Tennis, the Williams sisters.

[Leekbrookgull]

Like many here no doubt (?) only really watch Wimbledon,so maybe it is unfair to pass coment,however simply not a fan of either of the Williams sisters on or off the court. Just something that does not sit right,but that could be me ?

 

[Giraffe]

Far too masculine for my liking and in a tennis sense far too manufactured.

Nothing pleasant about watching them.

 

[Gully]

I don't like them much either, they go on about the religion stuff too much for my liking, that sort of thing should be private. I prefer someone like Wozniaki, who doesn't take herself too seriously and has a sharp sense of humour, something you could hardly level at the Williams sisters.

 

[Falkor]

i thought Venus played an amazing game today sublime tennis the best womens match i have watched

 

[peterward]

couple of dogs........ very rich ones mind you, still you wouldn't even after a few beers would you?

 

[MrShaun15]

no they make me feel sick and they scream like a man everytime they hit the ball very much dislike when there are people like anna kournikova around!

 

[Kazenga <3]

Far too masculine for my liking and in a tennis sense far too manufactured.

Nothing pleasant about watching them.

Tennis is all about being manufactured sadly, its not like football where you can be spotted playing in non league one day and next thing you can be playing in the championship. Its all about how much money and time you spend on coaching, yes there is a degree of natural talent but if you are trained intensively from a very young age then you'll a very high standard. I used to play on the junior circuit in the local counties and once you get to a certain level its incredibly difficult to progress as you start coming up against people who have had far more time and money invested and attend special schools etc. I got fed up with it eventually, that and my tennis declined steeply in changing my backhand and I didn't have the time to practise it

 

[Bean]

[MENTION=16080]Kazenga <3[/MENTION] I agree. These days if you want to be a successful tennis player you ultimately need to have rich parents who are willing to fund regular coaching and from a young age. I myself did squad coaching a few years back at Pav and Ave in Hove and after a year had to stop as I couldn't afford a) the joining fee and b) the coaching fees. The amount they charge you there is ludacrous.

More importantly though, what in hell is Venus wearing?

 

[Jimbo.GRFC]

I don't like them much either, they go on about the religion stuff too much for my liking, that sort of thing should be private. I prefer someone like Wozniaki, who doesn't take herself too seriously and has a sharp sense of humour, something you could hardly level at the Williams sisters.

Peer pressure by their father, have a feeling their childhood wasn't very happy

 

[Kazenga <3]

[MENTION=16080]Kazenga <3[/MENTION] I agree. These days if you want to be a successful tennis player you ultimately need to have rich parents who are willing to fund regular coaching and from a young age. I myself did squad coaching a few years back at Pav and Ave in Hove and after a year had to stop as I couldn't afford a) the joining fee and b) the coaching fees. The amount they charge you there is ludacrous.

More importantly though, what in hell is Venus wearing?

I play at Weald but used to do tournaments and things at Pav and Ave. The membership fee at Weald isn't too bad considering its annually but coaching fees are excessive (£80 per month for an individual lesson each week!) and I got to the point where I realised the rate I was improving wasn't worth that sort of money. Also because of the money involved a lot of people you meet on the circuit are sometimes quite unsavoury- arrogant and thinking they have a divine right to win. Much as I enjoy it I can see why others are so dismissive of the sport because of the kind of people playing it and its upper class roots, not being from that background myself I sometimes felt uncomfortable.

And yeah that dress

 

[Mo Gosfield]

This screaming when they hit every shot is taking gamesmanship to a new level. No one does it naturally....it is forced, manufactured and designed to put off opponents.
The tennis authorities should have stamped on it years ago...now its fashionable ( like diving in football ) and many players are encouraged to do it by their coaches.
It is coarse and ugly and has no part in the game. I simply won't watch them or any other player who does it...I don't care how good or exciting they are..it doesn't sit comfortably with me.
True natural tennis players...those born with an innate ability..don't do it. Why expend even more energy screaming every time you hit the ball...its a demanding enough game as it is.
I don't hear Federer doing it...Laver and Borg didnt do it...as well as most of the previous generations. It isn't in their mentality, they just want to get on with playing the game to the best of their ability.
The authorities won't do anything about it so the fans need to take it into their own hands...every time the player screams, the fans should scream. They should keep doing it until the umpire is forced to intervene. When he threatens to suspend play...keep doing it....until play is suspended. That will make them think a bit. Just keep doing it with the players until the players start complaining.....and then we can all say that we are the paying public..it is spoiling our enjoyment of the tennis and we will keep doing it until the players stop. They can't eject most of the crowd!
Will it happen...of course not.....but I'd love to give it a go...start a campaign..." Stop screaming in Tennis ".
Its a pipe-dream, I know, but I get angry about it, same as diving in football. The trouble is...the authorities say.." We can't do anything about it, its part of the game "...well it aint part of my game and I'm sure a lot of others feel the same.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

This screaming when they hit every shot is taking gamesmanship to a new level. No one does it naturally....it is forced, manufactured and designed to put off opponents.
The tennis authorities should have stamped on it years ago...now its fashionable ( like diving in football ) and many players are encouraged to do it by their coaches.
It is coarse and ugly and has no part in the game. I simply won't watch them or any other player who does it...I don't care how good or exciting they are..it doesn't sit comfortably with me.
True natural tennis players...those born with an innate ability..don't do it. Why expend even more energy screaming every time you hit the ball...its a demanding enough game as it is.
I don't hear Federer doing it...Laver and Borg didnt do it...as well as most of the previous generations. It isn't in their mentality, they just want to get on with playing the game to the best of their ability.
The authorities won't do anything about it so the fans need to take it into their own hands...every time the player screams, the fans should scream. They should keep doing it until the umpire is forced to intervene. When he threatens to suspend play...keep doing it....until play is suspended. That will make them think a bit. Just keep doing it with the players until the players start complaining.....and then we can all say that we are the paying public..it is spoiling our enjoyment of the tennis and we will keep doing it until the players stop. They can't eject most of the crowd!
Will it happen...of course not.....but I'd love to give it a go...start a campaign..." Stop screaming in Tennis ".
Its a pipe-dream, I know, but I get angry about it, same as diving in football. The trouble is...the authorities say.." We can't do anything about it, its part of the game "...well it aint part of my game and I'm sure a lot of others feel the same.

Fantastic post sir!

 

[crodonilson]

Like many here no doubt (?) only really watch Wimbledon,so maybe it is unfair to pass coment,however simply not a fan of either of the Williams sisters on or off the court. Just something that does not sit right,but that could be me ?

To be fair what they have done to womens tennis is huge, they have raised the profile of the game immeasurably and taken the game to a whole new target audience. If you have watched Wimbledon over the last decade they have been involved in some classic matches also. Venus's game yesterday was as good as you're likely to see anywhere.

 

[Marshy]

I like Serena....there ive said it, and I definately would

 

[hunter121]

I think they can not win, I am more concerned about the Na

 

[Arkwright]

If you where blind and listened to the Williams sisters you would think you had tuned into a Porn Channel. Please can the LTA stop these players from grunting.

That said, they are quality, maybe a tad past there best but they have set a standard for new players to achieve.

 

[Gazwag]

[MENTION=16080]Kazenga <3[/MENTION] I agree. These days if you want to be a successful tennis player you ultimately need to have rich parents

I disagree, at my club we have a young girl who is 9 now who is selected into the LTA AEGON FutureStars programme. Her parents are not rich, but one or other is prepared to take her around the country for tournements and to the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton for training and assessment. She does get some funding as well, from the LTA, to help with travelling costs.

I would say it doesn't cost her parents much more than if she had decided to go dancing/ballet.

 

[Gritt23]

Tennis is all about being manufactured sadly, its not like football where you can be spotted playing in non league one day and next thing you can be playing in the championship. Its all about how much money and time you spend on coaching, yes there is a degree of natural talent but if you are trained intensively from a very young age then you'll a very high standard. I used to play on the junior circuit in the local counties and once you get to a certain level its incredibly difficult to progress as you start coming up against people who have had far more time and money invested and attend special schools etc. I got fed up with it eventually, that and my tennis declined steeply in changing my backhand and I didn't have the time to practise it

Surely it's the Williams sisters who disprove the theory that you have to come from money to make it in tennis! It's not about money, it's about enthusiasm for the sport, and working and working and working at you game to become the best you can be. It doesn't need to be on manicured lawns at a "special school" as you put it. They have proved that.

 

[Marshy]

Its fine cost wise at the age of 9 Gazwag....but if shes any good at 13 or 14 then the cost kicks in...when she needs to go away and do it full time...

 

[Marshy]

http://static.tennis24seven.com/wp-content/gallery/serena-williams/serena-williams4.jpg

http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/serena-williams-after-the-sunset-movie-premiere-arrivals-Ti2Nsa.jpg

http://www.starpulseonline.com/images/celebrity/serena-williams.jpg


Yes I Would