at this point? This is probably something that’s been discussed on this forum before, due to Maria’s clay success, so pardon me for asking. So, over the past two years, 4 of the 5 titles she has won have been on clay. I don’t think that’s an accident. Watching Maria this year, she just seems off-balance and constantly on the defensive when she’s playing on faster surfaces. I realize she’s never been the most nimble of players, but as players have gotten stronger and faster, Maria has been looking more and more a step behind in a lot of these matches against the tougher opponents.

The pace of shots is putting so much pressure on her, she can’t get proper footwork and positioning, and it’s led to wild unforced errors or getting out-hit. You can see her start feeling the pressure, particularly when she gets behind, and she starts pressing, going to her all-out, high-risk, blitzkrieg mode. And the errors start to fly and you want to hide your eyes. But on clay, the diffusion of power allows her to set her feet, get in proper position, and use her own power to her advantage. I think she has more confidence and her game is crisper and has more precision.

If Maria is getting overpowered by the likes of Sabine Lisicki on grass, that raises a red flag to me. 5 straight losses to Vika on hard courts. 2 straight losses to Stosur on hard. And even that horrible loss to Radwanska in Miami. I don’t need to mention the long, sorry losing streak to Serena on every surface. Needless to say, Maria is having some big problems against the best players on fast courts.

So it looks like clay is her sanctuary right now. That can change, obviously. And it comes down to, once again, that serve. If she could ever get her serve to be a consistent weapon, she could start dictating on hard and grass. But after 3+ years of struggle with her serve being a ticking time bomb, I have doubts.

[NashaMasha]

Mexicola
are you going to start trolling in Masha's subforum?

is it you, Sgt.Timmykinz ?

[heelsrule1988]

I'm not mad about this at all. Yeah, it stinks that she didn't capitalize on her chances to send the match to three sets... but she played pretty well other than that. That was nice to see considering how dreadful her first two matches in Tokyo were. As windy as it was, she was serving unbelievably well! That is always great to see. Plus, it's easier to swallow since it's not a Slam... and since there's another tournament next week.

[Tennisvampire]

Originally Posted by Break My Rapture

Uhm her most disappointing moment of this year was definitely withdrawing from the Miami final.

This so much The loss to Lisicki was painful because it was at a Slam, but honestly, I don't think anyone expected her to have a deep run after RG. Plus, Lisicki's best surface is grass, and of course she always brings it against Maria The only really painful thing about that loss was that it spoiled her perfect at-least-a-QF streak But the Hagatha match (or more suitably walkover): no excuses for that one

Oh, and I really though her top 10 record was better than 8:7

[killerqueen]

Meh, I don't really care about today's loss. We spent the last two years mocking the Asian swing, and more specifically it's winners, so it'd be pretty hypocritical of me to go all SgtTimmy on Maria for not winning in Tokyo. I think it probably helps that the loss was to Stosur, someone who I actually like for once. Sam belongs in the YEC and a good Tokyo was essential for her to creep in.

So anyway back to the point, it's disappointing that Maria lost, but I'll get over it. So yeah, onto Beijing (maybe?) and hopefully better performances.

[MM_1257]

Why is everyone so worried about her top 10 record? She is having a great season, that is what matters, in the end the titles and weeks spent at no.1 will count, not the H2Hs and top 10 or to20 or top 50 records... Besides who has good records? I bet Vika, Aga and Serena... Anyone elese? And as I say, HCs and her... a tough love since her comeback.

[Asherahpova]

I'm not so worried about that record. Because only two players outside the top 10 managed to beat her this year. It's expected that when she loses it would be to the best? I'd rather have her play this many matches vs. top 10 players instead of ending a season with a 5-1 record against them.

[Cosmic Voices]

i can't believe posters on GM are practically salivating at masha losing today vs stosur.
am I the only one who doesn't give a fuck about this loss? she's been dreck all week and the interest in the field has been completely diminished since masha lost and vika withdrew

[Asherahpova]

Originally Posted by serbian_siren

i can't believe posters on GM are practically salivating at masha losing today vs stosur.
am I the only one who doesn't give a fuck about this loss? she's been dreck all week and the interest in the field has been completely diminished since masha lost and vika withdrew

Her loss to Kerber in PARIS had like a 20 page results thread of bitterness.
It's quite hilarious actually.

[JoPova]

Originally Posted by jameshazza

Because only two players outside the top 10 managed to beat her this year.

One of them would've become a top ten player in the following months (Kerber) and we all know that Lisicki on grass is top ten material as well! Maria has been so incredibly consistent this year! Who gives a damn about Tokyo!

[Asherahpova]

Originally Posted by Jechijo

One of them would've become a top ten player in the following months (Kerber) and we all know that Lisicki on grass is top ten material as well! Maria has been so incredibly consistent this year! Who gives a damn about Tokyo!

Exactly.