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[Rafa=FedKilla]

Five slams in ten years is not good enough for Maria. It's nice, but still a major disappointment to a promising career. She looks like a post stabbing Seles out there. Just willing what little she has left into the court. But it truly is remarkable what she is doing to superior athletes out there.

 

[Peru]

Five slams in ten years is not good enough for Maria. It's nice, but still a major disappointment to a promising career. She looks like a post stabbing Seles out there. Just willing what little she has left into the court. But it truly is remarkable what she is doing to superior athletes out there.

Peak form was pre-injury 2008. Best hitter bar none. The year out with injury ruined her serve and disrupted her entire style. This new Maria is built from scratch, with some qualities she can never again regain, and in that regard the results are superb.

Not to mention she was out 6 months with injury last year as well!

 

[d+pad]

Five slams in ten years is not good enough for Maria. It's nice, but still a major disappointment to a promising career. She looks like a post stabbing Seles out there. Just willing what little she has left into the court. But it truly is remarkable what she is doing to superior athletes out there.

What a strange thing to say. To me, five GS is pretty damn impressive when you consider her lack of ability when it comes to movement, her currently dodgy serve, her nerves, etc. Plus, she's only 27 -- which means she likely has a few more in her. Anyway, I have a hard time calling what she's done the last few years -- esp. after undergoing shoulder surgery -- "disappointing."

 

[Peru]

Chris Evert looks fit to play today

And I don't think anyone doubts Halep will take a slam one day

 

[d+pad]

Peak form was pre-injury 2008. Best hitter bar none. The year out with injury ruined her serve and disrupted her entire style. This new Maria is built from scratch, with some qualities she can never again regain, and in that regards the results are superb.

Not to mention she was out 6 months with injury last year as well!

Yes, she's definitely a different player post-surgery -- worse serve, more rigid when it comes to her groundstrokes, etc. As such, the fact that she's still a contender -- and even winning GS tournaments -- is pretty damn impressive, IMO.

BTW, Halep shouldn't feel too bad. Her time clearly is coming. I have a feeling it won't be at Wimbledon, but the US Open is going to be VERY interesting for all involved.

 

[scarlet]

Who thoughts the cow on ice will have 2 slams on clay

 

[MIMIC]

Peak form was pre-injury 2008. Best hitter bar none. The year out with injury ruined her serve and disrupted her entire style. This new Maria is built from scratch, with some qualities she can never again regain, and in that regards the results are superb.

Not to mention she was out 6 months with injury last year as well!

I remember when Maria was serving like 20 double faults a match a few years ago. She's had an incredible comeback, considering what she has achieved since then.

 

[IISANDERII]

I wonder what she thinks of Russian dashcam videos.

 

[MIMIC]

That was a long ass national anthem

 

[Niraj]

Peak form was pre-injury 2008. Best hitter bar none. The year out with injury ruined her serve and disrupted her entire style. This new Maria is built from scratch, with some qualities she can never again regain, and in that regards the results are superb.

Not to mention she was out 6 months with injury last year as well!

Definitely. She should be happy with what she's accomplished.

 

[d+pad]

I think one thing a lot of people ignore about Sharapova is that despite her fighting qualities, which are obvious, she also clearly has succumbed to nerves at various points in her career. How else to explain only winning one GS every two years, even during her peak years? So, for me, it's not surprising that her GS wins have been kind of few and far between.

BTW, what a class act that Halep is. She just lost and probably is devastated internally, but just gave a really great runner's up speech. Very much looking forward to seeing more of her in the months/years to come

 

[caramac]

 

[MIMIC]

Great speech.

 

[zero_suit]

What a strange thing to say. To me, five GS is pretty damn impressive when you consider her lack of ability when it comes to movement, her currently dodgy serve, her nerves, etc. Plus, she's only 27 -- which means she likely has a few more in her. Anyway, I have a hard time calling what she's done the last few years -- esp. after undergoing shoulder surgery -- "disappointing."

Exactly.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Peak form was pre-injury 2008. Best hitter bar none. The year out with injury ruined her serve and disrupted her entire style. This new Maria is built from scratch, with some qualities she can never again regain, and in that regard the results are superb.

Not to mention she was out 6 months with injury last year as well!

Its sad to think of all the prime rivalries we missed out on. Especially versus Henin.

 

[Peru]

Its sad to think of all the prime rivalries we missed out on. Especially versus Henin.

One of my favorite finals - http://youtu.be/4koDiPnLZuo

 

[scarlet]

Its sad to think of all the prime rivalries we missed out on. Especially versus Henin.

Masha, Clijsters, Henin, William sisters, my fave era.

 

[Peru]

Don't forget Capriati. At least I won't forget her legendary 2003 us open semifinal vs Henin.

 

[zero_suit]

Masha, Clijsters, Henin, William sisters, my fave era.

Don't forget the biggest underachiever, Mauresmo.

 

[perfectchaos007]

Was this Maria's 2nd career slam?

 

[mcfrank]

Was this Maria's 2nd career slam?

No. 2nd Roland Garros. She has won each of the others once.

 

[perfectchaos007]

No. 2nd Roland Garros. She has won each of the others once.

Oh wow. What if Maria fineshes her career with more French open titles than any other major. Such a unique legacy since she won her first and only Wimbledon at 17.
The Williams sisters are not going to retire until masha is no longer a threat to win Wimbledon again lol

 

[scarlet]

Don't forget Capriati. At least I won't forget her legendary 2003 us open semifinal vs Henin.

I hate her :/

Don't forget the biggest underachiever, Mauresmo.

Henin could have a career slam if it wasn't because of her

 

[thefro]

5 slams (which includes the career grand slam) is a pretty good accomplishment for Sharapova considering her shoulder injuries over the years, her lack of athleticism, and the competition.

Kinda ridiculous to expect her to be dominant when Serena Williams exists in this era (and just with how their styles match up, Maria has to play nearly-perfectly to beat Serena). Also there are a lot of other very good players around.

It's pretty impressive how good Maria's been on clay the last few years considering that was her weakest surface.

Not the best player of her era but a pretty darn good one.

 

[d+pad]

Don't forget the biggest underachiever, Mauresmo.

Man, I loved Mauresmo, nerves and all. Also, although Capriati has since proven herself to be a complete mess, I really enjoyed her GS run in the early 2000s. Never thought that would happen given how the first part of her career turned out.

 

[d+pad]

5 slams (which includes the career grand slam) is a pretty good accomplishment for Sharapova considering her shoulder injuries over the years, her lack of athleticism, and the competition.

Kinda ridiculous to expect her to be dominant when Serena Williams exists in this era (and just with how their styles match up, Maria has to play nearly-perfectly to beat Serena). Also there are a lot of other very good players around.

It's pretty impressive how good Maria's been on clay the last few years considering that was her weakest surface.

Not the best player of her era but a pretty darn good one.

I actually think Sharapova would have a hard time dominating even with Serena out of the picture -- although obviously it would help her cause more than a bit! Like I said earlier, she's always been prone to some nerves and to some swings in consistency, and those two things would keep her from ever dominating in any era, IMO. Not that it matters, of course -- and, really, I kind of prefer things the way they are, with quite a number of women being able to win a GS or two each year.

 

[Peru]

Well nerves and shaky serve were not really extant in her game anno 2008, I think she could've dominated cooly back then if the injury didn't put her on the sideline.

 

[d+pad]

Well nerves and shaky serve were not really extant in her game anno 2008, I think she could've dominated cooly back then if the injury didn't put her on the sideline.

Hmmm, maybe not in 2008 specifically, but she definitely had some bad late-tourney GS losses in 2005-2007 that I think can be at least somewhat attributed to nerves. I mean, honestly, based solely on how she played against Serena in that Wimbledon win of hers, I would've expected her to win at least one more GS in 2005 and each year after that.

 

[zero_suit]

Hmmm, maybe not in 2008 specifically, but she definitely had some bad late-tourney GS losses in 2005-2007 that I think can be at least somewhat attributed to nerves. I mean, honestly, based solely on how she played against Serena in that Wimbledon win of hers, I would've expected her to win at least one more GS in 2005 and each year after that.

She's not THAT good. The media read to much into that win.

 

[d+pad]

She's not THAT good. The media read to much into that win.

Huh? She played lights-out tennis in that match. Plus, her serve was pretty darn amazing at that time. To expect her to average a single GS win a year after that doesn't seem to be too much of expectation, IMO.

 

[zero_suit]

Huh? She played lights-out tennis in that match. Plus, her serve was pretty darn amazing at that time. To expect her to average a single GS win a year after that doesn't seem to be too much of expectation, IMO.

With Serena, Venus (pre-illness), and Justine still in the picture...yes?

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

With Serena, Venus (pre-illness), and Justine still in the picture...yes?

Schogrin's Syndrome is a non-issue.

 

[Peru]

She beat Venus and Henin in slams, at their peaks. Once a year could've happened at her best but you never know, it's not like you can schedule yourself to win slams.

 

[d+pad]

...it's not like you can schedule yourself to win slams.

Very true

 

[PS3GamerKyle]

Peru, good looking avatar.

 

[MIMIC]

Nadal has hit 4 aces all tournament. FOUR!

I played a doubles match yesterday and hit more than that, lol

 

[leng jai]

lol where do you come up with this shit?

Regurgitated material from MTF and TF.

 

[Niraj]

Regurgitated material from MTF and TF.

Aw, you're killing the magic. It was rhetorical!

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Regurgitated material from MTF and TF.

Nope. Haven't been on MTF in years.

 

[bud23]

Are you ready?

This will be their 42nd meeting across a net since they first played each other in the French Open´s quarter-finals in 2006.

Nadal leads 22-19 overall, 8-3 at majors, and 5-0 in the French Open... but Djokovic won their last four matchups, including on clay in the final at Rome last month.

If Rafa prevails today, he will become the first man in history to win a slam title 10 years in a row. He is also trying for his fifth French title in a row. No one has done that, either... And can tie Pete Sampras at 14 major titles, behind only Roger Federer's record for men of 17.

Nadal´s record at the French Open is 65-1, including a record 34 straight wins.

A victory today would make Djokovic only the eighth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

Truly a clash of two mighty titans.

Hype!

Vamos Rafa!!

 

[Confrontation]

Triple bagel.

 

[Faith]

3:2 Djokovic.

 

[scarlet]

Guys, it's going to be Nadal. I bring bad luck to all the players I support in this RG, and I support Nole in the final

 

[John Dunbar]

whoever wins, tennis loses. but i suppose djokovic would be the lesser evil. but still, if i look at the match in a vacuum, i'd rather see nadal win. such internal conflicts.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Nadal is the most ruthless and brutal champion that has ever lived on this surface. I think last year was Djokovic's year.....

 

[Certinty]

I believe in Novak this time around. He's pretty much fucked up the last 3 years here and I can't see that happening again. Novak in 4 I think and hope.

 

[John Dunbar]

djokovic has won as many slams as federer in the last two years. that should tell you all you need to know about his chances.

 

[robertsan21]

I never liked Maria as a tennis player. she has always been a error prone and a player that do not fear using "dirty" tactics to win matches.

We have a lot of these players in WTA, and it has gotten worse. Well timed injury breaks here and there, toiletbreaks and the really stupid screaming while hitting points. Tennis is a broken sport imo.

I watch 4 matches per day, 5 days a week for the entire year due to my work, and I see a lot of stupid shit that the sport could be without.

 

[PhantomZone]

Hope Nadal wins but it depends on which version of Novak shows up.

 

[Hours Left]

Novak will bring it home.