What you perceive to have lacked in talent, you far made up for in sportsmanship. Your respect for the game, players, coaches and fans was unmatched and that is often not an exhibited trait of many players. That coupled with your elite talent is why you will always be one of the greats!
I believe that tennis greatness can be measured in many ways. For me, the ideal matrix combines tennis skills with an interesting personality. As a college-level tennis player and a fan, I place much more value on players' personalities than on their mere dominance in the game. I understand that this perspective might not motivate players to give their all every day, but as a fan, I've always appreciated it more when players had something interesting to say after a match, beyond the traditional expressions of gratitude.
With that said, I just wanted to share that you were my top player for many years, precisely because of that amazing combination of a tennis style I admired and a captivating personality! So, maybe we should add more dimensions to the definition of a great tennis player! :)
You were always great in my book! But at the end of the day, I'm just glad you can look back on your career with fondness and wisdom, and be happy for what you accomplished despite difficult circumstances.
you played at a time when tennis was not so global and not so mechanical. it was fun to watch you. my favorite player has never been Serena. I liked Kvitova more. Watching Radwańska's fight and defense was more enjoyable than watching Sharapova. Watching the best is sometimes boring. Players with a story are much more enjoyable to watch.
You were a GREAT tennis player. Serena was for sure on another level but you made it too ! Millions of people all around the world play tennis but less than 1% can say that they reached the top 100, even less that they won multiple tournaments, even less that they reached the top 10 and even less that they reached a grand slam semi final 🤭 To me this is greatness 🤷🏾♀️
You may well become one of the great sports writers, maybe as good as Red Smith. You show the same kind of superb insights. thanks and I may have to start paying you, that's how good you are.
Many years ago my brother-in-law (Indiana State Boys Tennis 2nd Place) introduced me to a pro tennis player friend who was ranked 144th at the time. Applying that to myself, I thought it would be pretty cool to be ranked the 144th best chemical engineer in the world. As others have mentioned, to be happy with what you have is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.
Andrea, you may not be a great tennis player, but you have the makings of a great storyteller. Loved watching your tennis career but I'm more excited for what you are doing now that you've left the sport.
Brilliantly crafted thoughts. This is becoming essential reading for me. It mirrors life and the working world, too. I am a Ph.D. I always wondered if I deserved it or was "faking it." I now come to believe that I am a good one and that there are others that are not. I am not the best one. But I deserve to be here. Sorry, I think I saw a bird.
What a great way you have chosen to explore this topic, Andrea. First, you were indeed a great player. To achieve that much in a sport where you must play every minute of the game and take every shot is so much different than the team sports. What matters most is all the effort you put in to excel at this incredibly hard sport -- and did that all over the world, in all sorts of conditions, versus so many opponents. I have asked both Wimbledon champions and top ten players and top 50 players what the telling difference is; to a great degree, it's massively mysterious, subject to verbal analysis, which I know first-hand can be deeply limited. A multi-Slam winner once told me, "I guess I wanted it more." Yes, that was just a guess. Who really knows? No one. I have some theories, based on what I've seen. But they are just theories, concepts I only think can make a difference. For again, who really knows? And even then, so what? We who watch world class tennis remain appreciative and awestruck by the incredible skills of all who have earned the chance to compete at venues like Wimbledon -- and all other spots too.
I think you’re great in a-lot of ways! Tennis of course, but also love your writing and I loved hearing you and Rennae go back and forth on your AO podcast. I hope you do it again for BNP! Oh, and you’re my favorite commentator. 🙂
I know it probably won't make a difference but be sure in someone's eyes you were a great tennis player 😌
What you perceive to have lacked in talent, you far made up for in sportsmanship. Your respect for the game, players, coaches and fans was unmatched and that is often not an exhibited trait of many players. That coupled with your elite talent is why you will always be one of the greats!
I believe that tennis greatness can be measured in many ways. For me, the ideal matrix combines tennis skills with an interesting personality. As a college-level tennis player and a fan, I place much more value on players' personalities than on their mere dominance in the game. I understand that this perspective might not motivate players to give their all every day, but as a fan, I've always appreciated it more when players had something interesting to say after a match, beyond the traditional expressions of gratitude.
With that said, I just wanted to share that you were my top player for many years, precisely because of that amazing combination of a tennis style I admired and a captivating personality! So, maybe we should add more dimensions to the definition of a great tennis player! :)
I love this! If you had been in charge of rankings I would have been so much higher up ;) Thank you for sharing.
You were always great in my book! But at the end of the day, I'm just glad you can look back on your career with fondness and wisdom, and be happy for what you accomplished despite difficult circumstances.
you played at a time when tennis was not so global and not so mechanical. it was fun to watch you. my favorite player has never been Serena. I liked Kvitova more. Watching Radwańska's fight and defense was more enjoyable than watching Sharapova. Watching the best is sometimes boring. Players with a story are much more enjoyable to watch.
You were a GREAT tennis player. Serena was for sure on another level but you made it too ! Millions of people all around the world play tennis but less than 1% can say that they reached the top 100, even less that they won multiple tournaments, even less that they reached the top 10 and even less that they reached a grand slam semi final 🤭 To me this is greatness 🤷🏾♀️
You may well become one of the great sports writers, maybe as good as Red Smith. You show the same kind of superb insights. thanks and I may have to start paying you, that's how good you are.
haha, thank you! but everything is still for free around here on „finite jest“ 💙
Many years ago my brother-in-law (Indiana State Boys Tennis 2nd Place) introduced me to a pro tennis player friend who was ranked 144th at the time. Applying that to myself, I thought it would be pretty cool to be ranked the 144th best chemical engineer in the world. As others have mentioned, to be happy with what you have is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.
Andrea, you may not be a great tennis player, but you have the makings of a great storyteller. Loved watching your tennis career but I'm more excited for what you are doing now that you've left the sport.
Brilliantly crafted thoughts. This is becoming essential reading for me. It mirrors life and the working world, too. I am a Ph.D. I always wondered if I deserved it or was "faking it." I now come to believe that I am a good one and that there are others that are not. I am not the best one. But I deserve to be here. Sorry, I think I saw a bird.
hahaha, i hope it was red!
And you are certainly a great writer. Loved this x
This was deep, I felt the line about struggling to breathe on court 7, damn!
Terrific piece. Absolutely terrific.
What a great way you have chosen to explore this topic, Andrea. First, you were indeed a great player. To achieve that much in a sport where you must play every minute of the game and take every shot is so much different than the team sports. What matters most is all the effort you put in to excel at this incredibly hard sport -- and did that all over the world, in all sorts of conditions, versus so many opponents. I have asked both Wimbledon champions and top ten players and top 50 players what the telling difference is; to a great degree, it's massively mysterious, subject to verbal analysis, which I know first-hand can be deeply limited. A multi-Slam winner once told me, "I guess I wanted it more." Yes, that was just a guess. Who really knows? No one. I have some theories, based on what I've seen. But they are just theories, concepts I only think can make a difference. For again, who really knows? And even then, so what? We who watch world class tennis remain appreciative and awestruck by the incredible skills of all who have earned the chance to compete at venues like Wimbledon -- and all other spots too.
I think you’re great in a-lot of ways! Tennis of course, but also love your writing and I loved hearing you and Rennae go back and forth on your AO podcast. I hope you do it again for BNP! Oh, and you’re my favorite commentator. 🙂
Dear Andrea. I thoroughly enjoy your writing style and your ability to convey self-awareness. Looking forward to your next posting.