Quote:
Originally posted by @michael.
As someone pointed out on TF a few days ago, players don't have rough patches that last for four years  This is the new normal for Ana. She got to the quarterfinals with an easy draw that even she couldn't **** up. The best she'll be able to do for the rest of her career is Top 15 or maybe the lower parts of the Top 10 (#8-10). She definitely won't win any more slams. I try not to make predictions like that for players, but this is the one prediction I'm comfortable with. |
The thing that annoys me most about Ana's critics is that they often dismiss her as a flash in the pan. Up until her collapse she had all the makings of a player who was going to be challenging at slam level for the duration of her career. I first saw her play at Zurich in '04 and even then she was being touted as the next big thing. She broke through rapidly and played consistently for her first few seasons. 3 slam finals is nothing to scoff at. Her problem is psychological. Something is inhibiting her so the sooner she can solve that the better her chances of recapturing her form are. I don't know if it's something as simple as an inability to cope with the pressures of being a top player, or if it's something deeper that may not even have anything to do with tennis. Mental-baggage also ruined A-Chak's game.
Ana's never been one of my favourites but she's good for the tour. One of its biggest stars and most popular players. I think it's foolish to write her off. Mary Pierce's form in '05 came out of nowhere. Something could ignite within and a similar thing could happen with Ana. The WTA has been anything but predictable in the past few years.
ugly inside and out with an ugly game to boot.
Go and get it boy.
