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Post by janie on Jun 30, 2011 11:08:24 GMT -5
But this time I'm serious. I think Maria's head >>> Kvitty's head.
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Post by janie on Jun 30, 2011 11:10:13 GMT -5
Even so, thanks for saying that Kvitova has a great chance, because I watched none of the Masha match, and not that much of Kvitty's SF either, so I regard you as an authority on the performances of each finalist.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 30, 2011 11:13:59 GMT -5
It might turn out like that, but the evidence suggests otherwise!
Throughout the tournament, Petra's had her horrible blips, yeah. Each time, she rebounded to win the last set easily. She's shown that she can control the ebbs and flows of her God mode, to an extent.
All season, Maria's made deep runs at big events. Her ground game is as good as it's ever been imo. But in the IW SF, the Miami F, the RG SF and even today...the trend has been that she disintegrates in some way. You think the threat of Kvitova's GOAT returns can't put the DF-inducing fear of God into her serve? I mean...obviously it might not. Kvitova might give us an errorfest. Who knows. But I think based on the evidence, there's a good chance.
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Post by Lady on Jun 30, 2011 11:23:22 GMT -5
I know it's traditional but I think everyone around here is going sliiiightly OTT with the whole "my fave has NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER" thing. I agree, and I'm the 1st in line with that superstition. It depends on which Petra shows up. I don't even need 1st set Petra, 3rd set Petra would be more then enough to win. That's Petra's advantage to a certain extent, she such a ON/OFF player, that when she enters her horrible patch, she doesn't panic, really. She knows she can get through it. On the other hand, she can go all crazy with errors, but vs Maria she would actually get some help from her as well. I mean the way Lisicki was playing, there was no way she should have won 3 games in the 2nd. But then who nows how Kvitty will react to being in the final. Plus Masha will be the formal favorite, right?
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 30, 2011 11:44:44 GMT -5
Like Lex says, it could be a blowout either way or a tough 3 setter, but Kvitty has more than a fair shot. Masha is a different player from when she was winning slams. No more SuperMasha serve, no more laser accuracy on groundies and a reduced ability to grind points out. Even if she plays really well, Kvitova could still beat her in God mode. Of course if Kvit crumbles from the pressure it could be over quicker than Graf-Zvereva.
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Post by Old Hag on Jun 30, 2011 11:54:22 GMT -5
The match is on Kvitty's racket, as all of hers are, but I think the matchup is on her side.
1) Petra's serve on grass is a great neutralizer for when her bad patches show up, and it proved vital today. This should be amplified vs. Maria since Petra can hit that Marti Nav lefty slice serve in her sleep, which automatically forces Maria to move, which means Petra wins at least 80% of her AD serves.
2) I'm impressed with Petra's temperament and really think she'll handle the final well. Mentally, at least. I expected her to go insane after losing the 2nd set to Tsveti, and she remained cool. I like how when she hits errors, it doesn't phase her anymore, she gets back to business.
3) Maria's serve is still bad. As has been said here, once Petra hits a few GOAT returns, that has to get Maria thinking. If she feels like she has to play safer with her 1st serves, Maria loses any control of the match. We've seen this scenario play out against Serena.
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Post by Maeby Fünke on Jun 30, 2011 11:56:30 GMT -5
My bold prediction: even if Petra does succumb to nerves, it won't be for the whole match. She won't lose in 35 minutes.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 30, 2011 12:46:44 GMT -5
We haven't had 2000+ posts in a Slam forum since USO '09! This Bimbledon is exciting, like BAG Except for Sharapova, each player who has a lot of haters here has had a hilarious loss or is dead (Kim). We certainly don't get that much at Wimbledon, definitely.
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Post by DBBN on Jun 30, 2011 12:49:52 GMT -5
only good thing about this match: What is that, and where do I order one. Thanks.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 30, 2011 15:53:08 GMT -5
Interesting thoughts on the women's final and Alex/Lee Na speak for me. It's on Kvitty's racquet but literally this could play out any which way. I don't see Sharapova having much of a say in this match either way (I'm not saying OMG! She's going to lose, but rather that either Kvitty blows her off the court or hands it to her by self-destructing).
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Post by DBBN on Jun 30, 2011 16:14:28 GMT -5
Sharapova is certainly going to take command of her fair share of points. You guys HAVE seen her, right?
I think Kvitova is in better form, but who knows how she will react in a Grand Slam final, where Sharapova has been numerous times before.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 30, 2011 16:18:06 GMT -5
The match is on Kvitty's racket, as all of hers are, but I think the matchup is on her side. 1) Petra's serve on grass is a great neutralizer for when her bad patches show up, and it proved vital today. This should be amplified vs. Maria since Petra can hit that Marti Nav lefty slice serve in her sleep, which automatically forces Maria to move, which means Petra wins at least 80% of her AD serves. 2) I'm impressed with Petra's temperament and really think she'll handle the final well. Mentally, at least. I expected her to go insane after losing the 2nd set to Tsveti, and she remained cool. I like how when she hits errors, it doesn't phase her anymore, she gets back to business. 3) Maria's serve is still bad. As has been said here, once Petra hits a few GOAT returns, that has to get Maria thinking. If she feels like she has to play safer with her 1st serves, Maria loses any control of the match. We've seen this scenario play out against Serena. I agree with you. Kvitova for the title. If she loses and Shriekova wins, it might kill my women's tennis fandom 4 life. Lisicki, I know it was your first Slam semi, but that you couldn't hold a 3-0 edge in the first and only got seven games despite 13 DOUBLE FAULTS from Maria makes me think ill of you.
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Post by The Chloe on Jun 30, 2011 18:11:47 GMT -5
only good thing about this match: What is that, and where do I order one. Thanks. Did we ever get an answer on this?
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 30, 2011 19:24:42 GMT -5
He was in Lisicki's box (she wishes), but it's not clear who he is. Maybe Judy Murray will tweet about him at some point.
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Post by Old Hag on Jun 30, 2011 19:29:23 GMT -5
Sharapova is certainly going to take command of her fair share of points. You guys HAVE seen her, right? I think Kvitova is in better form, but who knows how she will react in a Grand Slam final, where Sharapova has been numerous times before. Maria also doesn't play strong players like Kvitty often, and Petra is in a league of her own. Basically the only reason that Maria isn't the player she used to be is because her serve is worse, thus she can't dictate points as easily.
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Post by Iorix on Jun 30, 2011 19:29:51 GMT -5
What I posted at the WWW the final thread in TF:
KvittyGOAT's chances are slim unless she transcends herself. The shite she played vs Toria just won't cut it, that's for sure.
Everyone going on about KvittyGOAT's amaze serve - Martha will have it for breakfast, judging from the way she returned vs Boom Boom Bine today. And Martha is moving twice as well as KvittyGOAT, and rallying way better. KvittyGOAT can avoid having to rally, but only if she's playing in GOAT mode, something I just don't see her doing, at least consistently enough to take the match, in her first Slam final.
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Post by Wagasi on Jun 30, 2011 20:27:45 GMT -5
I know we like using nicknames and all, but that paragraph must have broken some record for including sobriquets.
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Post by Bruguera's heavy balls on Jun 30, 2011 21:54:54 GMT -5
I think the match is too close to call and that both players are similarly talented, that Masha has the game to beat Petra and viceversa.
I expect an even match unless Maria double faults like crazy, or if Petra is one of those players who are tight and nervous in their first slam final (perhaps she will play great like Sharapova in 2004 when she defeated Serena)
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Post by Grarliner on Jul 1, 2011 1:07:13 GMT -5
Charming signature, Bruguera.
Let me add this: Maria is a tough chick. It's hard to compete when your serve is AWOL. More than that, many players would be shattered by the Roland Garros loss. That was rough. But she just gets back on the horse.
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Post by Lady on Jul 1, 2011 1:30:50 GMT -5
Why Masha's nickname is Martha?
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Post by Lady on Jul 1, 2011 1:32:18 GMT -5
Sharapova is certainly going to take command of her fair share of points. You guys HAVE seen her, right? I think Kvitova is in better form, but who knows how she will react in a Grand Slam final, where Sharapova has been numerous times before. Last maria's slam final was that fantastic performance vs Serena? Anyway, I hope she plays that way again!
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 1, 2011 1:35:33 GMT -5
Where does the Martha nickname come from? That's been confusing me for a while.
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 1, 2011 1:36:01 GMT -5
Ha, posted at the same time as Lady
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Post by lexpretend on Jul 1, 2011 2:06:36 GMT -5
Another thought on the final match-up: Sharapova struggled against Robson, another massive-hitting, slow lefty. Kvitova is faster than Robson (a slug is faster than Robson) and has tons more experience. If Robson can make Sharapova look hapless for half a set...
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Post by Traveling Man on Jul 1, 2011 2:37:56 GMT -5
Sharapova is certainly going to take command of her fair share of points. You guys HAVE seen her, right? I think Kvitova is in better form, but who knows how she will react in a Grand Slam final, where Sharapova has been numerous times before. Last maria's slam final was that fantastic performance vs Serena? Anyway, I hope she plays that way again! Maria's last Slam final was '08 AO against BAG. Before that was the loss to Ree at '07 AO and the wins over Henin and Ree at '06 US and '04 Wimby respectively.
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Post by Lady on Jul 1, 2011 3:36:26 GMT -5
Last maria's slam final was that fantastic performance vs Serena? Anyway, I hope she plays that way again! Maria's last Slam final was '08 AO against BAG. Before that was the loss to Ree at '07 AO and the wins over Henin and Ree at '06 US and '04 Wimby respectively. Thanks! Somehow I thought that she lost to Serena in 09. Yeah in all other finals she played great, that's why I obviously hope for that AO final performance.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jul 1, 2011 4:35:19 GMT -5
Maria's last Slam final was '08 AO against BAG. Before that was the loss to Ree at '07 AO and the wins over Henin and Ree at '06 US and '04 Wimby respectively. Thanks! Somehow I thought that she lost to Serena in 09. Yeah in all other finals she played great, that's why I obviously hope for that AO final performance. ;D Masha was having serve issues even in that tournament (not to the extent she's had since in other events or even in yesterday's match), which bodes well for Kvitova supporters.
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Post by janie on Jul 1, 2011 5:54:55 GMT -5
Why Masha's nickname is Martha? I think that may be a Corswandt nickname that never caught on at TF, so now he's trying it here. As for Kvitty, I keep remembering another lefty Czech's first Slam final: "I had never been that nervous on the court. It was completely different from the normal tournament. ... "I started to serve and I was stiff like wood. I couldn't swing. I couldn't do anything. I cannot explain how I felt on the court at that time." -- Petr Korda, 57 26 16 (the nerves got worse and worse!)
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Post by Iorix on Jul 1, 2011 6:32:17 GMT -5
Why Masha's nickname is Martha? I think that may be a Corswandt nickname that never caught on at TF, so now he's trying it here. From an intentionally misspelt thread title in TF in January; a Sharapova fan (Vartan IIRC) started that meme after Maria's stinkers in Auckland. There's plenty of people at TF using it now.
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Post by janie on Jul 1, 2011 6:40:29 GMT -5
Oh, okay, thanks for the correction. You get extra credit for not having invented that nickname.
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