Australian Open 2007 - Page 4

Bryan Swartz · 01-27-2007, 04:42 AM

The biggest factor by far was Williams' ability to attack Sharapova's second serve, not the serve % per se. In most other areas Williams had an advantadge but not a huge one, this is what made it a rout. Williams won 71% of her second serves, while Sharapova was only able to take 35% of hers. When you throw in six double faults you can see that Williams was able to hold her points even if she missed the first serve: Sharapova was in pretty good shape on the first, but on the second serve she got crushed.

It isn't so much that Sharapova's serve was off: it wasn't any worse than the rest of the tournament. Williams just attacked it much better than anyone else had. Nobody else she'd played had the ability to hold their own games as well as Williams either. Both of these things say a lot more about Serena Williams than they do about Maria Sharapova. The other side of the coin though is that you didn't see Sharapova's best tennis in this tournament(her fault of course). When she is more aggressive, like in the U.S. Open last year, she's a lot tougher from the baseline -- which is where she failed from here. The serve, on both sides, wasn't the key factor. Serena Williams was +26 in points won and if she'd served at the same % as Williams, that would still be about +22 or +23. Williams was just better ... period.

Jason Moyer · 01-28-2007, 08:59 AM

Federer is a machine. I realize there are people who think his domination is bad for the sport but a.) no one cared about men's tennis anyway in recent years unless Agassi or, more recently, Federer were playing and b.) his game is amazing - powerful, precise, able to adapt to any situation - if you love tennis you have to enjoy watching Roger play.

Y0DA55 · 01-28-2007, 01:10 PM

Yeah, this guy is truly amazing

LFC1892 · 01-28-2007, 06:38 PM

So who was that idiot in the Williams box, with the watch...anyone know?

CMH · 01-29-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

Federer is a machine. I realize there are people who think his domination is bad for the sport but a.) no one cared about men's tennis anyway in recent years unless Agassi or, more recently, Federer were playing and b.) his game is amazing - powerful, precise, able to adapt to any situation - if you love tennis you have to enjoy watching Roger play.

He is beyond entertaining.

Great tennis player and outside of who Reddick will date next, is the only reason Men's Tennis gets any mention.

01-28-2007, 08:59 AM	#62
Jason Moyer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,106	Federer is a machine. I realize there are people who think his domination is bad for the sport but a.) no one cared about men's tennis anyway in recent years unless Agassi or, more recently, Federer were playing and b.) his game is amazing - powerful, precise, able to adapt to any situation - if you love tennis you have to enjoy watching Roger play. __________________ "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses." -- Tom House "I was very fortunate to have a pitching coach by the name of Tom House...Tom, I really miss those days that we spent in the weight room and out on the field working together." -- Nolan Ryan's HoF Induction Speech Last edited by Jason Moyer; 01-28-2007 at 09:01 AM.

01-28-2007, 01:10 PM	#63
Y0DA55 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In the middle of the Yankees/Red Sox Rivalry Posts: 1,771	Yeah, this guy is truly amazing __________________ Do, or do not, there is no try!

01-27-2007, 04:42 AM	#61
Bryan Swartz Major Leagues Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 457	The biggest factor by far was Williams' ability to attack Sharapova's second serve, not the serve % per se. In most other areas Williams had an advantadge but not a huge one, this is what made it a rout. Williams won 71% of her second serves, while Sharapova was only able to take 35% of hers. When you throw in six double faults you can see that Williams was able to hold her points even if she missed the first serve: Sharapova was in pretty good shape on the first, but on the second serve she got crushed. It isn't so much that Sharapova's serve was off: it wasn't any worse than the rest of the tournament. Williams just attacked it much better than anyone else had. Nobody else she'd played had the ability to hold their own games as well as Williams either. Both of these things say a lot more about Serena Williams than they do about Maria Sharapova. The other side of the coin though is that you didn't see Sharapova's best tennis in this tournament(her fault of course). When she is more aggressive, like in the U.S. Open last year, she's a lot tougher from the baseline -- which is where she failed from here. The serve, on both sides, wasn't the key factor. Serena Williams was +26 in points won and if she'd served at the same % as Williams, that would still be about +22 or +23. Williams was just better ... period.

01-28-2007, 06:38 PM	#64
LFC1892 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Global Posts: 963	So who was that idiot in the Williams box, with the watch...anyone know?