Serena Williams should challenge men

[jiminy]

That's the view of US Open Semi Finalist Sara Errani.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/serena-williams-sara-errani-us-open-final_n_1866288.html

The latest woman to absorb a lopsided loss against Serena Williams thinks the 14-time Grand Slam champion should take on a new challenge.

"Given that men are always quick to say women are a lot worse ... I'd love to see her play in a (lower-level) men's tournament and see how they deal with her. It's easy to talk. On the court, it would be different," the 10th-seeded Sara Errani said.

"I've practiced with a lot of guys ranked 400th or 500th," Errani explained. "I've never played with a man who hits as hard as she does."

I'm quite a big Tennis fan, and in all seriousness, there does appear to be somewhat of a gulf between the men and woman as there is in most sports.

However, there is also a gulf between Serena and the rest of the women and it has been this way for over a decade now. There have been other women that could be described as great champions such as sister Venus, Justine Henin, Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters. But Serena, at her best, is/was always the best.

In many ways, Serena has under-achieved and her lofty 15 grand slam singles titles don't fully do her legacy justice. In addition to injury and illness, complacency and lack of motivation set in from time to time over the years, impeding her from realising her full potential. Despite being 31 now, Serena doesn't appear to be slowing down, having won Wimbledon and the US OPen this year as well as a gold medal in the Olympics. TBH, she could go on winning majors for another 3-4 years as there doesn't appear to be any younger girls coming through that could seriously challenge her. The likes of Azarenka, Kvitova and Wozniacki aren't going to eclipse the American powerhouse anytime soon.

...So back to the original question, how far could she go on the men's tour?

Of course there is a documented encounter of Serena vs a male tennis player, Karsten Braasch. He played a single set against both Williams sisters during the 1998 Australian Open, winning 6-1 over Serena and 6-2 over Venus. But despite being ranked around 200 at the time, Braasch was a handy player in the mid 90s, having been as high as #38 in 1994, and this was well before Serena became the dominant force she became 4-5 years later in 2002/3.

I agree with Errani in that I'd love to see her enter a men's tournament, perhaps against guys ranked 200-400, just to see how it'd play out. Statistics show she is capable of serving faster and hitting the ball harder than many top ranked players, including Andy Murray, let alone lesser ranked men.

[Judge DR3DD]

I'm not sure, I read somewhere that her speed is fast but nowhere near the likes of Federah or Nadal.

[sammy_scuffles]

It's a dreadful idea. What benefit is there in Serena Williams turning up to a tiny tournament and playing a bunch of guys nobody has ever heard of? Let's face it, she got flogged in an impromptu challenge match by someone 6 or 7 years past his best who's no threat to win anything ever. She might be better now, but not by enough to make it worthwhile.

Just for added bonus fun, here's where someone posted a news story in which Braasch is repeatedly quoted as saying he wasn't playing very hard.

[Troutman74]

I am a big tennis fan. Serena is not one of my favorites.  Not because she is big and manly. Just don't like her attitude on the court and her celebrations afterward.  She is just too much in your face.

[sleepinbin]

williams isnt even the best womens tennis player right now. shes a bit past her best. tennis also isnt just about power-serving as well, saying she can do that harder than some top men is no indication  she can beat them... there's probably a ton of low-ranking men who can smash a serve harder than murray can, but would never beat him in a game. the evidence of the match against braasch is pretty overwhelming.

once again, sammy also makes good points...

[Matey]

I am a big tennis fan. Serena is not one of my favorites.  Not because she is big and manly. Just don't like her attitude on the court and her celebrations afterward.  She is just too much in your face.

my thoughts on her exactly. and thanks for challenging my avatar too 

That said, I voted the "She could beat a few men ranked 100-300". That loss against Braasch was before she hit her prime. If she's playing her today's best, she could surprise a few 250-300 ranked men on their bad day imo.

If she played on men's tour, I see her ranked around 400? I doubt her ego could take it though!

Instead she should focus her next efforts on entering a wrestling session business and beat most of Squeezequeens pro players easily 

[Judge DR3DD]

Yeah, she wouldn't stand a chance against Federer or Nadal.

[bk5544]

Yeah, she wouldn't stand a chance against Federer or Nadal.

Ronda could kick Federer and Nadal's ass at the same time in a fight 

[crushed4life]

It's a dreadful idea. What benefit is there in Serena Williams turning up to a tiny tournament and playing a bunch of guys nobody has ever heard of? Let's face it, she got flogged in an impromptu challenge match by someone 6 or 7 years past his best who's no threat to win anything ever. She might be better now, but not by enough to make it worthwhile.

Just for added bonus fun, here's where someone posted a news story in which Braasch is repeatedly quoted as saying he wasn't playing very hard.

Thanks for the link sammy, I remember reading that story, but I could never find it again. The days of well publicized stunt-matches between women and men, even with the woman having the advantage of the doubles court, seem to be over. At least for now. If some gal is ever anywhere near good enough, we'll be seeing mixed matches in a heartbeat!

[jiminy]

williams isnt even the best womens tennis player right now.

Oh yes she is. Don't let the rankings fool you - world #1 Victoria Azarenka is 0-5 against Serena this year. Serena just hasn't played as many tournaments, thus hasn't accumulated as many ranking points. When she plays, she is always the odds-on favourite.

Serena has been as dominant as ever for the last few months, winning Wimbledon, Olympic gold, US Open and YEC (year end championships).

the evidence of the match against braasch is pretty overwhelming.

This was back in 1998, Braasch was 31 (and still a good player, as much as he liked to play himself down) and Serena was just 16. The all conquering Serena of 2002/3 would've probably beaten the Serena of 1998 6-1 if not 6-0.

[Ronald_Frump]

williams isnt even the best womens tennis player right now.

Oh yes she is. Don't let the rankings fool you - world #1 Victoria Azarenka is 0-5 against Serena this year. Serena just hasn't played as many tournaments, thus hasn't accumulated as many ranking points. When she plays, she is always the odds-on favourite.

Serena has been as dominant as ever for the last few months, winning Wimbledon, Olympic gold, US Open and YEC (year end championships).

the evidence of the match against braasch is pretty overwhelming.

This was back in 1998, Braasch was 31 (and still a good player, as much as he liked to play himself down) and Serena was just 16. The all conquering Serena of 2002/3 would've probably beaten the Serena of 1998 6-1 if not 6-0.

Good points!

[DR]

I am a big tennis fan. Serena is not one of my favorites.  Not because she is big and manly. Just don't like her attitude on the court and her celebrations afterward.  She is just too much in your face.

I fully agree.

[jiminy]

I am a big tennis fan. Serena is not one of my favorites.  Not because she is big and manly. Just don't like her attitude on the court and her celebrations afterward.  She is just too much in your face.

I fully agree.

Ronda Rousey has very much the same attitude (loud & in your face) if not to a greater degree, yet all you guys seem to worship her. 

[Ronald_Frump]

I am a big tennis fan. Serena is not one of my favorites.  Not because she is big and manly. Just don't like her attitude on the court and her celebrations afterward.  She is just too much in your face.

I fully agree.

Ronda Rousey has very much the same attitude (loud & in your face) if not to a greater degree, yet all you guys seem to worship her. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Jiminy. I wouldn't be surprised if Serena has more worldwide admirers than Ronda. The thing with Ronda is, she's a real-life fantasy come true, as far as your average femfight fan is concerned, so its understandable that she might have more appeal on a femdom forum, which this essentially is.

Also, the minute you start talking of hypothetical "woman versus man scenarios", no matter how dominant the woman is in fem/fem competition, the "testosterone" mentality creeps in and it's just too big a leap of the imagination for many men to admit that it may be possible for a top woman to beat a very good (if not elite) man.

Look at the controversy I sparked with my old "Ronda vd Bruce Lee" - type threads. 

[jiminy]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Jiminy. I wouldn't be surprised if Serena has more worldwide admirers than Ronda. The thing with Ronda is, she's a real-life fantasy come true, as far as your average femfight fan is concerned, so its understandable that she might have more appeal on a femdom forum, which this essentially is.

Also, the minute you start talking of hypothetical "woman versus man scenarios", no matter how dominant the woman is in fem/fem competition, the "testosterone" mentality creeps in and it's just too big a leap of the imagination for many men to admit that it may be possible for a top woman to beat a very good (if not elite) man.

Look at the controversy I sparked with my old "Ronda vd Bruce Lee" - type threads. 

Yeah, I can understand that. From what I've seen on MvF and here there are two discinct groups that approach this "interest" (i hate the word fetish) from two separate angles and it's threads like these where they are always at odds with eachother.