Will Serena Williams' reign end?

[marmar]

Will Serena Williams' reign end?
American hasn't shown any sign she is going to decline any time soon

Updated: January 10, 2014, 4:14 PM ET
By Greg Garber | ESPN.com


In several, very fundamental ways, they are the same extraordinary person.

Thirty-two years ago, Serena Williams and Roger Federer were born within seven weeks of each other. They are, at the very least, the tennis players of their generation, ruthless competitors when matches mean the most. Appropriately, they both own 17 Grand Slam singles titles.

"It's an honor to be even with Roger," Williams said after winning last year's US Open. "It feels really good to be in the same league as him. He's just been so incredibly consistent, so we have had really different careers."

Indeed, their journeys to the summit couldn't be more different. Williams learned to play on the public courts of Compton, Calif., while Federer, who was born in Basel, Switzerland, followed the more conventional path of an elite junior. Williams' slashing style is predicated on unprecedented power. Federer's game is an astonishing combination of variety and finesse. ........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://espn.go.com/tennis/aus14/story/_/id/10258460/australian-open-serena-williams-reign-end

[radicalliberal]

1. I'm trying to remember when I first heard of her. . . . Oh, now I remember.

She's the one who publicly shamed the rape victim in the Steubenville case and, by extension, rape victims everywhere. Oh, sure, she apologized. Well, actually, at least bit by bit until she got it right. So what? She had already made her contribution to the rape culture. The hurt had already been done. Salt had already been rubbed into the wounds of the victim and, by extension, victims everywhere. Fine human being!

[a kennedy]

2. and you're right, I hated that whole situation.....she was terribly wrong about how she handled that

but, this is a sports, tennis thread, and right...... can't forget how Serena handled that. OK, I'm not even going to say, ...........

[TBF]

3. She's been very good -

I'd put her up there with Steffi in terms of play and dominance.

As a person I'm not a huge fan, but the lady can play tennis.

I keep hoping someone will challenge her but no one has really been able to come close aside from her sister when she was feeling well, and a few who burned out early like Henin. Caroline isn't focused, Sharapova has some shoulder issues.

[marmar]

4. Azarenka seems to compete against Serena very well; She doesn't seem mentally intimidated.....

..... and the matches are always close.

Serena is much better, skills-wise, than anybody who takes the court with her. But Azarenka seems tough enough to get over that. ....... When Sharapova plays Serena, she looks defeated from the first strike of the ball.

[TBF]

5. I need to watch Azarenka more -

I don't have a good sense of her play. Maybe she's a quieter personality ... I will try to catch some of her matches during the Australian. Agree about Maria - she doesn't believe she can beat her.

[marmar]

6. And if Petra Kvitova could ever get her head together .........

...... I think she could compete with Serena or anybody. ...... I'll watch her go through stretches in matches where she is literally blowing her opponents off the court -- making it look easy. But then inexplicably she'll take a mental vacation.

[Iggo]

7. Great tennis player, but her assholiness overshadows her athletic ability (in my eyes).

I won't be sorry to see her go.