[ttaM]

From "The Mailbag"...

A whole mess of you wrote in about the Americans' abrupt withdrawal from the Fed Cup. A conspiracy theory floated to me last week by an agent goes like this: With Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati and the Williams sisters as no-shows, the USTA didn't want to risk embarrassment (and shell out $100,000 per player) for a B team of <font color=red>Monica Seles</font> and perhaps Meghann Shaughnessy, Lisa Raymond or Lilia Osterloh.

WTF!?!? Monica a B Team player on CLAY??? Who the fuck are the people following this sport? Monica could smoke all the "A-Team" players in the dirt on clay. I can't believe some idiot said that. That "agent" needs to do some homework!!!!

 

[per4ever]

hmmm don't know. In comparison to the other players, she is second choice at this moment.<br />Davenport, Capriati and the Williams sisters are the better players IMO. Seles is great too of course, but I don't think the writer wanted to insult Monica.

 

[ys]

Take it easy. It is indeed B-team, comparing to possible Capriati, Seles, Venus, Serena team.

 

[ttaM]

Let me say I would have no problem with a team of Lindsay, Jen, Venus and Serena but this person made it out like because since the USTA couldn't get the more "marketable" players to play Fed Cup they pulled the plug. Yes, I agree, that a team of Seles with who else is mentioned would be a sense be considered a "B Team" but it's not like the team couldn't win it. And while the "A Team" might be higher ranked than Monica (with the exception of Serena I believe) not all of them are clay threats. Venus and Lindsay lost on the opening round at Roland Garros the last time they played there. Serena always comes out rusty no matter what surface she is on, but on clay it would be harder for her to adjust (especially against higher ranked players which she would have faced in Fed Cup). Jen would have been a good player but Monica is light years better than Jen on clay. So, I guess my anger should be directed more towards the USTA (IF WHAT THE AGENT SAID IT TRUE, WHICH NO ONE WILL PROBABLY NO-PUBLICLY). In conclusion <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> the B-Team would have had an equal chance of winning it as the A-Team would have. That's all <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[per4ever]

I don't agree. I first of all would like to see that fact that Monica is light years better on clay then Jen.<br />I don't expect Monica to win RG again, something I do expect from Jen.

Shaughnessy, Raymond and Osterloh are no clay players!! So even if Serena, Venus and Lindsay are no clay players they still can do more then the other players. Certainly against the good and higher ranked players.<br />I think they can make for example Kim and Justine's life miserable on clay. Raymond and Osterloh certainly not..

I'm sorry but the A team had more chances to win the Fed Cup.

 

[Josh]

Monica is one of the best players of all time on clay. I think she could beat any of those higher-ranked players on the red dirt.

And I agree that a team of Seles, Rubin or Shaughnessy and Raymond would have had a great chance of winning the Fed Cup.

[ October 29, 2001: Message edited by: Josh ]</p>

 

[ttaM]

Clay titles: (Estimating)<br />Jen: 4<br />Monica: 12 (15 if you want to include her 3 Italian Open doubles titles)

Roland Garros Record:<br />Jen: 1 win (overall: 26-7)<br />Monica: 3 wins (overall: 50-6)

Overall win/loss record on Clay<br />Jen: 85/37<br />Monica: 135/21

Monica-vs-Jen (on clay): 2-0<br />-1990 French Open Clay (O) SF Monica SELES 6-2 6-2 <br />-1992 French Open Clay (O) QF Monica SELES 6-2 6-2

If Monica were to play Jen tomorrow on clay...I would put my money on Monica. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> But, Good luck to both ladies in the Future <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[ October 29, 2001: Message edited by: GoMonica ]</p>

 

[per4ever]

nice statistics... but they are dated.

I know Seles is a great clay player! But on this moment she's at the end of her career, while Jen is just starting because of things that happened in her life.

If they would meet on clay I would put money on Jen, certainly. Those two times they played eachother on clay are way too long ago to tell anything about them. Could be a great match to watch..

 

[MonikaVeronikaElectronika]

Are Monika's 2 wins over Jennifer this year dated too? Jennifer is playing the best tennis of her career and Monika STILL leads this year's head to head (2-1) and overall! Monika has always owned Jennifer, and always will! Jennifer doesn't have 1/1000 of the talent and skill Monika has.

 

[ttaM]

Actually....Jen would have 5 clay court titles if you count her 1 Italian Open doubles titles which she won with Monica! <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

 

[Miranda]

these bad people always bully and look down on Monica, she is the kindest and most committed player for her country, she ALWAYS willing to play for her adopted country instead of others who select to play! Shut your dirty mouth up, those bad people, Monica is a world class!

 

[ys]

I, however, wouldn't guess what would have happened if the Fed Cup final be played on clay, but in Germany.. What do you think would overweigh in Monica's decision - her always playing Fed Cup or non-playing in Germany?

 

[disposablehero]

The answer, ys, is that she would not play. I am certain.

per4ever, you need to remove your head from your posterior. Monica, as stated earlier, owns Jen. <br />She also is the best claycourt player today.<br />If Roland Garros was held tomorrow, my money would be on Monica. Remember that only once in history has a player beaten Monica at Roland Garros and not made the Final.

90,91,92: Champion<br />89: Lost to Steffi Graf, the losing Finalist (Steffi won other 3 Slams that year)<br />96: Lost to Jana Novotna (who reached Semis)<br />97: Lost to Martina Hingis, the losing Finalist (Martina won the other 3 Slams that year)<br />98: Lost to Arantxa in Final<br />99: Lost to Steffi Graf, champion<br />00: Lost to Mary Pierce, champion

That is a 50-6 Roland Garros record. Compare that to the "A" team, and you will finally get it.

If that information is a little too "dated" for you, compare the "A" team since 96 to her 24-5.

 

[Ted of Teds Tennis]

I disagree that Shaughnessy is worse than some of the 'A' team players on clay. Shaughnessy, at least, has a clay final this year (Hamburg) -- something which can't be said for Serena, who's never advanced past the quarters of a clay event in singles.

Monica, Shaughnessy, and two people who are good at doubles would make a formidable team.

--Ted

 

[NejedlyKanepi]

insult taken! POOCHE-WAH!

 

[per4ever]

disposable... I know that Monica is a great player, and I will never insult her, but she doesn't own Jen.

I'm sorry but I can't believe Monica is better then Jen. She used to be, but not anymore...

Like I said before I don't think Monica will win RG again and Jen definitly will. Only the future will tell us...

 

[Adrian]

This is to Monica's fans only....

Let it slide, it means nothing....Yes I would be honest and say Monica would struggle against Lindsay at the moment (only goes she is on a roll), but shot for shot the Monica we have seen in the last 4 to 5 months can match it with Venus, Jennifer and Serena and I believe beat all 3. Lets see what happens when all girls are in Australia, thats when Monica can and will prove her point that she is more then just a "Seed". Of course she will loose to Martina in the final, but hey what the heck <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Miranda]

I don't know whether Monica can win a slam again but she is for sure better than Jennifer, even in this year when Jennifer is dominating, Monica beat her twice, one in straight set 6:3 6:3, Jennifer also has problems with Lindsay and Venus and only beat Serena when she was not in good condition, not to take away her achievements this year, I find her win in Australia justify but her win in French was a comibnation of good luck and lack of competiton (except Hingis), as many said, Kim is not very good on clay but still pushed her to limit. After that, she has no title win ... For your information, Monica is just two years and three months older than Jennifer, if Monica's career is golng to an end, Jennifer will follow soon ....

 

[per4ever]

hmm you are forgetting that Jennifer made a comeback, she was away for several years, and I think she will play longer then Monica...

 

[saki]

Um, I think you'll find that Monica made a little comeback of her own! Remember, she got stabbed, spent two (?) years away from tennis and then came back. There's no reason to suppose that her career will be shorter than Jen's. Because she's two years older, she may retire two years earlier but she's not exactly senile at the moment. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">