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Sports: Tennis Thread
Member Since: 11/7/2011
Posts: 2,338
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Quote:
Originally posted by RatedG²
The new scores are in, and the second round predictions are worth double. Only 3 places will be revealed, and since GU forgot to send in ha predictions  and because of other poor predictors (you know who you are ) we have 3 clear frontrunners, although they are all close.
No third place in this case...
2T. 
Celestial with 83 points, slides down a notch because of top tier predictions from the first place holder 
2T.
jj99 with 83 points, moves up a notch from good predictions this round
And last but not least...
1.
SpeacialK with 87 points . |
Sister I'm going to lose my first place because you didn't format the R3 matches for me 
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Member Since: 4/28/2012
Posts: 1,659
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Quote:
Originally posted by Benzene
True. Venus has a pretty safe persona, the ultimate stateswoman (and let's be real, not as accomplished. We all know that in sports the better you are, the more you're hated). They're still grouped together often enough, though.
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Venus actually comes across as a decent person - and she is very accomplished in own right (7 slams including 5 Wimbledons is a truly great career).
Also it's not true that the better you are, the more hated you are. Other than a few trolls, no-one really hates Federer.
People however (and I include myself among them) hate Serena because of her disgusting attitude and contempt for everyone and everything not named Serena Williams. I concede her record puts her as one of the all-time greats (but not GOAT as some people here say), but I don't think she is a good model of what a sportswoman should be.
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Member Since: 11/7/2011
Posts: 2,338
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Quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix83
Venus actually comes across as a decent person - and she is very accomplished in own right (7 slams including 5 Wimbledons is a truly great career).
Also it's not true that the better you are, the more hated you are. Other than a few trolls, no-one really hates Federer.
People however (and I include myself among them) hate Serena because of her disgusting attitude and contempt for everyone and everything not named Serena Williams. I concede her record puts her as one of the all-time greats (but not GOAT as some people here say), but I don't think she is a good model of what a sportswoman should be.
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Welp. She has professed admiration and respect for others countless times and I could easily pick out the same flaws in your fave. Serena is an OUTSTANDING role model - her story itself should be immortalized. Came from the hood with nothing but an unparalleled drive to succeed. Has never thrown in the towel even when the going gets tough (i.e. the death of Yetunde) and overcome the odds over and over again. If that's not a good role model no one else qualifies.
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Member Since: 8/16/2010
Posts: 15,137
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Quote:
Originally posted by SpecialK
Welp. She has professed admiration and respect for others countless times and I could easily pick out the same flaws in your fave. Serena is an OUTSTANDING role model - her story itself should be immortalized. Came from the hood with nothing but an unparalleled drive to succeed. Has never thrown in the towel even when the going gets tough (i.e. the death of Yetunde) and overcome the odds over and over again. If that's not a good role model no one else qualifies.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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I really hope Robson can beat Stosur. It would be really interesting to see how she does against Vika. Her game matches up well against Sam, and if she maintains the standard of the last two rounds then she'll come out on top.
I hope Aga beats JJ today.  Fingers crossed for Ana too. Stephens could be tough but she has an easy draw to the QF.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Who are you all expecting to win the title?
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
I really hope Robson can beat Stosur. It would be really interesting to see how she does against Vika. Her game matches up well against Sam, and if she maintains the standard of the last two rounds then she'll come out on top.
I hope Aga beats JJ today. Fingers crossed for Ana too. Stephens could be tough but she has an easy draw to the QF. |
Robson will be stopped today but I'm hoping that Laura can beat her too, Stosur is probably the only player that has a chance to beat Serena in the draw, her game is the most deadly to her for some reason.
Honestly I don't see Ana beating Stephens but it'll go to 3 sets either way and the winner is going at least to the Quarters
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
Who are you all expecting to win the title?
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Serena or Azarenka. If Serena makes it to the final, then Serena. If Serena loses before then, Azarenka is by far playing the best hard court tennis so her.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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I think Vika can beat Serena here. Their match at Wimbledon was quite close and I think she would have won the third set had she won the tie-break. Serena was lucky to close that one out. Pretty sure that Vika will be in the SF, but if she's against Kvitova then she may have problems. Not many people are talking about Petra as a potential champion despite winning the US Open series. Quite surprising.
Quote:
Originally posted by RatedG²
Robson will be stopped today but I'm hoping that Laura can beat her too, Stosur is probably the only player that has a chance to beat Serena in the draw, her game is the most deadly to her for some reason.
Honestly I don't see Ana beating Stephens but it'll go to 3 sets either way and the winner is going at least to the Quarters
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I can't see Stosur getting to the final. I'm not a fan, but her draw really doesn't suit her. She may have to beat Vika and Masha back to back. Unless she plays the best tennis of her life, then it's not going to happen. Stosur doesn't tend to do well against tall players who can get a good strike on the ball. The kick serve isn't as effective against them, and that's one of her major weapons.
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Member Since: 8/16/2010
Posts: 15,137
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I have my money on Vika or Serena.
These early rounds for Serena scare me more than the later rounds. If she makes it to the QF, I have her winning. Otherwise, it's Vika.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Tomic is such a little bitch. Just saw the post match interview. 
Quote:
Originally posted by Benzene
I have my money on Vika or Serena.
These early rounds for Serena scare me more than the later rounds. If she makes it to the QF, I have her winning. Otherwise, it's Vika.
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Kerber is her main threat to the final. Serena's against Makarova today, she lost to her at the AO but that's not likely to happen again. Serena's beatable on hardcourt's, especially in the current form she's in.
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Member Since: 9/7/2010
Posts: 28,471
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
I think Vika can beat Serena here. Their match at Wimbledon was quite close and I think she would have won the third set had she won the tie-break. Serena was lucky to close that one out. Pretty sure that Vika will be in the SF, but if she's against Kvitova then she may have problems. Not many people are talking about Petra as a potential champion despite winning the US Open series. Quite surprising.
I can't see Stosur getting to the final. I'm not a fan, but her draw really doesn't suit her. She may have to beat Vika and Masha back to back. Unless she plays the best tennis of her life, then it's not going to happen. Stosur doesn't tend to do well against tall players who can get a good strike on the ball. The kick serve isn't as effective against them, and that's one of her major weapons.
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Even though Serena's H2H vs Vika is in her favor by a wide margin, 9-1, it'll be close. I still don't believe Vika can beat Serena here though. Serena always ups her game during the later stages of GS's and big tournaments (the only exception being the US Open final last year) and she has actually won 7 matches in a row against Vika and 5 of the last 6 matches against Vika on hard courts. Their match at Wimbledon was a bit close but it was obvious that Azarenka was being outplayed and outmatched. And we have to remember, Hard court is Serena's best surface as well, she loves to bring out her A-game on this surface even more than Grass, so I would count it as a BIG surprise/upset if they make it to the finals and somehow Azarenka wins.
I can't see her going to the finals either, her draw is easily the most dangerous, but with Li gone there's one less roadblock on her way. A good QF or SF result might come though (if she can get past Robson) but a final is too much. Even if she makes it all the way to the finals for a repeat of the 2011 US Open final, Serena will exact revenge.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Quote:
Originally posted by RatedG²
Even though Serena's H2H vs Vika is in her favor by a wide margin, 9-1, it'll be close. I still don't believe Vika can beat Serena here though. Serena always ups her game during the later stages of GS's and big tournaments (the only exception being the US Open final last year) and she has actually won 7 matches in a row against Vika and 5 of the last 6 matches against Vika on hard courts. Their match at Wimbledon was a bit close but it was obvious that Azarenka was being outplayed and outmatched. And we have to remember, Hard court is Serena's best surface as well, she loves to bring out her A-game on this surface even more than Grass, so I would count it as a BIG surprise/upset if they make it to the finals and somehow Azarenka wins.
I can't see her going to the finals either, her draw is easily the most dangerous, but with Li gone there's one less roadblock on her way. A good QF or SF result might come though (if she can get past Robson) but a final is too much. Even if she makes it all the way to the finals for a repeat of the 2011 US Open final, Serena will exact revenge.
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True, but I think Vika has a better shot at beating Serena than Maria does. Serena has won the US Open once in the past ten years, so she's definitely beatable here. In most instances if she goes deep she's unstoppable, but she lost in the final to Stosur last year and to Clijsters in the SF in 2009. I think Kerber can beat her in the SF, Kvitova could challenge her too if she plays her best. I know Serena's the favourite, but she doesn't have it in the bag like some people are making out.
Stosur destroyed Li in Istanbul so I'm sure she'd rather play her than an in-form 18 yo who just defeated two players who are much more talented than Sam is. I think it will be a tight match, but it will be much better for the tour if Robson wins. We need young talent to come through. Stars are what sells the sport, and Stosur is not a star.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Radwanska's improvisations. 
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Member Since: 12/7/2010
Posts: 26,813
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Ms. Radwanska leads 6-3  what a great match between Aggie and JJ.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
True, but I think Vika has a better shot at beating Serena than Maria does. Serena has won the US Open once in the past ten years, so she's definitely beatable here. In most instances if she goes deep she's unstoppable, but she lost in the final to Stosur last year and to Clijsters in the SF in 2009. I think Kerber can beat her in the SF, Kvitova could challenge her too if she plays her best. I know Serena's the favourite, but she doesn't have it in the bag like some people are making out.
Stosur destroyed Li in Istanbul so I'm sure she'd rather play her than an in-form 18 yo who just defeated two players who are much more talented than Sam is. I think it will be a tight match, but it will be much better for the tour if Robson wins. We need young talent to come through. Stars are what sells the sport, and Stosur is not a star.
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Oh definitely Vika has a better chance than Maria to beat Serena. I don't even remember the last time Maria even beat Serena, it might've been in 2004 maybe? She's had match points in 2005 though but besides that I don't even recall he winning a set on Serena either, she is totally dominated because her game isn't as good as Serena's in any aspect. And besides the French, this is the one slam where she is most vulnerable too but I wouldn't put too much emphasis on it because in the past 10 years where she has only won once, she was playing against some of the greatest female tennis players to ever live. The only years where she should have won and didn't were in 2009 and 2011, surprise upsets. It's possible she could lose too, so it's not in the bag for her. But if it's not Serena, I'd definitely place my chips on Azarenka, even Kvitova and Kerber too.
True Stosur's matchup today is one of the worst matchups she could have. It WOULD be surprising in a way if she lost here, but then again it wouldn't be because Robson isn't a bad player, she has loads of talent and can maneuver the ball around, similar to Li's style of play. So she's essentially playing Li, but left-handed, making it even harder for Stosur to keep up. It'll be close and I'll be rooting for Laura, but I'd rather place my bets on Stosur just because I'm not sure if Laura can follow up the two big wins with a third
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Serena up a set on Makarova
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Member Since: 12/12/2008
Posts: 12,791
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why ppl hype over that mess Kerber 
She's no match for powerful players like Serena, Sharapova or Vika
Jenkovic  well it's expected tho
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sept
why ppl hype over that mess Kerber
She's no match for powerful players like Serena, Sharapova or Vika
Jenkovic well it's expected tho |
I think she's overrated as hell, I mean I like her now but she's nowhere as good as her results are showing. It's just that atm the WTA is in a weak spot, the legends and greats are retiring while the young ones aren't stepping up to the plate yet. The only exception is that Serena is still playing great tennis 15 years into her career, BUT she was definitely worn out and tired during her last match with Kerber, the reason she lost. She's taking advantage of a weak field with no clear cut dominating forces like most of the past years had.
Serena makes it through . Sad Jankovic had a big letdown, but whatever
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