I wonder if there's venue in Melbourne which speed is very different from the rest, like in New York, where Louis Armstrong is the fastest by big margin.Speed is probably similar to US Open (i assume it is a little bit slower) and bounce is clearly much higher.But weather is important too. Balls are normal so that's good
I don't think Iga is injured. That's just explanation for WTA, otherwise she could have paid fine for late withdrawal. Iga just needs time to adjust to these conditions: surface, balls, weather etc. Nothing new. Practice is one thing, match is another.
True. Slams have unique atmosphere - some players can't handle it for some reason. To be honest I'm not scared match with Jule, because she isn't as fit as Iga. Fitness is very important in that crazy sun. In New York she collapsed because of that reason alone. No fuel. Hopefully Iga won't be forced to play longer than she needs to.
Someone hasn't heard that Storm Sanders evolved into Storm Hunter. Hell yeah!
I wonder how this stat looks against big hitters.
Yes, I thought she will pick Coco in a heartbeat.
As far as I remember Iga prefers to go to bed & wake up early. I remember her match vs. Halep (AO '21), when she ordered coffee before end of 2nd set.
Cameras. Cameras everywhere.
Yes, her accuracy was top-notch. Too bad 1st serve win % was just 62. I really hope Tomasz will help her to improve before 4R.I'm just happy about her first serve percentage tonight, 80%
Ryba greatly profited from "deciding point" rule. She escaped a few close calls.
OMG, comparing Iga to Samsonova or Rybakina is... weird? Iga is full of emotions. She doesn't smash rackets on court (she used to), but she cries from time to time.
Chill, I am not offended. Kinda funny Poland is considered Central European country by CIA.
I watched this interview in the background (so to speak), I remember now. Sierzputowski simply ignored Tomasz like he's not member of the team. Fitness is very important obviously, but it is just not enough without proper tennis tools and tactics (duh). Otherwise Sakkari wouldn't be one Rabat wonder - she would be a great champ.
Oh that loss in Texas is absolutely explicable, we just don't know all the data. We have to remember that Iga is learning and The Team also. They are only humans, and they make mistakes like all of us. The question is if they will change something. Either way the last word always belongs to Iga. If she still doesn't get how big weakness her serve is, then perhaps she has to lose to few other players whom she beat last season. Big servers / hitters. Perhaps after another such loss, she will say: "F*ck this, I want to serve 6 aces every match, and at least the same number of unreturnables". And it will happen eventually, because she's that ambitious and stubborn. I just hope she will make up her mind sooner rather than later. I think Tomasz won't start any revolution right now. As far as I remember he's against sudden changes, because they might mess up stuff Iga has already built. It's really easy to break something for good. So Iga will keep working on her serve, slice and volley. She will make progress, but it won't be quick. And we have to deal with it.
Every #1 is the favourite to win the tournament. That's obvious. Failure is caused by few things, not just one. Iga didn't lose just because opponents studied her game (Wiktorowski study their game too). There are plenty of things that can go wrong and often go wrong. On highest level even smallest details can make a difference in tight matches. Sabalenka is a special case, because she has had huge problems with her serve since Adelaide 2022. She was an easy target in Doha - Iga took her totally by surprise. Later Aryna put a lot of effort to improve serving, but she didn't have a choice - her situation was dramatic, she had to do something revolutionary. You have nothing to lose, if you make 10 DFs on regular basis. She struggled for months. Iga is able to improve her serve too, but it will also take months of hard work. Be ready for this. They won't report what they are working on.
You don't know how the tour will react, so you start from the place "more of the same". However - at the same time - you keep improving stuff what you already have. Iga works on her slice, serve and volley. Wiktorowski wants Iga to play more varied game, he wants her to end points quicker in order to save energy and - in longer perspective - her health.Well, Wiktorowski did say in one of his interviews that they were working on minor things because why change something that was working so well throughout the whole 2022
Who has said she will stay in the same place? She's working. She isn't waiting for her opponents to catch up. What else can she do in order to be a better player? Improve mental side - that's obvious, but not exactly Wiktorowski's area. For me crucial is another quote, when he said he wants her to have every possible tool in a toolbox. He wants her to be a complete player, who will be able to create own patterns, who will keep her opponents guessing. This is what the team is doing. I know that almost everyone is in rather grim mood, but you have to understand that you can't improve certain things overnight. It's a marathon. And mentality wise Iga also is maturing. She's already on the level many players won't ever reach. And I think it will be even better. She needs time to digest this new experience. Recipe for defeating Iga is simple: be aggressive, take the ball early, take her time away, play the balls deep, serve flawlessly - that sounds like a recipe to beat basically anyone, but how many can execute this plan? Very few. How frequent? Rarely. "Deciphering" her game isn't exactly something new. Remember Kovinić match in Paris? She played ultra aggressive tennis, because she thought it's her only chance. It worked to a very limited degree and score partially gives a glimpse of that strategy. One thing is certain for me: Iga has to be consistent on her medium level. In terms of staying number one Sunshine Double and clay series (Madrid, Rome, RG) are crucial. Those are Iga's best shots.
I love that show.
