AO 2015: WTA Early Poll

[Correspondent Kiu]

Who takes it this year?

Defending Champion is now retired, Serena wants #19

I am only giving 9 choices, top 8 + 1

Lets make it interesting.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It must be noted that the winner of the Brisbane International has never gone onto win the Australian Open title.Unless this year's title holder in Brisbane proves otherwise.

 

[kskate2]

^ That's probably why Serena isn't playing there again. :snigger She's won it 2 or 3 times in a row right and has fallen short at AO for one reason or another.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

It will be interesting, so far Serena hasn't really looked too impressive, but that only means there is room for improvement. I will go with Serena, but she is going to have to get those feet moving much better. I am curious if she decided to play Hopman Cup to potentially test a partnership with John for maybe some Mixed Doubles action in Australia. It is one of the few majors eluding her the mixed in Australia and the French Mixed.

 

[kskate2]

She didn't decide to play w/ John. She was supposed to play w/ Sock, but he pulled out w/ an injury. Isner is a replacement.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

But overall, I am wondering if she will use this as a gauge to maybe attempt the mixed there this year.

 

[kskate2]

But overall, I am wondering if she will use this as a gauge to maybe attempt the mixed there this year.

Possibly. As a mixed partner, he would probably do OK because of his serve. But truth be told, Serena was returning the men's serve better than Isner in their matches this week.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Last year's semifinals:
#4 seed Na Li (CHN) defeated #30 seed Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 6-2 6-4
#20 seed Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) defeated #5 seed Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 6-1 6-2

2 of the ladies in this poll made the semis last year, none went on to the final.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

But overall, I am wondering if she will use this as a gauge to maybe attempt the mixed there this year.

Possibly. As a mixed partner, he would probably do OK because of his serve. But truth be told, Serena was returning the men's serve better than Isner in their matches this week.

Would not either Bryan be a better choice than both Sock and Isner? I too would like to
see Serena win the two remaining mixed doubles titles also.

 

[kskate2]

She tried it already at RG w/ one of the Bryan's. That was a R1 exit. Not sure she will want to try again w/ them.

 

[sk310]

She tried it already at RG w/ one of the Bryan's. That was a R1 exit. Not sure she will want to try again w/ them.

I can't imagine thats really even on her radar. Mixed is kind of low on the list when you're still a contender for singles slams.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

But overall, I am wondering if she will use this as a gauge to maybe attempt the mixed there this year.

Possibly. As a mixed partner, he would probably do OK because of his serve. But truth be told, Serena was returning the men's serve better than Isner in their matches this week.

Well, the return isn't one of Isner's strengths where it is one of Serena's strengths. Trust me if Isner was a great returner he would be a lot farther in the men's game than he is right now. The only thing I am not liking with Serena's game right now is she is still missing her first serve quite a bit. She is also still in that pattern of hitting short and just keeping the ball in play. She was at her best when she was being aggressive, moving forward and hitting with authority. I wonder if she watched any footage from her matches in 2014 where it all went wrong? Having said that she is in the Hopman Cup finals. Though it will be interesting because Aga can be a tricky opponent if there is anything off with your game. Hope she and Isner take the Hopman Cup.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

She tried it already at RG w/ one of the Bryan's. That was a R1 exit. Not sure she will want to try again w/ them.

Yeah, but wasn't that the year she also went out in Round 1 for singles? I can imagine that her feelings at the time could have gotten in the way with that match. Not sure A Bryan would work. I think she needs someone with a weapon like an Isner, Wawrinka to help carry the team because even Serena has confessed she can be lazy in doubles. She has admitted as much when she talks about doubles with Venus. However, I will say Serena has been probably the better contributer in that doubles team than John.

 

[tented]

It's been a few years, but I think it's Serena's time to win down under again.

 

[colleen66]

Saw that Serena lost 1-6 in the third set to Aga. Did anyone see the match? Was she hurt?

 

[faradubii]

She was bad all match, Aga should have won 63 63, but froze in the 2nd set at the thought that she can win for the 1st time.

 

[kskate2]

Saw that Serena lost 1-6 in the third set to Aga. Did anyone see the match? Was she hurt?

Check the Hopman Cup thread for further information.

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3413&pid=153630#pid153630

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Hey Serena,

Take a few days and find your head because eventhough Hopman Cup doesn't count for much of anything it was pretty telling of where you are at at the moment. Sloppy play all week. I can't even say you were playing relaxed and didn't give a crap. It was more like just a big giant mess all week.

 

[sk310]

I wonder if she just kind of doesn't want to be there. Serena really doesn't NEED a warmup. The first few rounds of a slam are often enough of a warmup for her. I hope its not something more serious.

 

[kskate2]

I wonder if she just kind of doesn't want to be there. Serena really doesn't NEED a warmup. The first few rounds of a slam are often enough of a warmup for her. I hope its not something more serious.

That was kind of telling in her arrival. She didn't get there until Sat night when everyone else had already been there several days.