[brunof]

Over the last few years there has been plenty of talk about Martina's lack of power against other highly ranked players. Sure, she lacks consistant 100 + serves and the blazing power of Capriati, Davenport, Venus and Serena, etc, but she can beat just about anyone besides these players, consistantly. This year she has only lost to a handful of players, including, Capriati, Davenport, Venus, Clijsters, Arantxa Sanchez Vicaro, Seles, Mauresmo, Serena, Elena Dementieva and Virginia Ruano Pascual.

My question to you is, Do you think Martina just lacks power, fitness, or both? Can't she bulk up at all? Her strokes are lovely, but is lifting out of the question because they are so textbook smooth?

Best of luck to Martina, I know she can do it! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Volcana]

She could. I think she's afraid to. But given a choice between letting the game pass her by, and adding some muscle, I think she'll bulk up. Or slim down. If Martina was in the kind of shape Amanda Coetzer is in, she might have a chance.

As late as OZ 2000, I though Martina Hingis would go down as an all time great. Even with her current accomplishments, she has to be considered one of the 20 best all time. But NOT in the top ten all time, and 5 GS singles titles aren't going to be enough for her to ever favorably compared to BJK or Evonne Goolagong.

Fact is, Martina has been losing to other top ten players on a consistent basis since OS 2001. She only has two wins over top ten players since then.

 

[polexia]

i think she just needs to use her finesse<br />she doesn't lack it...she just doesn't use it. and i see no point for her to buff up...<br />she will certainly not overpower anyone...of course i'm not tellin her to stay weak but not to rely on power as her weapon because that definately will not work

 

[SerenasMelons]

I just have to say this..

Martina one of my favorite players, and I hope she comes back from this long break with rejuvination. If she comes back in the same form she's been in for most of 2001, I'm gonna be severely disappointed. If she's still in this slump at the beginning of 2002, I say its over for her career. I mean, how long are her fans going to have to wait for Martina to come back???!?!?!

 

[supremeross]

I think Martina can add power to her game without having to bulk up. A perfect example is Justine Henin. Justine has a powerful first serve and power on her ground strokes- off both sides. Martina needs to get fitter (not that she's a slob or anything) but she needs, like everyone else on tour, to be constantly improving her game and minimizing her weakness(her serve). I think Martina has been resting on her past achievements for the past two years or so and other players have just elevated their games above hers. What imporvements has Martina made to her game? None

 

[evaz]

I think as soon as Martina gets healthy again she'll work on her fitness again. She definitely has to work on it. It's not about bulking up, it's about adding more power to her groundstrokes.

I completely agree with supremeross - Justine Henin is really a great example.

In my opinion Martina doesn't have to work on her finesse - she is the most clever player on the court. And as soon she can practise on the court again, as soon as she plays some matches - her finesse will be back.

 

[super_hingis]

martina could bulk herself up like mary pierce did,and look awful but she does not have to.Martina has the best game out there she just needs to work more on her serves especially the second serve apart from that she can compete with with the big hitters.

good luck martina.

 

[wongqks]

I think a lot of people forgot about the Martina Hingis who win Hopman Cup and Sydney and go to the final of Aussie Open before running into Jennifer, surely, she was in one of the best shape ever. Although you can argue that she face all the opponents who were pretty rusty then, but watching her matches between her against Serena in Aussie Open and the Martina who play Serena in the US Open is completely different person, no matter how well Serena was playing she is just too low in confidence to defeat top players. Every single loss to top 10 players after the Aussie Open was a blow to her confidence. I think now she is rank no. 4 in the world (which she achieve in 1996 when she is 15 or something I think!!!!!!) will serve as a motivation to her. (see 1998 when Lindsay snatch away her no.1 ranking).

There are a few things Martina can do. I think a lot of people will reject this idea, and it has been discussed before. Why don't she become a volleying player, she has quick hands, an intelligent mind, and is althletic enough and she has lots more talents than most people in the world interms of shot execution and selection

Watching Martina play against big hitters recently really dissappoint me, coz she just being drawn into it and start trying to outhit her opponents which is bad. I agree Martina should bulk up a bit, but at the same time, if she can keep her fitness at a very high level, there's no reason why she cannot get away with it as a counterpuncher.

That's my opinion anyway.

 

[Williams Rulez]

Now, I think she should stop trying to outhit the power hiters who can hit better than her. She ought to come to the net, try some mid court play, and that should work better. Rallying with her opponent is pointless as she is gonna be outhit in time...

 

[Selestion]

Martina said she stopped "bulking up" because it made her slower. People lets face it, you all are overestimating Hingis' abilities. She is basically done. Someone suggested she become a serve and volleyer; I don't think that will work. Everyone else's returns are too good.

Oh, and the Hingis serve, improved or not will not work regardless. Players like Lindsay and Monica can return Venus' serve, so what makes you think an improved Hingis serve will scare them. It won't. It will still be lunch to them. Im sorry, but it's out of Martina's hands.

 

[tennischick]

I completely agree. Hingis simply stopped playing her game and started trying to become a baseline basher. Dumb. Also, someone pointed out (on another board) that she has a tendency to hit off her back foot, thus not using her body to move into the shot and put more pop on the ball. Bad news. I think that she should go back to her game and stop trying to outhit the PowerBabes from the baseline. How many more times can that strategy fail her before she gets a clue? I agree with all of your suggestions for how she can win again.<br />TC

Originally posted by Williams_Rulez:<br /><strong>Now, I think she should stop trying to outhit the power hiters who can hit better than her. She ought to come to the net, try some mid court play, and that should work better. Rallying with her opponent is pointless as she is gonna be outhit in time...</strong><hr></blockquote>

 

[QueenV]

How can the girl be out of shape playing as much as she does? If anything I think it's a case of being mentally and maybe physically spent. I don't think she's lost her finesse at all. A lot of people say she doesn't come into net as much against power hitters, but I don't think it's that simple. For instance someone said that she hits off of her back foot. Well if you've played opponents that don't hit that hard through about 3 or 4 rounds your usually going to step into the court and whack the ball. But then you start playing opponents that are hitting the ball hard, like Lindsay, Venus, Serena, and Monica, and hitting the lines as well then your most likely going to be on your back foot. Plus your unable to get to the net in time because by the time you get back into position to hit the ball your back on the defensive.

So the only solution would be to be able to combat the power with power to get the other player off balance in order to get to the net. In Martina's case she doesn't have that. So you have a player who lacks the power on serve and groundstrokes, and is constantly on defensive hitting off of the back foot and scrambling, and that doesn't allow her to get to the net or take control of points. And it makes her look like she has lost her finesse, which isn't the case. It's just that the power players against her are usually so dominate in the match it overshadows her abilities, and usually doesn't allow her to really show that side of her game. Martina's a smart girl. I'm sure if she could get to net on a consistent basis or use more finesse like dropshots, which she has tried against speedy players like Venus, Serena, and Jennifer without success, then she would.

 

[Dawn Marie]

The top players have above average service games. Hingis has a Serve that is so easy to break. She starts off too many points on the defensive because her groundstrokes aren't penetrating anymore. If she wants to get her confidence back she must improve her serve.

 

[Cashman]

Martina Hingis probably has the highest fitness level of all the top-ranked players. That explains why she can play so many matches and have so few injuries. She doesn't need to bulk up. Muscles do not necessarily equal power. Some adjustments to her groundstrokes would add more power. Remember, power comes from movement in the HIPS, not bulky arms. Henin is a great example. And Martina is right in thinking that additional muscle on her frame would slow her down. Martina's does have an 'above average' first serve, but that second serve could use more pop. Martina seemed to be mentally worn down this year. She got psyched-out in a lot of big matches. Maybe this break will give her a rest and time to regroup. The girl has plenty of championship level tennis left in her.

 

[Flappie]

I think Martina WAS out of shape in 2001, at least, from february 2001. She was just one match away from winning the Aussie Open after she beat Venus AND Serena. <br />In 2000 she beat Williams and Davenport several times, so that means she CAN do it.<br />It will be difficult for her to beat them, because she gets regurarly overpowered.

I think that it is mostly mental. Once she gets A LOT more confidence, she'll be able to beat them.

Too bad that someone with so much skills and tennis-intelligence is beaten, just because she gets overpowered and not because her opponent is BETTER. That SUCKS!

 

[Flappie]

If Martina stays back, trying to out-hit the powerhitters from the baseline, she'll lose. It's as simple as that. Martina needs to vary her shots more, like she did years ago. She has to work on her serve and she needs to come in more. But she doesn't do that, because she lacks the confidence. She afraid she gets passed at the net, so she stays back, just where she'll get overpowered.

Conclusion: It's all between her ears! ( Not ALL, but most of it! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> )

 

[Infiniti2001]

In 2000 she beat Williams <hr></blockquote>

CORRECTION: Venus was out for most of 2000.. She ONLY played martina twice. (at the semis at Wimby and the U.S.Open) And won both times <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Martina and Serena played twice as well and they both won a match each( Serena -Los Angeles, Martina -Canadian Open)

[ November 10, 2001: Message edited by: Infiniti2001 ]</p>

 

[Flappie]

I meant in 2000 and in january 2001!<br />Anyway, I was just trying to point out something...

 

[Dawn Marie]

Martina is also facing alot more power than ever and it is taking it's toll on her body. She has been hurting this year and I think it's because she is playing more ladies who hit hard.

Also she plays and plays and plays and she is not doing anything enchancing for her game.

 

[Sam L]

Martina was out of shape and out of sorts in 2001 and her results reflect that. Too many things going with her court cases, with her mum, etc...

I can't wait to see her play in Australia next year <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" />