No, that's not an Anna quote. It was actually said by the (now) coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Bill Parcells.
In another thread, in MANY other threads, I've read that Anna Kournikova had the potential to win GS titles, but had 'pissed it away for a little money and fame'. That's never been my sense with Anna. She was a slightly built player with an relatively unsophisticated game who excelled for three short months in 1998. In that period she beat Graf, Seles, Martinez, Davenport, Hingis and Sanchez-Vicario (twice). Outside that period, her significant wins over high ranked players are very few.
That isn't the career record of a GS winner vs elite players.
That isn't the career record of a Top Ten player vs elite players.
However, it IS pretty typically the record of a talented but erratic top thrity player, say a Patty Schnyder or a Meghann Shaughnessy. Brilliant wins over elite opposition coupled with inexplicable losses, and long periods of substandard play.
When was the last time top thirty talent garnered this ind of money and fame? Ever?
Anna isn't the one with the problem. It's her fans over-inflated expectations. Nothing in Anna's GS record says 'GS winner'. She's played in 21 GS tournaments and only made it past the fourth round twice. Yet she ws always saddled with 'has the talent to win a GS', has the talent to be a top five player'. A crock, and a total one. The ultimate measure of tennis talent ois winning tournaments. If you don't, then whatever you LACKED in talent overwhelmed what you had.
Anna wasn't/isn't the most talented player, but 'pissed away' is ridiculous. Far from wasting what talent she had, Anna maximized the fame and dollars that talent would bring.
In another thread, in MANY other threads, I've read that Anna Kournikova had the potential to win GS titles, but had 'pissed it away for a little money and fame'. That's never been my sense with Anna. She was a slightly built player with an relatively unsophisticated game who excelled for three short months in 1998. In that period she beat Graf, Seles, Martinez, Davenport, Hingis and Sanchez-Vicario (twice). Outside that period, her significant wins over high ranked players are very few.
Code:
1996 Zurich 32 W Amanda COETZER (RSA) 2-6 7-6 6-4
1997 Key Biscayne 64 W Amanda COETZER (RSA) 6-1 3-6 6-3
1997 Berlin 16 W Ax SANCHEZ-VICARIO (ESP) 3-6 6-0 6-3
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1998 Key Biscayne 32 W Monica SELES (USA) 7-5 6-4
1998 Key Biscayne 16 W Conchita MARTINEZ (ESP) 6-3 6-0
1998 Key Biscayne QF W Lindsay DAVENPORT (USA) 6-4 2-6 6-2
1998 Key Biscayne SF W Arantxa SANCHEZ-VICARIO (ESP) 3-6 6-1 6-3
1998 Berlin 16 W Arantxa SANCHEZ-VICARIO (ESP) 6-4 6-2
1998 Berlin QF W Martina HINGIS (SUI) 6-3 7-6
1998 Eastbourne QF W Steffi GRAF (GER) 6-7 6-3 6-4
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1999 Key Biscayne 32 W Julie HALARD-DECUGIS (FRA) 6-4 7-6
1999 Amelia Island 16 W Lindsay DAVENPORT (USA) 6-4 6-1
2000 San Diego 16 W Lindsay DAVENPORT (USA) 2-6 6-4 7-5
2000 WTA Championships 16 W Jennifer CAPRIATI (USA) 6-4 6-4
2000 WTA Championships QF W Conchita MARTINEZ (ESP) 6-4 6-0
That isn't the career record of a Top Ten player vs elite players.
However, it IS pretty typically the record of a talented but erratic top thrity player, say a Patty Schnyder or a Meghann Shaughnessy. Brilliant wins over elite opposition coupled with inexplicable losses, and long periods of substandard play.
When was the last time top thirty talent garnered this ind of money and fame? Ever?
Anna isn't the one with the problem. It's her fans over-inflated expectations. Nothing in Anna's GS record says 'GS winner'. She's played in 21 GS tournaments and only made it past the fourth round twice. Yet she ws always saddled with 'has the talent to win a GS', has the talent to be a top five player'. A crock, and a total one. The ultimate measure of tennis talent ois winning tournaments. If you don't, then whatever you LACKED in talent overwhelmed what you had.
Anna wasn't/isn't the most talented player, but 'pissed away' is ridiculous. Far from wasting what talent she had, Anna maximized the fame and dollars that talent would bring.
Code:
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* 1997 Wimbledon 128 W Chanda RUBIN (USA) 6-1 6-1
1997 Wimbledon 64 W Barbara RITTNER (GER) 4-6 7-6 6-3
1997 Wimbledon 32 W Anke HUBER (GER) 3-6 6-4 6-4
1997 Wimbledon 16 W Helena SUKOVA (CZE) 2-6 6-2 6-3
1997 Wimbledon QF W Iva MAJOLI (CRO) 7-6 6-4
1997 Wimbledon SF L Martina HINGIS (SUI) 3-6 2-6