Mental weakness is a sickness that plagues the WTA.

I think most of the WTA tour is very mentally weak with some notable exceptions (Serena, Kim, and Sharapova). After watching Na Li completely give away that match yesterday it shows that the top players are still the older generation and how far ahead they are of everyone else.

Without the tremendous advantage holding serve that the men typically have, it's much tougher to close a match out. Mental weakness? Maybe. Drama? Hell yes!

Zheng Jie is going down, kinda sad about that. At least she'll be spared a shellacking from Kvitova.

Akira your comment is so sexist and disappointing. The ATP tour also has players who are mentally fragile such as Andy Murray, Gael Monfils, Fernando Verdasco, and basically everyone not in the top three. The sexist generalizations are really immature on your part.

Ana is better looking ;)

@Orville,

you are delusional. The men on the whole are better in the mental department than women. The Men choke yes, but not as frequently or epic-ly as the women. Why is it so hard to see what is clearly in front of you? Squandering 6-1 lead in a TB or 5 games to 1 lead in a deciding set or 5 match points are all characteristics of the WTA, and you know it.

Really is that why only Federer, Nadal, Djokovic are winning the grand slams on the ATP Tour. There are plenty of male players choking matches against the top three. No I do not know it and your misogyny is pathetic.

these 2 women along with li na tell us everything we need to know what is wrong with the women tour. ugh.

@Orville,

That's right misogyny has to be the reason why after winning a slam, Li Na, Kvitova and Stosur crash out by the 2nd round of the next slam.

Yes, Fed crashed out by 2nd round in FO 2010 after winning AO 2010....oh wait
Yes, Rafa crashed out by 2nd round of 2011 Wimby after winning Fo 2011....oh wait
Yes, Nole crashed out in the next slam after winning AO 2011, Wimby 2011, USO 2011....oh wait.

That's right, don't let the facts get in the way of your accusations and agenda.

Also, it is because of misogyny that grand slam champ for no. 1 Ana that she suddenly cannot serve when the match gets tight..
Also, it is because if misogyny that multiple grand slam champ, Svetlana manages to implode during matches when she was dominating only a second ago...
It's because of misogyny that no. 1 Safina implodes in grand slam matches when facing a William Sister even though she was playing the peak of her career...
I guess it's because of misogny Li Na played the dumbest shot against an injured player on her 4th match point...

Facts...Facts....but facts are boring aren't they?

The WTA are made up of mental dwarfs with the exception of Caro, Serena, Venus, Maria, post-retirement Kim and a few others....

[mod-edited] We are talking about people not in the top 3! You can't compare the top 3 men because they are just that good. The rest of the field however is as bad as the women's tour. So please stop being so sexist and get your facts right. I can argue with you all day if need be. [mod-edited]

Thanks for this, Steve.

You know, I thought Petra displayed a great deal of mental strength given how she got her act together. And Ana played for every point. She never believed that she wasn't in the match. I saw two examples of fighters fighting hard. And the better player won.

serena and stosour built like atp players but are beaten by smaller women they both should retire. disgrace themselves.

I have finally made up my mind. Kvitova is an ostrich. No poetry there.

Ravensarelame please give it a rest. I posted a list earlier today of massive chokes by big name ATP players. It's the nature of the sport, and the women don't have 6'10 enabled serves to bail them out of trouble.

Anyways, why are you whining about it on this board? Kvitova, the favorite beat the underdog Ivanovic.

I watched the match last night and it was so similar to JJ match with Caro. A blowout 1st set similar start to 2nd and all of a sudeden 5-5 *in Ana's case it was 6-5 and 30-30. And after that, for sure a letdown, double faults and nervous looks and terrible tibreak.

Kvitova impressive on backhand and surely has had a very good serving day. Some amazing mixing up of second serves which actually played to Ana's strengh - return of second serves from forhend side, she got her confused and guessing all the time where the serve will go. Amazing smart serving from Petra.

For Ana when she had nothing to lose she was steady and played the right way, other than that a total menatal state not good at all

hilarious to read various comments carrying accusations of 'mental weakness' in this throwaway manner. I guess as you'll never be in a similar situation and will always be just another body in the audience it's easy to do.

kvitova whao ugly tennis

For Ivanovic it was not so much mental weakness as physical weakness. Kvitova hit the ball too hard for her and couldn't match it with her returns.

Disagree with mental weakness being the factor for unpredictability on the WTA, it's a mixture, I think there's more depth there for a start.

Domination in the style of the ATP at the moment is not normal.

For the first ten days of a Slam I prefer the WTA by a mile.

I hope its Sharapova vs. Kvitova in the semifinals.

http://myballsmyballs.blogspot.com/2012/01/serena-is-out-nishikori-makes-history.html

The top 4 seeds are in the last 8. We could see the top 4 in the semis.

Plus the number one ranking is up for grabs between them (maybe all 4 of them?)

We praise the era and our luck to be seeing this while it's been happening on the ATP, we should be excited about it here in the WTA and hope it will continue and develop.

I like Anna, but it was embarrasing to watch.

I was pleased to see some of Ana's excellent returns of the Kvitova serve, not so pleased by her own double faults.

Ivanovic was seeded at 21 here. No shame in going out to the No. 2 seed - but the DFs are a serious problem, still. When she gets her toss right, it's more than decent. But that toss - ugh!

To all the "Screamers" and "Groaners" on the courts (and you know who you are), it is totally unnecessary and just drains strength from you that you could otherwise be using to play the game. It is also totally distracting to your opponent (not that you care) as well. It also ruins the enjoyment of watching you on television, which is why i just turn off the sound. (I'm sure advertisers are glad to know that!) anytime i watch a match (and i've been watching as well as playing for 40+ years, i will always opt to turn off the screamers. screaming repeatedly during a match serves no useful purpose and it is selfish and thoughtless to those who are trying to concentrate on their own game. if screaming and/or groaning during every shot is the only way you can win, you should move on to another sport. tennis was started as a gentlemen's game, and that is the way it should remain!

Go Petra, Go Petra, Go Petra.

Last?

Not quite.