[TSequoia01]

Serena lost quite a few matches in 2001 apparently due to nerves. Hingis at the Aussie, Capriati at Wimbledon, and Seles at the Estyle. These are the ones that come to mind. Some would even throw in her lost to Venus at the Open. This fantastic tennis player seemed to do a complete turnaround during the Rogers AT&T. Since then she has defeated Henin (twice), Capriati, Seles, Davenport, and Hingis. I say she has crossed over. To me, it was just a matter of experience anyway. Considering she only played 10 tournies, and still made well over two million dollars. 2002 may well promise to be something truly special.

 

[CB]

Not yet. She has improved a lot, but she can be better.<br />US Open 2001 final showed it all.

 

[Rollo]

History and experience suggests that once a woman is labeled a "choker", it never really goes away. I'm not saying that Serena can't or won't win tight matches. The US Open quarterfianal over Davenport was fantastic.

Temperment really can't be changed as easily as other things though. You either have nerves of steel(Graf-Evert-Venus-King) or nerves (Navratilova, Sabatini, Court, Serena, Capriati). Those like Jana Novotna or Zina Garrison were their own worst enemies.

Serena may get better at controlling the jitters, but in a real tight match she and her opponents will both know in the back of their mind that she can tense up.

 

[Tony]

I hope so!

 

[Becool]

I think she will be better, but not against Venus... Which is sad.. Serena only will beat Venus, when she is in her days like she was in 1999

<img src="graemlins/sad.gif" border="0" alt="[Sad]" />

 

[moon]

She certainly has improved tremendously in that department. But I think she could still use a little work. Nerves I think will always be a problem when she plays Venus, but with the other players, I definitely don't think it will be as much of a problem as it was last year.

 

[Volcana]

IMHO, that wasn't nerves, it was Serena being overweight. Once she got into shape, which basically didn't happen til American hardcourt season, those losses stopped. But what that means is, no, she hasn't 'gotten over it'. If Serena is too heavy, and she's playing elite players (which Martina still was at OZ), she has a good chance of losing. Also, look at the players she was losing to! Give them a little credit. Losing to Monica or Jenn or pre-February Hingis is no shame.

Serena is a beautiful tennis player. I could watch her all day. But for now, she's still a 'one-slam wonder' (that will change this year. I'm betting money). I'm not going to get down on her for losing to players who have higher rankings.

 

[Venus+Serena#1fan]

I think Serena is well over that, except when playing Venus, but I think the more they play the more Serena will get over the fact that she's playing her sister at the other side of the net. I believe that had it been ANY other player standing opposite her at the 01 US OPEN final she would've defnetley won.

And I certainly don't think Serena is overweight, she's the fastest player on the tour along with Venus and she can get to balls other players won't even go after. I think in 2002 Serena will add on another slam, maybe more than 1.

 

[TSequoia01]

Volcana you are not the only person who feels Serena was out of shape during the earlier part of the year. She did lose weight and played much better. But I feel she does have a nerve problem. In fact we would sit and watch her matches and declare when she would go in the zone. She would get this blank look on her face.....emotionless. Then promptly lose game after game. I only saw this look once at the open. It happened in the second set third or fourth game. I remember, because I yelled out she is in it. But unlike other matches she came out and fought hard. During those stressful times her face becomes a mask, she quits thinking and just hits the ball hard, usually short down the center of the court. Davenport started smiling when this occurred, quit smiling when Serena started playing again. She recognized it. Against Venus, she did not go into the zone. She was just pressing to be first. She felt if she did not go for it....Venus would. Serena is growing.....against Testud in Munich, never have I seen her exhibit such patience. She would hit the extra shot rather than just going for an outright winner.

[ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: TSequoia01 ]</p>

 

[Geisha]

Serena lost quite a few matches in 2001 apparently due to nerves. Hingis at the Aussie, Capriati at Wimbledon, and Seles at the Estyle. These are the ones that come to mind. Some would even throw in her lost to Venus at the Open. This fantastic tennis player seemed to do a complete turnaround during the Rogers AT&T. Since then she has defeated Henin (twice), Capriati, Seles, Davenport, and Hingis. I say she has crossed over. To me, it was just a matter of experience anyway. Considering she only played 10 tournies, and still made well over two million dollars. 2002 may well promise to be something truly special.

You said it! Great post.

I thought this was worth bumping.

 

[SelesFan70]

You said it! Great post.

I thought this was worth bumping.

Wow...it's like the thread starter was psychic!

 

[-VSR-]

 

[Denise4925]

Serena lost quite a few matches in 2001 apparently due to nerves. Hingis at the Aussie, Capriati at Wimbledon, and Seles at the Estyle. These are the ones that come to mind. Some would even throw in her lost to Venus at the Open. This fantastic tennis player seemed to do a complete turnaround during the Rogers AT&T. Since then she has defeated Henin (twice), Capriati, Seles, Davenport, and Hingis. I say she has crossed over. To me, it was just a matter of experience anyway. Considering she only played 10 tournies, and still made well over two million dollars. 2002 may well promise to be something truly special.

Wow, talk about a visionary.

 

[Denise4925]

Whatever happend to this poster?

 

[Shenanigans]

Whatever happend to this poster?

dunno know but guess Serena has gotten over her nerves.

 

[fammmmedspin]

You said it! Great post.

I thought this was worth bumping.

Why?

Is your thesis that she can get better or that she has an underlying problem with her nerves that has come back?

Not sure psychoanalysing Serena makes much sense - its hard enough to even hazard a guess what impact repeated injuries and a shot sister has had on her beyond saying it would really muck up a lot of people's stress control systems.

 

[-VSR-]

Whatever happend to this poster?

That's what I was thinking. I wish they were back here, they seem like the person who can give good advice and calm us "crazy" fans down. :lol: