Will Sharapova's early round loss be a big blow to ratings?
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I don't know, probably not because despite the hype I don't think she was the serious fave or anything. Maybe fewer "Anna factor" spectators!
I've notice though that this tournament is really shooting its own foot with where it directs its hype. For instance, I noticed one headline on the official site along the lines of "Samantha Reeves Out". No mention of who she lost to - therefore no whipping up spectator support for Claudine Schaul of Luzembourg, playing in her first USO and for all we know the find of the tournament. Now, if it was Venus or even Jen that was out, maybe that headline would make sense but have most casual observers even heard of Reeves?
I've notice though that this tournament is really shooting its own foot with where it directs its hype. For instance, I noticed one headline on the official site along the lines of "Samantha Reeves Out". No mention of who she lost to - therefore no whipping up spectator support for Claudine Schaul of Luzembourg, playing in her first USO and for all we know the find of the tournament. Now, if it was Venus or even Jen that was out, maybe that headline would make sense but have most casual observers even heard of Reeves?
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Well, there were not too many of spectators of her match against Loit. Like two times less than on Myskina's match and god knows how many times less than on Navratilova's doubles match. Relatively small crowd. Meaning, people are not really buying it.
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she is not that pretty anyways. 
Not shapely at all but prettier than Hantuchova I guess.
Not shapely at all but prettier than Hantuchova I guess.
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You are right. It was hardly worth more. Her game is not impressive, not really watchable, predictable, lacks variety. She is a tennis-playing robot at this point, programmed to tone up her grunt when the going gets tough. Grunt goes up, nothing else changes.Steam said:
Was just blah to me and not at all entertaining, lacked any kind of flow that I find enjoyable. Personally, I thought that the fist pumping was much worse than the grunting. Of course, at that point I had become immune to the art of the psych-out grunt due to the bogomolov/verkerk and spadea/flavio match where all players involved would every once in a while start making it a grunt/moan-a-thon. Very very annoying.ys said:
I am still bitter that I sat through over a set of Spadea to see any of the Sharapova hype.
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one-dimensional. boring.
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LOL @ people's reactions to this kid.
The hyping of Maria (please, Jakeev! You didn't see the walk-around interview with Tracy Austin? Have you seen one of those with Sveta Kuznetsova, a far better player at this point? Right.) is backfiring. When oh when will IMG learn that it is better to hold off until the player has started to produce? A second-round exit against a wily veteran is not bad for a 16-year-old, but due to the hype, it now seems like Maria is a failure. It's a real shame.
I don't know what Maria herself expected, but the fans were led down a garden path, all right. She has great POTENTIAL. But potential doesn't always mean the show will be very watchable right now. Though the little they showed of her match was FAR more interesting than the ugly display at the end of Nastya's match!! )
But to answer the question, I am sure not ONE less person will attend the US Open because she is out, nor will tv rankings suffer.
The hyping of Maria (please, Jakeev! You didn't see the walk-around interview with Tracy Austin? Have you seen one of those with Sveta Kuznetsova, a far better player at this point? Right.) is backfiring. When oh when will IMG learn that it is better to hold off until the player has started to produce? A second-round exit against a wily veteran is not bad for a 16-year-old, but due to the hype, it now seems like Maria is a failure. It's a real shame.
I don't know what Maria herself expected, but the fans were led down a garden path, all right. She has great POTENTIAL. But potential doesn't always mean the show will be very watchable right now. Though the little they showed of her match was FAR more interesting than the ugly display at the end of Nastya's match!!
)But to answer the question, I am sure not ONE less person will attend the US Open because she is out, nor will tv rankings suffer.
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Yep, no overhype, given that the girl gets two showcourts in first two rounds.. For which achievements? For what?Jakeev said:
You should have read more interviews of "you know who". She also was always telling that all she wants to be is a tennis player.
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I think shes been overhyped too early too. Everyone expects too much of her even when shes never had many good results to back it up.
i don't think she has been overhyped but it has come to early. actually in a way she has kind of been over hyped, i think she haws a hell of a lot of potential but you kind of need to earn hype otherwise it will blow up in their face. people should earn hype for example when they first come on the tour you can't predict that they will be a grand slam champion, they should be made to earn their way to that prediction, however that isn't the way things are happening which is unfotrunate.
It won't hurt ticket sales. Even Venus, Serena, and Sampras being out won't hurt ticket sales here. It DOES make Capriati's 3rd round match less attractive for TV.
I still think Maria will produce lots of good results down the road. She's still learning that it takes more than power to win. It's a lesson that took Venus and Serena a while to learn too. Where were they other Russian girls at 16?
So she's clueless when it comes to how to play. Loit gave her a good lesson.
Her fearless hitting match point down spoke to me. You can't teach that.
She's no Harklerod glitter wanna-be star. Sharapova will likely be the real deal unless she catches the Russian disease (overplaying) or gets her head screwed up a la Hantuchova.
Lansdorf didn't latch on to her for nothing.
This baby will be a big star. Trust old Rollo in this. If I've not gone senile I'll bump this threa dup when she wins her first major!
I still think Maria will produce lots of good results down the road. She's still learning that it takes more than power to win. It's a lesson that took Venus and Serena a while to learn too. Where were they other Russian girls at 16?
So she's clueless when it comes to how to play. Loit gave her a good lesson.
Her fearless hitting match point down spoke to me. You can't teach that.
She's no Harklerod glitter wanna-be star. Sharapova will likely be the real deal unless she catches the Russian disease (overplaying) or gets her head screwed up a la Hantuchova.
Lansdorf didn't latch on to her for nothing.
This baby will be a big star. Trust old Rollo in this. If I've not gone senile I'll bump this threa dup when she wins her first major!
Was Maria Sharapova seriously an attraction to come watch the tennis at Flushing Meadows? My thoughts were that the US Open was about the men this year. They have Agassi, Federer and Ferrero all in contention for the No. 1 ranking after this tournament. Andy Roddick is playing hot enough to capture his first Grand Slam, and Lleyton Hewitt is seeking another US Open title to get his year back on track.
On the womens' side, it's mostly about Kim Clijsters justifying her No. 1 ranking, or whether Justine Henin-Hardenne can wrest that crown from her. After the Belgians, it's about the American and Russian women, and which one of them can spoil the party. Sharapova figures into the last equation but is one amongst the many. Her exit shouldn't really hurt the TV ratings or ticket sales in any way.
A Grand Slam event, nor any tournament, has ever been hurt attendance-wise by the loss of any particular player or players. I don't believe it will happen now. If anything, it may garner more fans for the players who haven't been as heavily exposed in previous years.
On the womens' side, it's mostly about Kim Clijsters justifying her No. 1 ranking, or whether Justine Henin-Hardenne can wrest that crown from her. After the Belgians, it's about the American and Russian women, and which one of them can spoil the party. Sharapova figures into the last equation but is one amongst the many. Her exit shouldn't really hurt the TV ratings or ticket sales in any way.
A Grand Slam event, nor any tournament, has ever been hurt attendance-wise by the loss of any particular player or players. I don't believe it will happen now. If anything, it may garner more fans for the players who haven't been as heavily exposed in previous years.
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I don't think she's a star yet, so it won't hurt the ratings too much. On the other hand, Capriati-Sharapova match would have been much more attractive for the organizers than Capriati-Loit match.
And I think Loit deserved every bit of that win, she just played better last night.
And I think Loit deserved every bit of that win, she just played better last night.
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That was well said Rollo! I couldn't have said it any better myself. In fact I didn't. You did!
Emelie Loit gave Maria a lesson on playing tennis last night. But it's all a part of her learning experience.
And Maria really struggles playing quality lefthanders. Someone is going to have to help her prepare to play lefty's.
I couldn't have said it any better myself. In fact I didn't. You did! Emelie Loit gave Maria a lesson on playing tennis last night. But it's all a part of her learning experience.
And Maria really struggles playing quality lefthanders. Someone is going to have to help her prepare to play lefty's.
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