[QueenV]

in disguise for Martina. Obviously nobody wanted her to get hurt. I feel really bad for her fans, because I know how I felt when Venus was injured. It just wasn't the same. I myself will miss her for a while because she brings a different type of game. Even though I'm a fan of the Williams sisters I like seeing different games match up. Particulary Venus/Martina or Serena/Martina.

But everyone has been talking about how she needs to take a break. How she needs the rest more mentally than physically, and most of all to re-evaluate her game. I know when Venus came back she talked about how the time off helped her. Before the injury it seemed like all the things we hoped she fixed she couldn't because she was too caught up in the tour to notice. But when she came back we saw her with new weapons and a better attitude. She also talked about watching other players and learning more about their game.

I for one would like to see Martina get a better serve and do some things like come in to net more that she's gotten away from recently. Maybe something will click or she'll see certain stategies she didn't see before, and will come back and make the tour more interesting. Maybe the demands to constantly get ready for her next tournament, didn't allow her enough time to sit down and figure things out.

As much as I like watching power tennis, I like watching a battle between different styles too. It adds variety to the tour, and it keeps you from getting bored. Of course watching Venus and Serena never makes me bored.

 

[per4ever]

Rest is always important in the life of a good sportman/woman. She will come back stronger then ever.

 

[thefreedesigner]

Potentially (and that's the key word) it could be the best thing to happen to Martina in a long time.

Potentially it is a chance for Martina, Melanie and others to evaluate where Martina is coming up short (heck, I guess they know that already) and really prepare Martina to put the ground work in to tighten up her game.

Martina's game lacks bite (not of a physical kind necessarily), and authority. Martina's never been able to boss opponents around the court with power, but her quickness of thought (opportunism), as we all know has been severely lacking. And of course there is the serve. Words fail me to describe how flimsy it is, and how she could at least give herself an advantage in points by... hey! I'm not even gonna get into that.

Even if the changes that most of us would like to see aren't fully tackled, the time spent not playing, not having to think about the #1 ranking - which has perceptibly been playing on her mind all year - will hopefully do her a lot of good.

Oh, and I would love to think that Martina would be humble (perhaps modest is a better word) enough to think that she could learn from others on the Tour, because you're right QueenV, I think Martina needs to develop a greater awareness of where her contemporaries are at now: They've caught her up (without exception).

I'm still not sure if Martina is ready for that lesson yet - although obviously I would hope she is.

[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: thefreedesigner ]

 

[QueenV]

I agree. I know it's great that she plays so many tournaments with out getting injured, but I think it caught up with her. I think that by focusing on playing tournaments and getting by it stopped her from focusing on her game. While the other players were improving and playing less, she was getting worn down trying to retain her ranking. Because of that she lost focus with a lot of positive things in her game. She had too many improved players to battle week in and week out.

I personally think she overhauled mentally and maybe a little physically. I don't care how young you are everyone needs a break. And this injury will prevent her from doing any physical work just like Venus, and help her more mentally. Because I'm sure her confidence is a little down.

 

[saki]

I'm not convinced that it will help. Six weeks off would be fine if she could actually work on her tennis, but six weeks of having to sit around watching herself drop in the rankings is just going to frustrate her. If she'd chosen to take this time off, it would have done some good - she could have spent time watching and thinking about tennis - but an enforced break isn't going to help at all. If anything she's going to be coming back determined to get back up the rankings rather than improve her tennis.

 

[Barrie_Dude]

Well, Jennifer took a break at the end of last year and came out swing in 01 so ya never know what the future holds.

 

[wimblychampgoran01]

well said QueenV <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

 

[pisces]

RIGHT ON QUEENV,I LIKE YOU VERY MUCH,SMART LADY.WELCOME. PEACE ONE LOVE. <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" /> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

 

[tennischick]

Injuries are never good for any reason. I am sorry that Hingis got hurt. I too get fed up of the constant power tennis and I enjoy the variety that matches with Hingis offer. And I especially enjoy seeing her match-ups against the Sisters. But I would not want any of them to be injured for any reason. If Hingis needed a rest, she would ahve taken one. To have one forced upon her can never be good news. Sorry I don't know how to celebrate this.<br /> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> TC <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[QueenV]

TC, no one is saying celebrate. Sorry if you got that message from my post. I didn't celebrate when Venus was hurt. Gosh it's so many pessimistic people on this board it's smothering. What I'm trying to say is to take something positive out of her injury. Obviously she didn't take a break herself, but maybe that was because she was too focused on keeping her point total up, like so many people like to CELEBRATE on this board, that she didn't realize that a long break was in her best interest. Now even though no one wanted her to get hurt she is forced to take a break anyway. That is why this post is titled "Is this a blessing in disguise.

What's up Pisces! Much love to you too, and thanks for the compliment. <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" />

 

[tennischick]

Hmmm...I don't think misunderstood the intent of your post at all. I am also not being pessimistic -- not my nature I'm afriad. I am saying only there is no blessing here. Hingis is injured. It is a serious injury requiring surgery and weeks, possibly months of rehabilitation. That is not a blessing in my definition of the word.

If Hingis had needed a "rest", she could have taken one. She could have spent her time away from competing however she chose -- in the gym putting on muscle, on horse-back which she loves, or with her latest boyfriend. NOT in a hospital bed.

Many would have loved her to take a break and work on improving her serve for example. That kind of "rest" would have been most welcome.

As it is she is injured and can do nothing. She will have to start from scratch again, getting her ankle accustomed to taking her weight and slowly being able to move from side to side as is required in this sport.

I fail to see the blessing in that for her I'm afraid.

No, the blessing is all Capriati's who is now #1, and perhaps Lindsay's if she manages to pass her. And it may be all Venus' provided she too recuperates from those superficial wrist lacerations that kept her out of the Linz. But for Hingis? It's all curses I'm afraid.<br />TC

 

[QueenV]

Hmmm...yes you did misunderstand, and hmmm...you sound pessimistic to me. I didn't say it was a blessing now did I. I said and I will repeat it again "MAYBE IT'S A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. Do you understand that phrase? Have you heard it before? Let me break it down for you because I really don't feel like turning this thread into your own personal feast on Martina thread. Disguise means to cover up, mask, or conceal something. Blessing means to give happiness, caring, praise, approve. So if you put the two together it would mean that the blessing is masked, concealed. Is that clear enough for you? On the outside it wouldn't seem like a blessing, but it will help in the long run. Even if she didn't take it on her own. Wow I didn't think I would have to explain the title to anyone. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[Rollo]

TC,

It's been obvious to almost everyone except Martina that she's needed a serious break from the game for a long time. Every champion I can think of has taken breaks to recharge their batteries, desire, and fix weaknesses. Playing more than 20 events 4 years in a row and expecting to still stay fresh was INSANE. Like many young and stubborn people, Martina has had to learn the hard way.

When Tina lost to Venus at the Open last year, it was a great match. She was points from victory. This year though, the flame was gone. When she lost to Capriati at the French, her attitude was pitiful.

One of the rules of tennis is:change a losing game(or losing attitude). I'd love to see Hingis come back and win slams again. Only a major attitude adjustment can do that. Maybe, just maybe, her injury will force her to reevalute her place in tennis.<br />The Queen rules on this one.

 

[tennischick]

Hingis' injury is not any kind of blessing, disguised or undisguised. Pessimist that I supposedly am, I cannot see anything positive in someone being hurt. If Hingis had teken a voluntary break from playing to work on improving her form, that would indeed have been a blessing. But a "rest" that will only keep her incapacitated is not a blessing IMO. Nor is it a blessing in disguise.

Now I have not attacked you in anyway personally in any of my responses. I have simply disagreed with you. I am not questioning your personality (optimist vs pessimist) not am I casting aspersions (directly or indirectly) on the level of your intelligence or your ability to comprehend. The problem is not my inability to understand what you are trying to say. I simply disagree with you. I do not see any positive aspect to any sports-person being injured so horribly. I would wish only positive health for all tennis players, including myself. And of course you too if you play the sport.<br />TC

 

[tennischick]

Rollo:<br />I am NOT disagreeing with the notion that Hingis needed to take a break. Please re-read my posts carefully. I am simply disagreeing with the suggestion that this is a blessing in disguise. A break that doesn't allow Hingis to actually work on changing her game and making the improvements you suggest is NOT a break worth having. Hingis DOES need to take time off to improve her serve (most particularly). But being hobbled doesn't exactly accomplish that does it?

I wasn't aware that there was a contest on between Queen V and myself that it was up to you to declare the winner. I am only disagreeing with her. And with you. That's all.<br />TC

Originally posted by Rollo:<br /><strong>TC,

It's been obvious to almost everyone except Martina that she's needed a serious break from the game for a long time. ......The Queen rules on this one.</strong><hr></blockquote>

 

[QueenV]

TC, first of all it's not a contest. Second of all I know your not questioning my personality or character, and even if you were I wouldn't care. You don't know me, and I don't know you. I'm simply saying that you sound pessimistic. Thirdly you've obviously missed the point of this thread, and I don't feel the need to elaborate any further. If you insist on thinking that I'm trying to celebrate an injury than by all means go right ahead. I think most people got the point, and that's all that matters.

 

[tennischick]

Queen V:<br />With all due respect, I didn't misunderstand your point. I simply disagreed with you. That's allowed on this BBS isn't it?

Peace out.<br />TC

 

[QueenV]

Your allowed your opinion. I never said you weren't. If you wish to focus on the worst part, being Martina's injury, than go right ahead. There's nothing anyone can do to change that. But it's nice to think that while there's nothing she can do right now physically, that maybe the time off will help her mind and body refresh. That was the point of this thread. It wasn't to focus on the fact that she's injured or how bad that is. It's to focus on what can help her while she is disabled. Like I said before you missed the point. If you had gotten the point you wouldn't keep going on about what already happened when the point is about what can happen.

 

[Rollo]

I think you may have missed the point TD, because Queen did write "in disguise" after blessing. Of course her injury is a bad thing, but haven't we all learned to come out stronger from bad things? Cliches like "blessing in disguise", "a silver lining in every cloud" and "adversity only makes you stronger" have been around for ages because SOMETIMES they prove to be true. Hey, maybe Queen is wrong, but something had to change, because Hingis has been going no where for over a year.

 

[tennischick]

Gosh Rollo:<br />Will this never end? Why isn't it an option for me to simply say that I disagree? I reacted to Queen V's literal words -- "a blessing in disguise" -- and disagreed with them. Must I say that I misunderstood her for this pointless convo to end?

OK then, I completely misunderstood Queen V. I am a negative pessimistic person who can only focus on Hingis' injury and not see the potential silver lining in that dark cloud that's hanging over her.

Happy now?

In the mean time, my true feelings stand. I don't see anything positive in this development. I do not (again!) disagree with the view that Hingis needed to take a break from the game to work on all kinds of issues. I simply (personally) would have preferred a break that was more positive and health-focused.

But what the heck do I know? I am not entitled to a differing opinion!! Hey, it's great that Hingis is hobbled and that she won't be able to walk much less play again for weeks! That's a wonderful thing! A blessing in disguise!! Let's get that party going people!!!!!

BTW, who the heck is TD? Or was that another thing I misunderstood? Duh...<br />TC

Originally posted by Rollo:<br /><strong>I think you may have missed the point TD, because Queen did write "in disguise" after blessing. Of course her injury is a bad thing, but haven't we all learned to come out stronger from bad things? Cliches like "blessing in disguise", "a silver lining in every cloud" and "adversity only makes you stronger" have been around for ages because SOMETIMES they prove to be true. Hey, maybe Queen is wrong, but something had to change, because Hingis has been going no where for over a year.</strong><hr></blockquote>