Williams v Azerenka US Open

[Expat Smoggie]

Great game tonight -- actually the ladies seems to have played better than the men dare I say it. Serena mind you was very snake-like in her tactics, at the start of the match she walked on the court sat down and as soon as Azerenka got up to serve she walked off to the loo-- yeah right she needed a quick No 1 or 2. Then later in the match when she knew the tide was turning against her she pulled a Novak moment-- something wrong with her ankle. Don't get me wrong she's been a great champion -- some would argue against that maybe-- but surely she's at the end of her time at 38-- I doubt she'll win another title.

 

[festa5]

She's obviously been an incredible player but I can't stand her. Unbelievably bad loser and a her gamesmanship is appalling, always has been. Her sister might not have been quite as good but she's light years ahead when it comes to conducting herself like a champion.

Love it every time the drama queen gets beat.

 

[nowthen]

Vika’s form outta lockdown has been superb. Won Cincinnati with absolute ease. Hoping she takes the US Open as well.

Can’t see Serena winning another major. Too emotional on court and turns like an oil tanker now. She had a quite an easy draw till she met Vika.

 

[Abel Tasman]

Vika’s form outta lockdown has been superb. Won Cincinnati with absolute ease. Hoping she takes the US Open as well.

Can’t see Serena winning another major. Too emotional on court and turns like an oil tanker now. She had a quite an easy draw till she met Vika.

Her form has come through in the last 3 weeks. Beaten easily by Williams a month ago she won Cincinnati but wouldn’t say with ease. She had a tough 3 set semi against Konta and Osaka (her opponent in the Final on Sunday) withdrew from the final handing her the title.

 

[TeaCider]

Hope she doesn't win another.

Clearly one of the best ever female players, but I think it'd be more interesting if she missed out on that one record.

Still irritated by her bizarre ranting against the umpire the other year to ruin Osaka's win, clearly in the wrong but somehow supported in the media.

Djokovic got far more harshly lambasted for accidentally hitting an umpire with a ball, despite it being fairly soft and also clear he didn't mean it.

 

[nowthen]

Her form has come through in the last 3 weeks. Beaten easily by Williams a month ago she won Cincinnati but wouldn’t say with ease. She had a tough 3 set semi against Konta and Osaka (her opponent in the Final on Sunday) withdrew from the final handing her the title.

Amazon video took away the Konta match (well, all of cincinnati), the only one I didn’t see the full match. She blew the others away.
Hopefully, the Osaka’s hammy still isn’t 100%. Though, I’m not sure injury was the real reason she withdrew.

 

[nowthen]

Hope she doesn't win another.

Clearly one of the best ever female players, but I think it'd be more interesting if she missed out on that one record.

Still irritated by her bizarre ranting against the umpire the other year to ruin Osaka's win, clearly in the wrong but somehow supported in the media.

Djokovic got far more harshly lambasted for accidentally hitting an umpire with a ball, despite it being fairly soft and also clear he didn't mean it.

Novak deserves everything he gets. Thinks he’s untouchable. Wants to be loved. Jealous of Fedal, he’ll never reach that level of love with the public.

 

[TeaCider]

Novak deserves everything he gets. Thinks he’s untouchable. Wants to be loved. Jealous of Fedal, he’ll never reach that level of love with the public.

Not bothered about him as a player either way, I just think it's an overreaction.

 

[TheBoroBuzzard]

Do you think Serena was faking the injury a bit, as she was under pressure to break the Grand Slam record, and realized her opponent had more than her?...or is it me Being cynical?

 

[Marvanelli]

Glad she lost.

Would love to see Serena lose another final in her home nation in the next couple of years

She is one disgusting and horrible individual.

Quicker tennis rids itself of her, the better.

Agree, her sister Venus has so much more class than her.

 

[Abel Tasman]

Amazon video took away the Konta match (well, all of cincinnati), the only one I didn’t see the full match. She blew the others away.
Hopefully, the Osaka’s hammy still isn’t 100%. Though, I’m not sure injury was the real reason she withdrew.

should be a great final. I’m for Osaka. Great personality.

 

[Expat Smoggie]

She's obviously been an incredible player but I can't stand her. Unbelievably bad loser and a her gamesmanship is appalling, always has been. Her sister might not have been quite as good but she's light years ahead when it comes to conducting herself like a champion.
Love it every time the drama queen gets beat.

US commentators said they’d never seen someone come on the court to play them immediately go off — for a loo break. I knew straight away that she was looking to catch her opponent cold by doing so. Williams came back on the court and stormed into 4-0 lead as her opponent couldn’t hit a first serve.

 

[festa5]

US commentators said they’d never seen someone come on the court to play them immediately go off — for a loo break. I knew straight away that she was looking to catch her opponent cold by doing so. Williams came back on the court and stormed into 4-0 lead as her opponent couldn’t hit a first serve.

The strange thing is, for all her gamesmanship/cheating I think she's actually mentally quite weak. Strange thing to say about someone who's won as much as she has, but for most of her career she's been that much better than everyone else it's not really mattered, her incredible talent has more than made up for it more than not.

She rarely gives much credit to her opponent. If she loses its because she had a bad day or whatever. And a lot of the time that's actually probably true (even if it does show a complete lack of class to say it). Whenever someone does raise their level to match her though she can't handle it. Finds an "injury" or some other reason as to why she's losing. Her body language is absolutely shocking in those matches, terrible example to young players.

I be Osaka is secretly delighted to be avoiding the whole circus. Even though I think she'd have won.

 

[nowthen]

I’m watching the watching the match now. The “ankle injury” is an absolute farce. You should forfeit the game to receive a medical timeout. Fair enough inbetween games but not mid game.
She was just outta breath and trying her best to take away Vika’s rhythm. It nice watching and knowing Vika will be sending Serena home.

 

[Expat Smoggie]

I just knew what was coming when she was in free fall in the 3rd set. At first she was trying to give the impression she had something in her eye — eye lash imperfection perhaps!? Then when she was passed for the umpteenth time she came up with another scheme on slowing Azerenka’s momentum. Umpire also had to tell her to wear a mask and safety glasses when her feet were being taped up. When she walked off the court she completely ignored the USTA protocol to mask up — the safety advisor also told her to mask up which she completely ignored— some people are just above it all I guess.

 

[nowthen]

I just knew what was coming when she was in free fall in the 3rd set. At first she was trying to give the impression she had something in her eye — eye lash imperfection perhaps!? Then when she was passed for the umpteenth time she came up with another scheme on slowing Azerenka’s momentum. Umpire also had to tell her to wear a mask and safety glasses when her feet were being taped up. When she walked off the court she completely ignored the USTA protocol to mask up — the safety advisor also told her to mask up which she completely ignored— some people are just above it all I guess.

Yep, I thought the prime presenters were generous towards the American. No real questioning of the ankle injury. No mention of the screaming getting louder and louder, well after she had struck the ball. No mention of not wearing a mask post match. Maybe they’re scared of her, maybe they’re scared of Serena accusing them of something.