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Topic: Ajla Tomljanović vs America (Read 8731 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #30
I just presented a series of facts that the American correspondent chose to ignore in her article, she spent the whole time talking about how easy it was for Court without considering the other side of that coin. I have no doubt that there was less competition back in Court's day, and the Australian Open of the early 60's was far less prestigious and challenging than it is today. 

But just as we Bluebaggers are happy to count VFL premiership cups won near the start of the 20th century in our trophy cabinet, so too will the records always show that Court has one more Grand Slam than Serena.

And we all know Serena would have wiped Court off the court - but in the same comparison, an AFL side of today would run rings around our 1970 premiership team.  It doesn't make the heroics of that group any less impressive either.  You can only beat the best that is thrown up against you when you are playing - any other comparison is inherently flawed.

I pretty much agree. The GOAT discussion across different eras is kind of silly, but that hasn't stopped people in the past and it won't stop them in the future. There are advantages and disadvantages for players then as now. Both Court and Serena achieved amazing things on court. I personally think it's hard to split them - both physically strong, powerful women who were top practitioners of their craft and who dominated whatever was in front of them. Their slam records are nearly identical. I'd call it even.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #31
I pretty much agree. The GOAT discussion across different eras is kind of silly, but that hasn't stopped people in the past and it won't stop them in the future. There are advantages and disadvantages for players then as now. Both Court and Serena achieved amazing things on court. I personally think it's hard to split them - both physically strong, powerful women who were top practitioners of their craft and who dominated whatever was in front of them. Their slam records are nearly identical. I'd call it even.

Spot on Pauly. Lots of factors across eras. racket technology, ball technology, sports science, strength and conditioning technology, diet/hydration. The list goes on.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #32
Spot on Pauly. Lots of factors across eras. racket technology, ball technology, sports science, strength and conditioning technology, diet/hydration. The list goes on.

Yep. I should also add, that if you do a google search for a Williams v Court comparison, all the "experts" (tennis journalists, ex players etc.) that I have found give the nod to Serena, usually prefacing their articles / statements with the caveat that such comparisons are a little suss.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #33
Strictly speaking, this isn't a US Open thread, but Kyrgios has just blown Medvedev off the court. Hopefully the new improved Nick is permanent. He was seriously impressive. Mods please move this post if required.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #34
He’s still a bit combustible and still loves to throw in low-percentage plays every now and then. For example, not only did he do an underhand serve in at 40-0 in the 3rd set, it was an underhand serve he hit between his legs, a ‘tweener! Fortunately, it drifted wide for a fault as Medvedev was on to it and hit a cross-court winner off it. But that sort of unpredictable play was perfect against a chess player like Medvedev who will dominate a player who reliably plays the percentages like a Cobra hypnotising it’s prey.


 

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #35
And then there was this brain fade from Kyrgios: https://au.yahoo.com/sports/us-open-2022-nick-kyrgios-loses-point-after-illegal-act-against-daniil-medvedev-014015396.html

Apart from young kids, what tennis player would try to hit a winning volley off a ball that was going to be out by 2 metres? This could have been a critical blunder as it deprived him of a break point early in the 3rd (and Medvedev served out that game) but Kyrgios was able to rally and win the 3rd set anyway.


Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #36
He’s still a bit combustible and still loves to throw in low-percentage plays every now and then. For example, not only did he do an underhand serve in at 40-0 in the 3rd set, it was an underhand serve he hit between his legs, a ‘tweener! Fortunately, it drifted wide for a fault as Medvedev was on to it and hit a cross-court winner off it. But that sort of unpredictable play was perfect against a chess player like Medvedev who will dominate a player who reliably plays the percentages like a Cobra hypnotising it’s prey.

Yes, I'm not really a fan of those tactics. Without having the facts, I'd say that they backfire more than they work. I can appreciate it becomes a mental / focus issue for the other guy because you keep them second guessing, but I'm not really sure how effective they are tbh. I'd guess that Kyrgios can win without them.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #37
And then there was this brain fade from Kyrgios: https://au.yahoo.com/sports/us-open-2022-nick-kyrgios-loses-point-after-illegal-act-against-daniil-medvedev-014015396.html

Apart from young kids, what tennis player would try to hit a winning volley off a ball that was going to be out by 2 metres? This could have been a critical blunder as it deprived him of a break point early in the 3rd but Kyrgios was able to rally and break anyway.

There's no doubt that parts of his game still need work, mostly on the mental / discipline side.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #38
Its ironic, but that same ability to do the unthinkable at the wrong moment is why he actually is able to beat a lot of opponents.  Predictable isn't in his repertoir.
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #39
Strangely enough, the brain fade when he hit the out ball was credited by tennis journos/commentators as driving his determination to win the set. Most players would lose focus as they dwelt on their stupidity and the lost opportunity. He finds his motivation in strange places.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #40
Ajla won again.
2012 HAPPENED!!!!!!!

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #41
Yep. Into the quarters. It’s amazing her career highlight comes when she’s 29. Great effort to keep up her momentum after the physical and emotional stress of playing Serena in front of her home crowd.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #42
Ajla was quite a consistent performer when she was younger but I'm not sure she ever got past the quarters, although you could see she was more than capable of it.

She was one of the very few back then that backed up the high fashion looks with some serious on court performance, but perhaps at that time she lost her way a little as many others have. It must be so easy for them to lose focus, the world is laid at their feet, and sometimes it creates a monster.
The Force Awakens!

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #43
Wow, Nadal is out, losing to Tiafoe in 4. Got to be good news for Kyrgios, although Nadal 2.0 (Alcaraz) is still in the other half of the draw.

Re: Ajla Tomljanović vs America

Reply #44
Can't believe they call Serena the GOAT.  Margaret court has her covered.  This woke bullcrap can't erase peoples names on trophies.

I'm not sure that I understand "woke" but what has it got to do with Serena's GOAT status?  Court may have won one more grand slam but that was in a different era; the best tennis players couldn't compete in grand slam tournaments for around half of Court's career.

I reckon Martina Navratilova is the GOAT with Williams and Court tied in second place.
“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?”  Oddball