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[Season 4] (Day 9) PSALT's Preview: Williams Series-Venus
The Williams Series commences in Los Angeles today. Like last year, apparel and racquet companies have come together to offer the top three finishers equipment of their choice. The draw here is packed like usual; almost all first round matches are worthy of a Slam’s second week. To think that it will only get better in Saginaw!
So, the odds makers’ favorite is Yodavitch. Many other players can take the crown, however, Child, Jennacourt, Dave, Edelstein, Bizet, and that truly is just the tip of the iceberg. On to matches to watch, there are so many, but I had to just pick a few. Here they are,
Dave-Leftys – (Leftys leads H2H, 6-3) It will be a rematch of the final only a few weeks ago in Scotland. In that match Leftys won it handily. However, she is far from being a consistent player, and Dave is a top-notch hardcourter.
Bizet-Yodavitch – Yodavitch has come alive since his back injury last season that took him out from the Aussie all the way to Wimbledon. His record stands this season at a perfect 13-0. Bizet on the other hand has been less than spectacular. You must wonder however, how long can Yodavitch keep it up? It has never been great here, and Bizet can very well win.
John Edelstein-Doublea – Both have kicked off the year badly when compared to last. Doublea had a good event in Adelaide, but then lost first round to Avolt in his last event. JoJo has played little, and has not done well in those few events. Both need to revive their season ahead of the clay.
I have interviews with Yodavitch, and Doublea today.
Doublea,
Q. To say your season has been disappointing so far would be an understatement. You were one of the most consistent players on tour. After a career best year last year (not to mention it was one of the best years by a player from your generation to date), do you sit and wonder, 'How have I managed to be so much worse this year?'
You know, it's a combination of factors. Towards the end of last year, I became quite fond of the drop shot, and I'm doing the same thing this year, except those drop shots aren't landing in. I wish I didn't hit those drop shots so often, except sometimes I do it (stupidly) through instinct. Another thing is that, perhaps, the pressure of last year's phenomenal play is catching up to me. Basically, bad habits in my game and pressure is causing all this trouble... perhaps the opera obsession has something to do with it to.
Q. Comments on Ying-Chang please. In quite possibly one of the most interesting cases since a Kirilenko fan was sent to the nut house for rushing onto court after Kirilenko had lost, balling, and screaming 'Maria! Maria! You can't lose my precious Kiri!', Ying-Chang has been charged for possession of narcotics. She also is suing the investigator with sexual assault, and has accused multiple people of racism. Thoughts?
I think she's just to uptight about everything. Like, honestly, people cheer against her in matches and she sues. Like, part of being professional is handling these things professionally. I have played before crowds totally rooting for the other player before, and I just ignore it. I don't care who they cheer for... they have the right to cheer for whoever they want. I'm just out there to give it my best shot. She, obviously, isn't handling this well. I think she has pretty much taken it to the extreme by turning to drugs (don't sue me, Ying Chang, please!) to handle this problem of hers.
Q. The clay season is right around the corner. Who are your picks to have good form on the red dirt?
I think N_E_A is the player to watch. He has a lot to prove on the clay, and I think he can rise up to the occasion. PSALT is another to player to watch. Like me, his start hasn't been great (better than mine, though), and I think he'll be eager to reprove himself on the clay. I think he'll be successful at doing so.
Well, to be honest, I never thought I would say this; I'm looking forwards to the claycourt season. Just want to wipe out this horrid start out of my mind.
Yodavitch,
Q. You have received little attention this season, despite your unblemished record. Why? Is the media too concerned with Ying-Chang puffing the magic dragon and Jbors and Leftys rocky relationship (Jbors' midnight calls to Leftys asking her to recount her day to him, Leftys bursting into tears in the middle of a fine dinner with Jbors, shouting to the people around her that 'My boyfriend thinks I'm fat!'), to recognize the majesty of your play?
Yodavitch:
I'm not really in it for the attention though. I had an interview a couple of days ago, which was fun, but I mean it doesn't matter to me really. I just want to keep doing well and focus on my tennis.
Q. Throughout your career you have had a huge amount of doubters. Even in season one, you had just lost the No.1 that year, and people still doubted whether you would you second title any time soon. Does it fuel you to prove people wrong?
Yodavitch:
At first that bothered me a lot. Probably that's why I did so poorly under pressure for the two or three years after I won my first major. I just wasn't good at handled huge amounts of pressure. What fueled me to fight was my love for the game, which I realized after my injury. If I play well then believers will follow, at least I hope.
Q. The clay season is approaching, how will you do, and who on tour will do well? Clay is your weakest surface, how will your form drop, if it drops at all?
Yodavitch:
Yes, I admit I am horrible on clay. I am not comfortable and it just doesn't match my game. I think though belief in myself can get me through it. I'm not expecting great things, but I still want to stay up there with the elite. I think great clay courters like Tricatrina, Vanessa Child, J-man, and Not_Even_Amateur will have success. They just know how to play on the surface.
