So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Jul 14th 2019, 3:51 am
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 32,279
So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...illiams-tennis
Tennis was not may main game and I was not very good, and admit my first thought was a double fault. But if we exclude that and at my best and a bit of luck then yes I think I could. But just a point.
Let us for a minute extend the benefit of the doubt to the 12% of men who believe they could take a point from Serena Williams in a tennis match, no doubt further emboldened by her defeat in the Wimbledon final.
For who can say what manner of fugue state they fell into as they answered a simple polling question? Could they have collectively imagined, as they pictured the holder of 23 grand slam titles shaping up to serve, a freak calamity overtaking her? A sinkhole opening up on her side of the net, perhaps, or a thunderbolt sent by a jealous athletic god; or, in more sinister fashion, a tripwire rigged up by an incel saboteur to fell her as she rushed in for the volley.
No: social media chatter suggested that what many of these tsars of self-belief were relying on was an unforced error – specifically a double fault. Such pyrrhic victory would not, it seems, worry them; a point, after all, is a point.
But we walk a tightrope when we condemn such apparently delusional thinking in the sporting arena; for where else are we supposed to indulge our fantasies of combining physical prowess, technical skill and mental toughness in pursuit of lifting a gilded trophy above our heads?
For who can say what manner of fugue state they fell into as they answered a simple polling question? Could they have collectively imagined, as they pictured the holder of 23 grand slam titles shaping up to serve, a freak calamity overtaking her? A sinkhole opening up on her side of the net, perhaps, or a thunderbolt sent by a jealous athletic god; or, in more sinister fashion, a tripwire rigged up by an incel saboteur to fell her as she rushed in for the volley.
No: social media chatter suggested that what many of these tsars of self-belief were relying on was an unforced error – specifically a double fault. Such pyrrhic victory would not, it seems, worry them; a point, after all, is a point.
But we walk a tightrope when we condemn such apparently delusional thinking in the sporting arena; for where else are we supposed to indulge our fantasies of combining physical prowess, technical skill and mental toughness in pursuit of lifting a gilded trophy above our heads?
Jul 20th 2019, 11:06 am
#2
Dunroaming back in UK
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Expat in Yorkshire now
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Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Given my knee and back problems combined with never having been very good at tennis, i declare myself in the 88 per cent..... not a chance
Jul 20th 2019, 11:48 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
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Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Well growing up Oooop North only posh kids played tennis so I am also in the 88%. WTF is tennis anyway isn't it just a bigger version of table tennis?
Jul 20th 2019, 2:47 pm
#4
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 16,034
Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Didn’t we do all this already in the 1970s with Billie Jean King et al.? There’s a reason why we have separate men and women’s competitions in almost all sporting disciplines. Serena herself has said she wouldn’t win even a point against Andy Murray.
Jul 20th 2019, 3:08 pm
#6
Dunroaming back in UK
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Location: Expat in Yorkshire now
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Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Originally Posted by BritInParis
Didn’t we do all this already in the 1970s with Billie Jean King et al.? There’s a reason why we have separate men and women’s competitions in almost all sporting disciplines. Serena herself has said she wouldn’t win even a point against Andy Murray.
Jul 20th 2019, 4:15 pm
#8
Dunroaming back in UK
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Expat in Yorkshire now
Posts: 9,707
Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Originally Posted by spouse of scouse
I was wrong, there is such a thing as a stupid question 
Jul 20th 2019, 5:03 pm
#9
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
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Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Originally Posted by Garbatellamike
that's the first time you've seen a silly question on BE????
Jul 20th 2019, 5:58 pm
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
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Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian
Well growing up Oooop North only posh kids played tennis so I am also in the 88%. WTF is tennis anyway isn't it just a bigger version of table tennis?
Jul 24th 2019, 2:32 pm
#12
WWLLCJD?
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 23,142
Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
I don't reckon I could. I'd have to get really lucky in fairness. So there's a chance.
But that's like saying could I beat Rory McIlroy for one hole in 18. Maybe, I'd have to get lucky, so there's a chance.
I respect the 12% who said they could, that's confidence and ambition and takes a lot of courage to back yourself like that. It's just another reason why men are better.
But that's like saying could I beat Rory McIlroy for one hole in 18. Maybe, I'd have to get lucky, so there's a chance.
I respect the 12% who said they could, that's confidence and ambition and takes a lot of courage to back yourself like that. It's just another reason why men are better.
Jul 24th 2019, 3:21 pm
#13
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 13,762
Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
Originally Posted by Scamp
I respect the 12% who said they could, that's confidence and ambition and takes a lot of courage to back yourself like that. It's just another reason why men are better.
Jul 25th 2019, 1:24 am
#15
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,196
Re: So, guys, you reckon you could take a point off Serena Williams?
99.9% of men have no chance.
Unless Serena double faulted or the individual played tennis to a county standard.
The average British male wouldn't even hit her or connect with her second serve. Then on the other side she would have no problem dealing with theirs.
People don't realise how good these tennis players are. You need to have had years and years of practice to read the serve and develop the anticipation to get to a ball that skids and spins.
Unless Serena double faulted or the individual played tennis to a county standard.
The average British male wouldn't even hit her or connect with her second serve. Then on the other side she would have no problem dealing with theirs.
People don't realise how good these tennis players are. You need to have had years and years of practice to read the serve and develop the anticipation to get to a ball that skids and spins.
