[great smash]

I agree there have been examples showing Kim failing to produce the goods when it really mattered.

However what have so far been her most important matches?

vs. Capriati RG 01 Lost
vs. Serena Masters 02 Won
vs. Henin-Hardenne RG 02 Lost

When did she face the opponent considered the most difficult? What happened that time?

I don't understand why people are now qualifying that masters final as not all that important.

Had she lost that match as well, it would have meant further proof of her inability to win big matches.
However actually winning it doesn't convince people that she IS capable of winning the big ones? Doesn't make sense to me

 

[Rocky_Ballboa]

She can come and sit on my lap during the breaks in play, I will keep her mentally focused.

 

[great smash]

She can come and sit on my lap during the breaks in play, I will keep her mentally focused.

Thanks for the help offerd. That might just do the trick :lol:

 

[mishar]

I think the fact that she's had such great success in so many important tournaments (including the masters) means she CAN win the big matches. She's beaten all the top players.
However, grand slams are, at least for most people, the big stage of tennis. She hasn't won the big match yet at the grand slam level.. but it could come.

I also think the mental problems are not so much that she lost the close match (as in the FO final of 01) but that in two cases this year in semis of majors, she had the lead and she lost it. that's why people think she has mental problems in big matches. The only way she'll ever stop the doubters is by winning a grand slam.

 

[Experimentee]

I think Kim is mentally tough. People are making out that shes such a choker and she cant win big matches but really she has won lots of close matches in big tournaments! The thing about Kim not being able to win big matches is a great exaggeration.

 

[auntie janie]

No matter how the WTA tries to paint it, the season-ending Championships are nowhere near as important as the Slams. Only 15 people even attended those matches in LA ; the eyes of the world were not on it the way they are at Slams. Additionally, despite the great money and points available, many if not most of the top players are dead-tired by then from a long, hard season, and so it is easier to beat them there than at the Slams, which they build their schedules around to be in top form.

Winning the Championships was a great accomplishment for Kim; don't get me wrong. But I don't feel it is comparable to a Slam.

 

[DA FOREHAND]

I think Kim is mentally tough. People are making out that shes such a choker and she cant win big matches but really she has won lots of close matches in big tournaments! The thing about Kim not being able to win big matches is a great exaggeration.

It all started back in 99 when she failed to put Serena away in the early stages of the Us Open. She has the goods, and one would think that as she got better(03) she would put this behind her, but she's come up short too many times this year against the big players in the big matches. Her spouting off at the mouth about justine retreating a blister said more about her mental state, than justine's supposed gamesmanship. She has the number one ranking it's put up or shut up time.

 

[skanky~skanketta]

oh please experimentee. she isnt mentally tough when it comes to playing the sisters. she has the lead and blows them. gawd. i just can seem to forget the AO this year. and wimby. when she lost to jen, it was understandable, she was young and inexperienced. but to start losing when u have the lead now is just a case of choking.

 

[skanky~skanketta]

i just dont think she has the thing to serve for the match or serve and not be broken in a big match. even in dubs, at wimbledon, she was broken when she served for the championship. and at scottsdale.

 

[auntie janie]

The one that seals it for me was her loss to Venus when Venus was badly hurt at Wimbledon. What was that all about, if not a choke?

But I think Kim can overcome these problems. First she has to admit she HAS this problem, though. Not necessarily in public, but she has to admit it to herself if she is to learn how to overcome it.

 

[great smash]

The one that seals it for me was her loss to Venus when Venus was badly hurt at Wimbledon. What was that all about, if not a choke?

But I think Kim can overcome these problems. First she has to admit she HAS this problem, though. Not necessarily in public, but she has to admit it to herself if she is to learn how to overcome it.

I fully acknowledge Venus was hurt during that match but the question is how much did it reduce her level of play?

When people are saying she couldn't even beat an injured Venus, this implies she was playing a lot worse than she's capable of.

Sure in the beginning of the match you could see Venus was playing below her best, but as the match progressed did Venus really play that much worse than she usually does? No as far as I'm concerned, but that's just my opinion.

 

[villa]

I agree with great smash- venus was no playing tht much worse in the 2nd and 3rd sets that kim should have won that match- There was no choking imo, venus was just playing better..Venus made a couple of errors to allow kim to go up 3-2 in the 2nd set howver kim too was making errors aswell and couldn't hold serve hence when venus cleaned her game she was just tooo good....

 

[Come-on-kim]

No matter how the WTA tries to paint it, the season-ending Championships are nowhere near as important as the Slams. Only 15 people even attended those matches in LA ; the eyes of the world were not on it the way they are at Slams. Additionally, despite the great money and points available, many if not most of the top players are dead-tired by then from a long, hard season, and so it is easier to beat them there than at the Slams, which they build their schedules around to be in top form.

Winning the Championships was a great accomplishment for Kim; don't get me wrong. But I don't feel it is comparable to a Slam.

I don't get your point there!!

ALL the players ARE tired at the year-end championships!! So, it's not like Kim was in top-form and the other players not!!!

No offense on Serena but she said she was as tired as an old women but Kim could have said that too because she played more from the US Open to the Masters then any other players playing the masters!! (well, perhaps expect Jelena Dokic)

COME ON KIM AT THE US OPEN!!!!!!!

GET WELL SOON RENA

 

[justine&coria]

At the Year End Championships, Kim won, but played a not very self-confident Justine (as this year), an injured Venus, and a tired Serena (just look at how Serena played).
Kim really have mental problems in important match. Justine wouldn't have thrashed her at RG, if they played the same match in a tier III.
She should have won that match against Serena at AO.
Clijsters definitely cannot face important matches as well as Serena = number 2, Justine = number 3, and Venus = number 4. Yet, she is number 1.

 

[DA FOREHAND]

"No offense on Serena but she said she was as tired as an old women but Kim could have said that too because she played more from the US Open to the Masters then any other players playing the masters!! (well, perhaps expect Jelena Dokic"

Maybe the point is Kim doesn't invest as much mentally in her matches as some of the other top players.

 

[Come-on-kim]

"No offense on Serena but she said she was as tired as an old women but Kim could have said that too because she played more from the US Open to the Masters then any other players playing the masters!! (well, perhaps expect Jelena Dokic"

Maybe the point is Kim doesn't invest as much mentally in her matches as some of the other top players.

that's non sense as Serena told she was physicaly tired! OK, you'll tell me she played a tough 3-setter the day before! There I agree but well, don't come and say all the players were tired and THAT'S why Kim won! Because that's not true!!

 

[jenglisbe]

FRENCH OPEN 2001 - Kim was 2 points from the title a few times, right? Kim was just so young, and Jennifer was the story, that people didn't notice how/why Kim lost. Did she choke? I don't even remember/know.

CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002 - Kim won because she was confident, played well, and Serena didn't have it in her to come back.

AUSTRALIAN 2003 - Kim plays well again against Serena and is up 5-1 in the 3rd set. Kim gets tentative, and this time Serena has the motivation and energy to take advantage. I think this loss affected Kim all year long.

FRENCH 2003 - Kim was so tight throughout the tournament (regardless of the match scores, just look at her error count throughout) and her draw opening up helped her make the final. She might as well have stayed home instead of playing Justine. She didn't move well and never got her forehand going.

WIMBLEDON 2003 - Kim plays a great set and a half (regardless of Venus' injury; let's not forget Kim was already up a break when Venus got injured) and then went off the boil in the 2nd set (in losing the 3-2 game, Kim made at least 4 dumb errors). Venus definitely won the 3rd set, but Kim lost the 2nd set because of sloppy play.

 

[jenglisbe]

janie - Kim was also a top player, though, and she had played more matches/tournaments throughout the year (especially during the fall) than Serena had. Serena's being tired - while maybe true - is not a valid excuse for her loss. She should be in better shape than that.

 

[DA FOREHAND]

Being tired is no excuse to lose a match.

 

[auntie janie]

FRENCH OPEN 2001 - Kim was 2 points from the title a few times, right? Kim was just so young, and Jennifer was the story, that people didn't notice how/why Kim lost. Did she choke? I don't even remember/know.

CHAMPIONSHIPS 2002 - Kim won because she was confident, played well, and Serena didn't have it in her to come back.

AUSTRALIAN 2003 - Kim plays well again against Serena and is up 5-1 in the 3rd set. Kim gets tentative, and this time Serena has the motivation and energy to take advantage. I think this loss affected Kim all year long.

FRENCH 2003 - Kim was so tight throughout the tournament (regardless of the match scores, just look at her error count throughout) and her draw opening up helped her make the final. She might as well have stayed home instead of playing Justine. She didn't move well and never got her forehand going.

WIMBLEDON 2003 - Kim plays a great set and a half (regardless of Venus' injury; let's not forget Kim was already up a break when Venus got injured) and then went off the boil in the 2nd set (in losing the 3-2 game, Kim made at least 4 dumb errors). Venus definitely won the 3rd set, but Kim lost the 2nd set because of sloppy play.

Great analysis of this issue.