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Miami Open Wednesday: To fear or not to fear?
13 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
First match on court seven was one of my favorites Zarina Diyas vs Jen Brady. I like Diyas, of Kazakhstan, because of her exotic looks and she plays nice baseline tennis combining elegance with violence. She’s a journeywoman but on the threshold of joining the elites when she is at her best. She has had injuries like wrist surgery last year but she is back and looking near peak form again.
Today she went down 0-2 then won three games for 3-2 vs American Brady. It became a slugfest but Diyas eventually won a thriller 75 76.
Usually stoic in her matches with big name opponents on TV, today Diyas expressed a lot of intensity, come ons, fist pumps and eye contact with her box consisting of mom, dad, sis and coach. Obviously she plays better this way.
In Indian Wells two weeks ago Diyas showed zero emotion and fire vs Serena and though she put up a good battle she lost meekly and cooperatively in straight sets. After the first set today I said to her mom next to me that Zarina needs to play Serena with the same bold intensity and belief. The mom replied “Well it’s Serena, it’s different.”
But it cannot be different. Diyas can’t show too much respect or fear of success to anyone. Go after it. Go for the jugular. Be a bold, ambitious, disruptive, fiery player vs Serena same as she was vs Brady. It can be the difference.
Naomi Osaka today had no fear of Serena and played her with a vicious, nasty, even taunting attitude. After the 63 61 win Osaka said her intent was “to make Serena say come on.”
Though Osaka is a nice person on court with a bashful demeanor during the post match handshake she is a killer during play. A ruthless assassin. To openly publicly reveal that she wanted to make Serena yell come on is like a taunt to torture her. Imagine if Zverev said “I wanted to make Roger say come on.”
But this is the mindset needed to slay a giant. To play nice like Diyas by suppressing her desire to destroy and express confidence is a recipe for failure. It is fear of success. Diyas has fear of beating Serena and pissing her off.
Osaka had no fear at all of Serena or the quest to destroy her and break her spirit and heart. Serena cancelled her post match presser because she was that upset. Do you think Osaka cares? Heck no!
It’s all in the mind. Osaka has it. Osaka is merciless and ruthless. Diyas can have it too but she must extinguish all fears of success vs Serena and treat her like she is playing Jen Brady.
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Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2018 at 11:01 pm
Practices today. Johnson vs Tiafoe. Raonic vs Dzumhur. Carreno Busta vs Chung. Shapovalov vs Donskoy. Estrella Burgos vs Copil.
Chazz · March 22, 2018 at 12:13 am
Osaka the stone cold assassin. Love it.
catherine · March 22, 2018 at 2:55 am
Didn’t have to be much of an assassin to beat Serena.
At the moment, she’s not believing in herself. Played as if she’s scared to move. Future’s up in the air I’d say.
dan markowitz · March 22, 2018 at 6:55 am
I don’t get it, how is making Serena say “Come On!” torturing her. I know Serena likes to show that fighting spirit, but I guess Osaka is saying she knew she could beat Serena so bad that she wanted Serena to express confidence so taking her down would be even more deflating for the former Grand Slam champ.
The question is, why would Serena and her coach subject her to such punishment and embarrassment? Why wouldn’t they wait until Serena is at her regular playing weight and is moving better?
scoopmalinowski · March 22, 2018 at 7:01 am
You got it right Dan. Osaka wanted Serena to fight her hardest only to get battered down again. Osaka has supreme confidence now and this trouncing of Serena will add mightily to her confidence tank. Osaka could be heading to no. 1. Halep should take note of Osaka’s mindset.
scoopmalinowski · March 22, 2018 at 7:03 am
Serena looked good vs Diyas but Osaka is a different animal. Team Serena thought they could smoke n mirror their way by Osaka. Osaka was just a bad draw for Serena.
scoopmalinowski · March 22, 2018 at 7:05 am
Serena looked good vs Bertens in iw. And not bad vs venus either. Osaka’s star is being born this month.
catherine · March 22, 2018 at 8:54 am
I think I’d wait a while before breaking out the bunting for Naomi. She’s good, but she hasn’t yet beaten players who are more experienced and at the top of their games. I don’t count Simona there – unless she has a quick turnaround in attitude.
I’ll also be interested to see how Naomi does against Svitolina, assuming Elina is in form.
The courts in Miami are faster than IW – aren’t they ? Could be a factor v Serena.
I heard, not sure if it’s true, that Serena is still breastfeeding. She won’t lose that weight until she stops. So the question is, does she go on playing, to keep the impetus, or have another break ?
I imagine she’ll be making a decision about that before long.
Dan Markowitz · March 22, 2018 at 10:16 am
You can’t say Halep who’s no 1 isn’t an experienced top player. And your assessment of Serena is right on. It’ll be interesting to see how she proceeds going forward after taking such a sound beating.
Hartt · March 22, 2018 at 10:20 am
There has been a lot of speculation here about whether having a girlfriend helps a player. So is the pretty brunette sitting next to Pospisil’s coach his GF? It certainly looked like it. Vasek winning over Dr. Ivo was not a huge surprise, he led their h2h 3-1, but his playing so well was a pleasant surprise. He plays Rublev next, so I hope the GF helps the player theory is correct! 🙂
Duke Carnoustie · March 22, 2018 at 10:25 am
I am sure Serena will blame the ‘haters’ for that beating.
I will say it’s not fair to judge her yet since she isn’t close to being in match shape.
Sad that 40 year-olds will dominate both tours.
catherine · March 22, 2018 at 10:57 am
Hartt – what about women having boyfriends ? And it all depends on how the romance is going I would think 🙂
Duke I’m sure Serena has better things to do, and more important things on her mind, than blaming ‘haters’. She knows she’s a long way from match fit. So she’d probably agree with the second part of your comment.
40 year olds ? Who are they ? And let’s hear it for geriatric tennis in that case.
catherine · March 22, 2018 at 11:06 am
Dan – of course Simona is an experienced and top class player, only she didn’t look like one at IW. So I expect to see a change in Miami.