[DemWilliamsGulls]

I see mostly Sharapova fans that dislike her lol maybe because she's sounds like her and winning more..I dont know, me personally, don't have a problem with her because my girl (Serena) spanks her ass when she gets the chance lol (kidding...but not really she does) I like Vika though, she has a lot of fight, good solid game...she is good for the tour. I do like Sharapova more but I like Vika as well....

[Srodgers]

She's not good for tennis when I everytime I watch a match involving her, people who I'm with can't stand to watch it because of her shriek or make me change the channel because they cant take it.

Not good for tennis if the casual fan cant stand to watch her matches.

[Soliloque]

[L'Enfant Sauvage]

Originally Posted by Srodgers

She's not good for tennis when I everytime I watch a match involving her, people who I'm with can't stand to watch it because of her shriek or make me change the channel because they cant take it.

Not good for tennis if the casual fan cant stand to watch her matches.

Was Venus bad for the WTA? I get the same reaction out of people to this day regarding her grunts

[Belmont Lad]

[mapaliey]

Originally Posted by Srodgers

She's not good for tennis when I everytime I watch a match involving her, people who I'm with can't stand to watch it because of her shriek or make me change the channel because they cant take it.

Not good for tennis if the casual fan cant stand to watch her matches.

i believe serena,venus and sharapova is louder than vika but they still good for wta...why not vika...i think whoever don't like her cause her grunt just jealous cause she's millioner....

[AcesHigh]

Originally Posted by L'Enfant Sauvage

Was Venus bad for the WTA? I get the same reaction out of people to this day regarding her grunts

Venus doesn't grunt on every shot and Venus was an international superstar that challenged legends
No comparison

[gbenga]

How can you ask if the number one ranked player is good for WTA???

[Beat]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Voices

Its strange

Vika wins the titles
Caro won the fans

i guess you're not talking about this board then?

[ZeroSumGame]

She's good but not a hot ticket, hardly marketable compared to Serena, Maria, Caro, Ana, etc she needs to work on improving her image as a consummate pro not as a cheat - there've been numerous incidences (Doha, Stuttgart, Rome, Toronto, YEC12, Brisbane, AO13) involving her pulling up lame in crucial moments before or during a match - not good for a top player

[wayitis]

Originally Posted by TZVETI83

Sharapova was never the golden girl, tennis fans did not warm up to her at first, most did not like her, it was the media outside of tennis that loved her and it was because of her looks just like with Kournikova.

Now years later most tennis fans respect Sharapova. Its what happens with all top players, happened with Venus and Serena, with Martina Hingis, Navratilova, Seles, Henin among many others.

you are confusing tennis fans (and specifically Tennisforum.com) with tennis Media... Sharapova was groomed since her early teens to be a Media PR dream, IMG had too much invested and made sure of that... and even though, like every human being, she's had her share of "scandals and controversies", the Media coverage was always well manicured and controlled as to avoid any lingering damage...

[TZVETI83]

Originally Posted by wayitis

you are confusing tennis fans (and specifically Tennisforum.com) with tennis Media... Sharapova was groomed since her early teens to be a Media PR dream, IMG had too much invested and made sure of that... and even though, like every human being, she's had her share of "scandals and controversies", the Media coverage was always well manicured and controlled as to avoid any lingering damage...

I am not confusing anything, there were loads of people who really disliked Sharapova when she first became number one, I remember commentators debating about her grunts and on court attitude, players complaining about her, the crowd supporting her opponents over her even to the point when I remember them cheering at her errors. Media PR dream came from her looks and was geared at the same people who loved Kournikova outside of her tennis. Real Tennis fans took some time to warm up to Sharapova and its something similar that happens with most of the top players.

There is a difference between real tennis fans who liked Sharapova for her game and others who just watch her to drool. Of corse the general public will receive Sharapova better as her looks are more marketable.

My point being that most top players are not always liked, Venus and Serena even Martina Hingis where booed several times yet now they are among the most liked and respected. I think its because the Sharapova's, Serena's Martina's, Azarenka's, etc. play to win every point, they have that drive and confidence that takes them up to the number one ranking but to a lot of people that comes of as cold and arrogant. Of corse years latter they become the very ones who are most respected and admired.

[aselto]

Of course the two blonde banshees in top 5 are bad for tennis.

[August]

Well, if bad publicity is as good as good publicity, then Vika is good for WTA.

[Deestruction]

Thank you TZVETI83 for making this thread. I always loved Vika. Even if she had a bitchy attitude. I think its attractive. Thats one of the reasons why i also love Serena. Of course i think that Vika is good for this sports. We dont have to have a sweet girl as the top of tennis. I prefer someone who is a bit bitchy instead of being too dam nice all the time. It gets boring. And yes i agree she was a better world #1 than Caro/Safina/JJ combined. Shes more consistent, she had better results and shes a great contender in not just other tournaments but slams as well.