Dec 30: SERENA v. Ostapenko

[Ace2Ace]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSQCXpjX0AE3jeD.jpg

[Pyotr]

Streaming live on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfyHxlYG4eE

[Grossefavourite]

#ed_op#font color="brown"#ed_cl#@ #ed_op#b#ed_cl#Pyotr#ed_op#/b#ed_cl#:#ed_op#/font#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl# #ed_op#br#ed_cl#Thank you!#ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#Very interesting match. Ree still has some weight in the mid section to lose, but she's within striking distance. I did notice a few strangely timed slices off the forehand though. #ed_op#br#ed_cl#

[Pyotr]

#ed_op#br#ed_cl#You're welcome.

[Ace2Ace]

#ed_op#font color="brown"#ed_cl#@ #ed_op#b#ed_cl#Pyotr#ed_op#/b#ed_cl#:#ed_op#/font#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl# Thanks for the video... just watched it.#ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tfyHxlYG4eE" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"#ed_cl##ed_op#/iframe#ed_cl#

[Grossefavourite]

"I'm excited. It's good to be back on the court," Williams said after the match. "This was such a good time for me. ... First matches back are always super-incredibly hard, especially after having a baby. It was great. I was glad I could do it here."

[Ace2Ace]

It's their first meeting. I don't expect much from this. #ed_op#br#ed_cl#Serena lost to Wozz at an Exhibition a couple of years ago. It think it was in Brazil of somewhere in South America.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#She  lost to Radwanska at Hopman's Cup. #ed_op#br#ed_cl#She's most likely to lose to Ostapenko. #ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#For me, the most important thing will be what she  looks like. If she is carrying 50 extra pounds, it won't be easy. #ed_op#br#ed_cl#Her brain may know what to do, but will the body follow?#ed_op#br#ed_cl#Brain asks the feet to move; feet go "sorry we can't". lol#ed_op#br#ed_cl#Brain asks the arm to swing fast: arm go "sorry I don't know how". lol#ed_op#br#ed_cl#Those kinds of things will be her challenges.

right on the money.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#Serena couldn't move, couldn't swing, couldn't serve. Despite all that, she stole a set from a fresh and dangerous top-10 player. #ed_op#br#ed_cl#The first 2 points in the TB were xmas gifts and set the tone for how the TB went.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#I believe she would have won the next set if they were playing 3-set. #ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#I think the only reason she elected to play Ostapenko  is that the young Latvian is the only top-10 player she had yet to play. She didn't want any surprise in Melbourne. So homework done.#ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#Is she ready for Aussie Open? Yup, only if she draws Sharapova in R1. That will bring her alive and the rest will be history.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#But if she draws one of those energizer bunny girls to run her around all match, I am afraid Aussie Open will be a nice quick trip. #ed_op#br#ed_cl#If she can find a way to survive the first 2 matches, she's going all the way to the final.#ed_op#br#ed_cl##ed_op#br#ed_cl#That's all folks.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#

[Grossefavourite]

Of course, there's an inevitable measure of games(wo)manship and sandbagging on Ree's part, knwoing the WTA (mainly Sharapova) is watching with hope. The extent of it however is unclear.

[Skilletsauce]

After watching some highlights from this exhibition I'm not so sure if a 2 week slam, in that heat, is the wisest choice for a 1st tournament comeback.

I know how much Serena loves this tournament, but she may have to temper her expectations at bit as I saw some rust and the speed wasn't there yet either due to some extra midsection weight.

[Grossefavourite]

Even wearing slimming black attire could not mask the extra weight, understandably. It's going to be tough for her to drop it as she'll be fighting tooth and nail against her bodacious body type.