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WarrenK · Dec 10th, 2012, 03:12 PM

^Yeah. I liked what I saw from the Brazil exho, but part of me was wondering how well she'd be able to play that way against Vika or Serena in a real match and whether she would be able to come in as much against Vika's returns for example. While Woz is a nice person and tries to make them fun, I wish Maria would have an exho with someone who takes them more seriously so that she (and MUCH more importantly, we) can gauge her game as if it was a real match. Not Vika because I think both of them would try to kill each other or Masha would take it way seriously and risk injury in a meaningless exho, like in Prague, but maybe Kerber, Li or Kvitty - dangerous players that can cause Masha trouble.

And, yeah, the exho gives me hope that there are changes she and Hogstedt are making that I hope will lead to better results.

18majors · Dec 10th, 2012, 07:10 PM

Didn't Maria hit overhead vollies during Brazil exho match? That's so unreal.

TrollPova · Dec 10th, 2012, 07:55 PM

^ she hit 2 in a row at one point

Chrissie-fan · Dec 14th, 2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenK

^Yeah. I liked what I saw from the Brazil exho, but part of me was wondering how well she'd be able to play that way against Vika or Serena in a real match and whether she would be able to come in as much against Vika's returns for example. While Woz is a nice person and tries to make them fun, I wish Maria would have an exho with someone who takes them more seriously[ so that she (and MUCH more importantly, we) can gauge her game as if it was a real match. Not Vika because I think both of them would try to kill each other or Masha would take it way seriously and risk injury in a meaningless exho, like in Prague, but maybe Kerber, Li or Kvitty - dangerous players that can cause Masha trouble.

And, yeah, the exho gives me hope that there are changes she and Hogstedt are making that I hope will lead to better results.

Well, since Woz has experienced for the last half a week or so how much everyone appreciates that she's a nice person chances are that she'll just concentrate on the tennis in the next one. Everything that she would do other than just playing tennis would be put under the microscope, so I hope that she won't give the lynch mob any new material to work with. Besides, it's not only Maria who needs a real test to see where her game is at. Caroline needs it even more considering how poorly she played last week. While Maria very obviously was perfectly willing to give Caroline some points here and there in a "fuck if I care" exho, if Caroline wants a real match I'm sure that Maria will give her one.

domon17th · Dec 14th, 2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrissie-fan

Well, since Woz has experienced for the last half a week or so how much everyone appreciates that she's a nice person chances are that she'll just concentrate on the tennis in the next one. Everything that she would do other than just playing tennis would be put under the microscope, so I hope that she won't give the lynch mob any new material to work with. Besides, it's not only Maria who needs a real test to see where her game is at. Caroline needs it even more considering how poorly she played last week. While Maria very obviously was perfectly willing to give Caroline some points here and there in a "fuck if I care" exho, if Caroline wants a real match I'm sure that Maria will give her one.

Chrissie-fan

All this bullsh*t over the last 2 days over an absolute non-issue.

dsanders06 · Dec 14th, 2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griffin.

Yeah I loved the changes I saw in her forehand. For me the biggest issue with it post-surgery is that she doesn't get enough width on it, because where she would usually reverse the follow-through she was now hitting through it across her body (probs to alleviate stress on the shoulder, kind of like her overhead phobia) and the shot suffered because of it. But I feel like towards the end of the season she was getting a lot more width on the cross-court and was able to get her arm through the shot better on down the lines so it's a much crisper shot. She's absorbing pace a lot better on that side lately too. I'm sure it's just her becoming for comfortable with it.

The backhand looked slightly different too. Like more of an open racket face after the take-back, but it's still a beautiful shot like always.

What I really like about Hogstedt is that I feel he truly has a long-term approach to Maria's tennis. There have been steady improvements made basically since they started working together (when you take away a couple of injuries she's had). That's what makes me so excited for 2013, because there's nothing to say that these improvements won't continue.

Agreed 100%. Her forehand from the US Open onwards this year was the best it's been since the surgery imo (best of all were sets 2 and 3 against Bartoli at the US Open, where she just suddenly started ripping FH winners at will right from the back of the court). I feel like she's finally found the happy medium where she's putting some topspin on it to keep it secure, but still hitting through it smoothly enough and transferring her weight enough for it to really get through the court. Until then, usually since the surgery, she'd been trying to either hit it uber-flat a la 2004-08Pova which was just too inconsistent for her post-surgery (2010), or going to the other extreme and just brushing up the back of the ball on the FH side and leaving it to sit up really short a lot of the time (2012, the nadir being the crap she was producing off that wing at Wimbledon this year

).

I actually kind of hope Maria and Hogstedt are spending LESS time on her serve than I'm presuming they did the last couple of offseasons, and instead are really working on her forehand and return, because those are the things that stopped her having even more success than she did in 2012. But I agree with you, I can't help but feel that if she just makes a few improvements, she could be on course for something REALLY special in 2013. But that might just be the delusional fanboy in me talking

AnnieIWillKnow · Dec 18th, 2012, 08:03 PM

When is her next exho? Something with Woz in Asia is it not?

AniaSharapova · Dec 18th, 2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnieIWillKnow

When is her next exho? Something with Woz in Asia is it not?

Yes. 28th December- Maria and Caro in Seoul.

AnnieIWillKnow · Dec 18th, 2012, 10:45 PM

^^ Thanks!

AniaSharapova · Dec 25th, 2012, 12:13 PM

Maria pulled out from Seoul exhibition due to clavicle injury.

doomsday · Dec 25th, 2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AniaSharapova

Maria pulled out from Seoul exhibition due to clavicle injury.

Good news. That last exo wasn't necessary at all.

Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com Free App

Asanty · Dec 25th, 2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AniaSharapova

Maria pulled out from Seoul exhibition due to clavicle injury.

Really? Source? Is it serious? I am starting to worry for Brisbane

Asherahpova · Dec 25th, 2012, 12:25 PM

I was quite excited. They haven't mentioned anything other than there is an injury, no details on severity so it likely means she still intends to play Brisbane.

AniaSharapova · Dec 25th, 2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asanty

Really? Source? Is it serious? I am starting to worry for Brisbane

I read about this on Twitter today. Almost every Maria and Caro's fan wrote this news.
I don't think we should worry about this. I'm almost sure this "clivicle injury" it's just an excuse from skipping this needless exho.

Asanty · Dec 25th, 2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AniaSharapova

I read about this on Twitter today. Almost every Maria and Caro's fan wrote this news.
I don't think we should worry about this. I'm almost sure this "clivicle injury" it's just an excuse from skipping this needless exho.

It makes sence, I have been waiting for it, but the time gap is really small, so I guess you are right.

Updated: link http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121225000268