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I think Serena’s losing the eye of the tiger
19 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Before today’s shock loss to Garbine Mugurza at the French Open, it’s been a warm and fuzzy week for Serena. She got to play her pal Alize Lim of France in a first round friendly. Those two buddies shared more smiles than scowls.
Also a couple of days ago, Serena had a lunch date with her friend Caroline Wozniacki in Paris, and offered the heartbroken rival her shoulder to cry on.
Today, the fire and the eye of the tiger just wasn’t there for Serena whose mindset was probably a bit too complacent with the soft draw and being so nicey nice with her WTA Tour pals Caro and Lim.
Believe it or not, Serena has a soft, gentle, caring, sensitive side, which is often overshadowed by her infamous beast mode.
This aspect of Serena may never have been so apparent as when Serena lost the Wimbledon final to the teenaged Sharapova years ago. I still remember when the NBC camera showed Serena, at her chair, looking over with happy, joyous eyes watching Maria celebrate her first major title with her ecstatic father Yuri in the players box. I have never seen a major final loser look as happy for her conqueror as Serena did for Maria that day. Not even close.
We can debate that Serena’s lost a step, she played bad, she gave it away, her serve was off, or whatever angle you want to. But maybe just maybe, Serena could be reaching the age, almost 33, where the fire is burning out. The eye of the tiger, to win pro tennis matches, isn’t raging at full intensity anymore.
The burning desire to win eventually flamed out in Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Mike Tyson… and it might be fading now in the heart and soul of Serena Williams.
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19 comments
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Dan Markowitz · May 28, 2014 at 11:22 pm
Hard to say, Scoop. She was very gracious in defeat. She just was so dominated in this match it’s hard to say she has lost her mojo or competitive fire. She looked big today. Her legs looked almost swollen to me. She might not be in the best of shape. Maybe she has seen her father sire his 5th kid, I believe at 71, and she’s ready to settle down and become Mama Serena. But she did say she was going to be back next year with no points to defend. We’ll have to see at Wimbledon if she’s ready to defend her Lisicki loss of last year there.
Big question now: do you watch any more of the women’s side of the draw?
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 7:48 am
Of course, the womens draw is now wide open for a newcomer to step up and win, maybe Bouchard or Halep or who knows. Serena’s success is so much dependent on her mental intensity and animalistic hunger to win. As a woman, there has to reach a point where that fire is going to subside. It looked like it happened yesterday. Sooner or later Serena is going to naturally want to be kinder and gentler, instead of the brutal murderous tennis killing machine she is at her best. Just my observations. It’s almost like she needs to lose like this, have these hiccups, to reignite her inner inferno.
Hans Landa · May 29, 2014 at 9:40 am
IMO – it’s nature taking it’s course. serena will eventually wind down a la venus. perhaps serena will pull a sampras and quit while she’s ahead however i dont see her just participating and not being a factor on the tour like venus does. serena’s ego couldnt handle or accept the losses as she shouldnt, etc.
Dan Markowitz · May 29, 2014 at 9:57 am
Geez, Scoop, you’re obviously not married. Women have possibly more fire than men, IMO. Women historically play longer than men, at least the top ones do. Look how long Navratilova or Evert played or Billie Jean King. I don’t think a top woman’s fire subsides any quicker than a top man’s. Women are having children later in life now, often after the age of 35, and there’s no reason Serena can’t forge on for a couple of more years.
Yes, she was flat yesterday, but Hans, the reason why Venus is now a mediocre player is not because her fire has burned down, but because she has some immune system disease. She’s 33 not 38, she’d be beating these players now if she were completely healthy.
gustarhymes · May 29, 2014 at 10:04 am
It is just natural that age will catch up with everyone. Serena is still a factor on fast courts for another 2-3 years. She can win a few more.
I’m a fan of Serena, and a minor fan of Venus. I am a bit of a skeptic about Venus and her health issues. She actually has Sjogren’s Syndrome characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth and dryness in general. The joint issues are rarely that severe. It is not as severe as Rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus. It is treated with supportive care mostly. It does not require cytotoxic medications for the most part. I must confess I have some skepticism about this. I think Venus would have fallen off regardless.
Gusta
Hans Landa · May 29, 2014 at 10:30 am
most likely a combination of both age and syndrome. can you imagaine whatelse is dry as a desert on venus !?!
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 11:12 am
A lot quit early too Dan – Hingis, Seles, Clijsters, Henin, Vaidisova, Mauresmo. I think Serena has trouble getting to that maximum point of mental intensity, you know, when she’s screaming and baring her teeth like a wolf. When she’s in that state she’s unbeatable. When she’s not in that state she’s very beatable. True, some women don’t lose the fire – King, Martina, Evert – but they are exceptions. I think it’s more normal for a woman to burnout earlier and move on in life.
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 11:15 am
Agree, Gusta, you never hear Serena talk about Sjogrens. I know some fans who think it’s a total sham. Venus is human, with a lot of mileage on her legs and body. She’s big and it’s natural for her to slow down. Since she’s come back from this disease hiatus or whatever it was, she has played many long 3 setters, winning and losing them. I have seen no evident decline in her stamina which this syndrome would show. Venus appears as fit as she can possibly be for her years. There’s a lot of young strong female players coming up who have no mercy on the Williams.
Dan Markowitz · May 29, 2014 at 11:31 am
How about the fact that all, and I mean all, the good young American women are black now! That’s amazing. I remember back in the 80’s and 90’s there was a lot of talk about the next great black American male player after Ashe. And every contender has fallen short from Mala Vai to Blake to DY. But you had Hooper and Shelton and Todd Nelson and others. Now the best black male players are French not American.
But Taylor Townsend has a lot of talent, Stephens, Keys and Duval. We were looking for the next great black player with the skill set of an MJ in tennis and it was the black women from Zina to Lori McNeil to Chandra Rubin to the Williams sisters who took over.
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 11:50 am
It just goes to show the inspiration the Williams have given to American tennis. There’s also Robin Anderson at UCLA who is a top player in college, she beat Robson at US Open juniors a few years back. Christina McHale Grace Min and Lauren Davis are coming up too. Not sure what happened to Krista Hardebeck who was highly touted a few years back, and Samantha Crawford. Taylor Townsend is really fun to watch, she has a bit of Rios in her.
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Townsend has game!
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Dan is right on serena and venus impact. Seriously townsend and duval have so much game it is unreal. Sloane reminds me of mary pierce.
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 8:56 pm
Lets not forget sasha vickery.
Andrew Miller · May 30, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Wow and Townsend is out too! Maybe the next generation female players prefer the hard courts. Giorgi out Riske out Townsend out…
Andrew Miller · May 30, 2014 at 5:56 pm
Haha bodo compares townsend to leconte and rios!
“Other people have told her that Townsend reminds them of Marcelo Rios, the temperamental  Chilean former No. 1 who ranks as one of the great shotmakers of the Open era. “I’ve told her that’s flattering,†Garrison said of the comparison, “As long as she doesn’t also bring that attitude.—-pete bodo tennis.com
Scoop Malinowski · May 30, 2014 at 8:04 pm
She had a very loose but fast handed way of playing, similar to Rios, Andrew. I see the Rios qualities in her. I don’t see Leconte in TT at all.
Bryan · June 1, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I don’t see Serena’s mental desire eroding yet and given she crash and burns regularly at the FO wouldn’t read too much into this. But her physicality is going to dip down enough that the comp will start picking her apart. Might not happen at every major but it will with more frequency than we’re used to.
Nowadays if Serena doesn’t blow opponents away with her serve and they fight back set after set it’s game over. But the thing is, most women players can’t fight back over the course of a full match.
Scoop Malinowski · June 1, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Bryan, I think Serena’s aura of invincibility has holes now. Ivanovic in Melbourne was damaging and it gave many players hope, if Ana can do it, why can’t I? Serena is vulnerable. Muguruza confirmed that. Gonna be interesting to see how Serena responds. She’s not getting any younger.
Bryan · June 2, 2014 at 8:02 pm
“Ana can do it, why can’t I? Serena is vulnerable.”
True that. In a lot of tournaments the other women seemed resigned to playing to make the finals, not win the tournament outright. Now they’re realizing if they can stay aggressive and return serve a win is very possible. In fact I’ve seen Serena’s will erode when her opponent attacks back. Front runners don’t like it when they can’t create margins and sometimes wilt.