Greg Couch (of Tennis Fanhouse) has written another article addressing Serena and her lack of interest in winning non-majors. As a fan, I find a few statements within the article to be somewhat true, statements that have been dancing around in my head also. What is shocking is that several people have stated that it is obvious at times that she does not want to be on the court, citing her body language and disconnect in recent tournaments. Even going as far to say that she is only showing up to avoid being fined by the WTA. Here's the article. Leave comments letting me know what you think. Remember, it's ok to have an opinion, even if it differs from that of the masses.
Serena Williams is becoming a fraud. There is no other way to put it. She is throwing matches. Tanking. She lost to Sybille Bammer Thursday at the Cincinnati Open 7-5, 6-4, committing 44 unforced errors. That's two per game. "Anyone could have beaten me today,'' she said.That could actually be Serena's motto during non-majors. This is getting embarrassing, and it would be nice if someone else would hold her accountable. No one wants to anger the golden goose, I guess.But come on. She has lost to Bammer, Samantha Stosur, Francesca Schiavone, Patty Schnyder and Klara Zakopalova. That's just since April. Has she lost it? Is Serena just fading or slumping? Ha! No way. Serena Williams is the most talented women's tennis player of all time. She has won three of the past four majors. She is great. Forty-four unforced errors -- that's no accident. That's Serena not bothering. Against Bammer she ran hard enough, but also moped around and seemed completely disinterested.
When I say she's tanking, that's not to say she goes into the matches looking to lose, but rather that she's just not interested enough to put up a fight. It's a mental throwing of the match by neglect. I guess that's slightly different than intentionally losing, but not by much. She has not won a tournament, other than a major, in 17 months. She says she's focusing on majors, and we've surely heard that before from star athletes. We heard it from Andre Agassi at the end of his career, when his back was so bad that he could barely lift is feet over the paint on the baseline when running down forehands. But this is not only a gearing-up and attempting to peak at majors, but also a complete disappearing act in non-majors. Serena, you can at least try in non-majors, while taking your show around the country and the world to the little people, the fans.
They have been sold a bill of goods with Serena. They are marketed to, and pitched on the idea of, coming to see Serena, but that's not Serena showing up. It's a bait-and switch. And Serena's lack of effort is only serving to promote the idea that the only shows worth watching in tennis are the majors. Contrast that to the men's tour, where, at the Rogers Cup in Montreal this week, all eight of the world's top eight players reached the quarterfinals. Here are some numbers. In the past 17 months, Williams has played in 15 non-majors without a win. Her match record in those tournaments is just 27-15. Since April, she has played five non-majors, losing three of them in the first round. Her record in those events is 3-5. Meanwhile, Dinara Safina, far inferior to Serena as a player, is ranked No. 1, ahead of Serena, simply because she shows enough respect for the tour and fans to try hard and earn computer points everywhere.
There is no way for Serena to defend going 3-5 in non-majors. No way. She mentioned something about having a cold in Cincinnati, for pete's sake.Go ahead and call me a Serena hater. I've heard it enough. And maybe that's why you don't hear the truth anywhere else, because pressure can work. But I don't hate Serena at all. I see her as an incredibly talented, strong, smart, beautiful woman. And that's about the ultimate mix for promoting a sport, providing a role model for girls everywhere, and amassing amazing records. If you care. If you respect those things.
A reader wrote me with something I had never considered: Maybe Serena is losing in non-majors because they require you to play every day. In majors, you play every other day. And maybe she's just not in good enough shape to play every day. That rings true. But if Serena cared enough, she would get in shape to play every day. "I've been training so hard,'' she said. "So this is a little disappointing. But I hope my hard work pays off eventually, because I have been working really, really hard.'' Oh, please. Someone did ask her the other day about what she's working on to help her win some regular tour-level events. Williams bristled:"I'm sorry, but I feel like winning Grand Slams is just as important as winning. . .and they're on the tour. I play on the WTA Tour while I win them, so for me [a major's] a tour event. I've won one just recently a couple weeks ago.'' Yes, at Wimbledon. She was fantastic. People in Cincinnati bought tickets to see that brilliance.
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I agree with Couch’s statements to a point. The opinion that she doesn’t win non-majors because it is played everyday is a ridiculous one, since last year she won Bangalore, Miami and Charleston back to back. She might have 11 slams, but her other 23 titles are non-slams.
Serena seemed like she tried this year. She lost in Sydney to Dementieva, having saved match points against Stosur and Wozniacki in previous rounds, days before the Australian open (Serena has been accused taking a week or two off before slams). She withdrew in France because of a knee inflammation, lost to her sister in Dubai and made it to the Miami final, where she was injured, and lost in Andalucia as a result. She lost in the first round of Rome, but consider that she had lost to Schnyder in their last two meetings on that surface and she seemed particularly upset about it. She withdrew in Madrid citing a knee injury again, and struggled in the first round of the French open.
Now could Serena’s work ethic take a talking to, I think so, tremendously, however there is no reason for Couch to malign her unnecessarily. After all, Serena’s work ethic, disinterest, and on-and-off again fitness is nothing new. It’s been the same Serena that started on the tour 15 years ago. As to playing tennis because of the fame and celebrity, yes Serena likes them both, but playing tennis like the pros do requires heart and some love of the game, because it is a daily grind. Just ask Kournikova.
She just hasn't found her stride in non majors if you ask me. Remember before she got injured she was consistently either SF/F/. Then, after Miami (Where she got injured), things changed. Yeah she won Wimbledon, but hadn't had a good showing in non major events for some time at the point of Stanford/Cincinatti.
I don't think it's playing everyday either because as Anonymous mentioned, she's done it before. Had a 16 match win streak in 2008. She is capable of it. She just has to psyche herself up for it. And she will. Serena is a notoriously slow starter and she's having a slow start to the to the summer hardcourt season.
Take a look at the pics of her working out on her site. She looks amazing.
OK, I don't get these articles where people say how great she is on one hand but on the other hand, she don't try hard enough in the non majors. I think some of you people should encourage her instead of trying to put her in a box, because one day she will lay her racquet down, and she will move on to what ever. Her ranking is higher than some people that grind on the tour, and it does catch up with them, Safina may be doing her thing now, but even if she stay fit, can she keep this up for another four or five years, just to keep her ranking at number 1. Even if Serena just plays part time, its better than some number one players just announcing one day I quit, take me off the books, out of the computer, what ever, I am finished. I know Justin was very dedicated to the game, and her training she took serious, so, before you start passing judgment, maybe this is Serena's way of prolonging her career, no matter what Serena does, no ones happy, but seems like to me, she is very happy with the choices she is making, so why can't you be happy for her. There are plenty of players on tour to watch, they play week in and week out, so why gripe about what one great player is doing, instead of what effort the other players are putting in. (IMOP)
It seems that no matter what Serena does, she will never satisfy everybody especially people like Greg Couch. I also get the feeling that Greg has never played tennis in his life. I strongly believe that Serena has at least 8 good years to play as long as she takes care of her body and don't overwork herself. With the rate that Safina is playing, she will retire early and that is something that non-tennis players can't get in their heads. Tennis athletes are remembered for how many slams they have won not overall titles.
Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open (Cincinnati) - 08/07/10
Rogers Cup (Toronto) - 08/14/10
U.S. Open (Flushing Meadows) - 08/30/10
Toray Pan Pacific Open (Tokyo) - 09/27/10
China Open (Beijing) - 10/04/10
Generali Ladies Linz (Linz) - 10/11/10
Sony Ericsson Championships (Doha) - 10/25/10
Serena Wins 10th GRAND SLAM!
Serena & Rafa: Tennis on Water
WILL SERENA BE THE 2010 YEAR-END #1
SERENA'S AUSSIE '09 OUTLOOK
Serena: The Fight of a Champion
CAREER TITLES (Singles) - 37
2010 Wimbledon
2010 Australian Open
2009 WTA Tour Championship
2009 Wimbledon
2009 Australian Open
2008 US Open
2008 Family Circle Cup
2008 Sony Ericsson Open
2008 Bangalore Open
2007 Sony Ericsson Open
2007 Australian Open
2005 Australian Open
2004 China Open
2004 NASDAQ-100 Open
2003 Wimbledon
2003 NASDAQ-100 Open
2003 Open Gaz de France (Paris)
2003 Australian Open
2002 Sparkassen Cup (Leipzig)
2002 Toyota Princess Cup (Tokyo)
2002 US Open
2002 Wimbledon
2002 French Open
2002 Italian Open (Rome)
2002 NASDAQ-100 Open
2002 State Farm Classic (Scottsdale)
2001 Sanex Championships (Munich)
2001 Rogers and AT&T Cup (Toronto)
2001 Tennis Masters Series (Indian Wells)
2000 Toyota Princess Cup (Tokyo)
2000 estyle.com Classic (Los Angeles)
2000 Faber Grand Prix (Hanover)
1999 Grand Slam Cup (Munich)
1999 US Open
1999 Acura Classic (Los Angeles)
1999 Evert Cup (Indian Wells)
1999 Open Gaz de France (Paris)
Williams Sisters Join DSRL
Serena wins 8th Grand Slam Title
TENNIS WORD OF THE WEEK
Lob - a stroke in tennis where the ball is lifted high above the net with the intention of it going over the opposing player in the case of him being close to the net, thus nearly guaranteeing the point.
Serena's EBONY Mag Photoshoot
Serena Serves 15 Aces In Match!
Serena's SIGNATURE STATEMENT
SERENA STATISTICS / AWARDS
2010 ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
2010 - California Hall of Fame Inductee
2010 BET Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Serena and Venus are the only tennis players to play each other in 4 consecutive Grand Slam Finals
2010 - Serena became the 6th woman to hold the No. 1 ranking in singles and doubles simultaneously and the first to do so since Kim Clijsters in 2003
2009 WTA Doubles Team of the Year (w/ Venus)
2009 WTA Player of the Year
Serena is the ONLY woman to win 3 Laureus World Sports Awards. Only PERSON to have won more is Roger Federer (4)
2010 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
One of only 2 women (the other being Martina Navratilova) to have won a Major Tournament in 3 straight decades
2010 Guinness World Record - Only female to have won Hopman Cup Twice ('03 and '08)
2009 SI.com Female Athlete of the Decade
2009 AP Female Athlete of the Year
2009 ITF World Champion (Doubles w/ Venus)
2009 ITF World Champion (Singles)
2009 Sports Illustrated Doubles Team of the Year (w/ Venus)
2009 Sports Illustrated Female Player of the Year
2009 Single Season Prize Money Record ($6,545,586)
2009 Harris Poll Favorite Female Sports Star
2009 ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
2009 BET Best Female Athlete
1st Female to cover EA Sports Video Game (Grand Slam Tennis)
2009 Billie Jean King Cup
2008 WTA Tour Player of The Year
ALL-TIME FEMALE ATHLETE PRIZE MONEY LEADER
Opens Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya (Nov. 14, 2008)
Has NEVER lost in the 1st Rnd of a Major (43-0)
Sept 2008 - #1 in the world (last held #1 ranking Aug. 2003); Sets record for longest gap between stints at #1 for any player (male or female) - 5 years and 1 month
(w/ Venus) 1st sisters in history to win Grand Slam doubles title together
(w/ Venus) 1st sisters in history to meet in a Tour Final
(w/ Venus) 1st sisters in history to have each won a Grand Slam singles title
World Team Tennis w/ Washington Kastles (2008)
World Team Tennis w/ St. Louis Aces (2007)
Harris Poll - Most Favorite Female Sports Star (2007)
Laureus World Comeback of the Year (2007)
BET's Best Female Athlete Award (2005)
BET's Best Female Athlete Award (2004)
ESPY Best Female Tennis Player Award (2004)
Family Circle/Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference (2004)
Tour Comeback Player of the Year (2004)
34th NAACP Image Awards - President's Award (2003)
No.1 on Top 10 Most Marketable Female Athletes in Sports Business Daily (2003)
Young Heroes Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. and Inland (2003)
Celebrity Role Model Award from Avon Foundation (2003)
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year (2003)
Honored at 2003 Charleston for becoming 5th in history to complete non-calendar year Grand Slam; (The Serena Slam)
Achieved Grand Slam (age 21)
Doubles Career Golden Slam (w/ Venus); includes Olympics
Female Tennis Player of the Year (2003)
ESPY Female Athlete of the Year (2003)
Named by Time as one of the People Who Mattered (2002)
Named by People Magazine in Top 25 Most Intriguing People (2002)
Voted best female athlete in the world by AP and Spanish news agency EFE (2002)
Named one of BBC's Sports Personalities of the Year (2002)
Named by Ebony as one of 57 Most Intriguing African-Americans (2002)
Ranked No.7 among A&E and Biography Magazine's Top 10 most significant people (2002)
ITF Women's Singles World Champion (2002)
WTA Tour Player of the Year (2002)
One of the 12 Coolest Girls in Sports in SI For Women (2001)
World Team Tennis w/ Delaware Smash (2000)
Tour Doubles Team of the Year (w/ Venus) (2000)
One of People's 25 Most Intriguing People (1999)
Tennis Magazine Player of the Year (1999)
Tour Most Improved Player (1999)
Tennis Magazine/Rolex Rookie of the Year (1998)
Tour Most Impressive Newcomer Award (1998)
WTA "Looking For A Hero?" Ad
McDonald's Commercial
THE SERENA SLAM!
Serena was the last person (male or female) to hold all four Major Grand Slam Titles (at the same time): '02 FRENCH OPEN, '02 WIMBLEDON, '02 U.S. OPEN and '03 AUSTRALIAN OPEN. This accomplishment saw Serena join immortals of the game such as the late Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Steffi Graff and Martina Navratilova, the only other (female) players who have won four grand slam titles in a row.
5 comments:
I agree with Couch’s statements to a point. The opinion that she doesn’t win non-majors because it is played everyday is a ridiculous one, since last year she won Bangalore, Miami and Charleston back to back. She might have 11 slams, but her other 23 titles are non-slams.
Serena seemed like she tried this year. She lost in Sydney to Dementieva, having saved match points against Stosur and Wozniacki in previous rounds, days before the Australian open (Serena has been accused taking a week or two off before slams). She withdrew in France because of a knee inflammation, lost to her sister in Dubai and made it to the Miami final, where she was injured, and lost in Andalucia as a result. She lost in the first round of Rome, but consider that she had lost to Schnyder in their last two meetings on that surface and she seemed particularly upset about it. She withdrew in Madrid citing a knee injury again, and struggled in the first round of the French open.
Now could Serena’s work ethic take a talking to, I think so, tremendously, however there is no reason for Couch to malign her unnecessarily. After all, Serena’s work ethic, disinterest, and on-and-off again fitness is nothing new. It’s been the same Serena that started on the tour 15 years ago. As to playing tennis because of the fame and celebrity, yes Serena likes them both, but playing tennis like the pros do requires heart and some love of the game, because it is a daily grind. Just ask Kournikova.
She just hasn't found her stride in non majors if you ask me. Remember before she got injured she was consistently either SF/F/. Then, after Miami (Where she got injured), things changed. Yeah she won Wimbledon, but hadn't had a good showing in non major events for some time at the point of Stanford/Cincinatti.
I don't think it's playing everyday either because as Anonymous mentioned, she's done it before. Had a 16 match win streak in 2008. She is capable of it. She just has to psyche herself up for it. And she will. Serena is a notoriously slow starter and she's having a slow start to the to the summer hardcourt season.
Take a look at the pics of her working out on her site. She looks amazing.
OK, I don't get these articles where people say how great she is on one hand but on the other hand, she don't try hard enough in the non majors. I think some of you people should encourage her instead of trying to put her in a box, because one day she will lay her racquet down, and she will move on to what ever. Her ranking is higher than some people that grind on the tour, and it does catch up with them, Safina may be doing her thing now, but even if she stay fit, can she keep this up for another four or five years, just to keep her ranking at number 1. Even if Serena just plays part time, its better than some number one players just announcing one day I quit, take me off the books, out of the computer, what ever, I am finished. I know Justin was very dedicated to the game, and her training she took serious, so, before you start passing judgment, maybe this is Serena's way of prolonging her career, no matter what Serena does, no ones happy, but seems like to me, she is very happy with the choices she is making, so why can't you be happy for her. There are plenty of players on tour to watch, they play week in and week out, so why gripe about what one great player is doing, instead of what effort the other players are putting in. (IMOP)
fantastic blog.
It seems that no matter what Serena does, she will never satisfy everybody especially people like Greg Couch. I also get the feeling that Greg has never played tennis in his life. I strongly believe that Serena has at least 8 good years to play as long as she takes care of her body and don't overwork herself. With the rate that Safina is playing, she will retire early and that is something that non-tennis players can't get in their heads. Tennis athletes are remembered for how many slams they have won not overall titles.
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